Biochemistry Major - Requirements

I. Required Biology Courses

A grade of C- or better must be earned and revealed on your transcript for any course -- including the first semester -- to be counted towards the major or concentration requirements. The grade of P is not acceptable, but a course that was taken P/D/F may be counted if and only if the P is uncovered by the Registrar's deadline.
Students may substitute Barnard College courses only with prior permission from an Advisor.

1. Both terms of the introductory biology sequence:
   • C2005 - Introductory Biology I: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
     
   • C2006 - Introductory Biology II: Cell Biology, Developmental & Physiology
2. Both of these Biology-Chemistry courses:
   • C3501 - Biochemistry
   • C3512 - Molecular biology
     

II. Required Chemistry Courses

1. One of these three sequences of courses:
   • C1403 - C1404 General chemistry and C3443 - C3444 Organic chemistry I and II
   • C1604 - Second Semester General Chemistry (Intensive) and C3443 - C3444 Organic chemistry I and II
   • C3045 - C3046 Intensive organic chemistry for first-year students
     
2. The following physical chemistry courses:
   • C3079- C3080 - Physical chemistry I and II

III. Required Laboratory Courses

1. One general chemistry lab:
   • C1500 - General chemistry laboratory or C2507 - Intensive general chemistry laboratory
     
2. One organic chemistry lab:
   • C3543 or C3545 - Organic chemistry laboratory
     
3. One of these upper-level biology labs:
   • W3040 - Project lab in Cell & Developmental biology
   • W3050 - Project lab in Protein Biochemistry
   • C3052 - Project lab in Molecular Genetics
   • W3500- Independent research in biology
4. At least one of these upper-level chemistry or biology labs:
   • Chemistry C3546 - Advanced organic chemistry lab
   • Chemistry C3085 or C3086 - Physical and analytical chemistry lab
   • Chemistry C3098 - Senior chemistry lab, taken for at least 4 points (one term may be counted)
     
   • Biology W3500 - Independent research in biology (one term for 4 pts)**
   • An advanced Bio lab (W3040, W3050 or C3052). The same biology lab cannot be used to fulfill both requirements 3 & 4 -- you must take two different ones to fulfill both requirements.
   
   **It is OK to take only one term of W3500 or C3098, but you usually learn much more if you work in the same lab for a more extended period. If you intend to do lab research, we recommend two terms of independent research (4 pts each) or one term + a summer of research in the same laboratory. (Even if only one term is applied toward the major.) Students who satisfactorily complete both one term of W3500 and SURF in the same lab are considered to have completed all their upper-level lab requirements (3 & 4 above). SURF may be used in lieu of the lab requirement only if combined with one semester of W3500; summer lab work under other auspices may not be substituted for SURF. Paid laboratory work may not be substituted for any of these requirements.

IV. Required Physics and Math Courses

1. Two terms of Physics are required
   • Physics V1201 - V1202 General Physics fulfills the requirement.
     The 1400 sequence is recommended if you plan to take 3 terms of physics.
     (Higher numbered sequences are fine if you have the background)
2. Mathematics:
   • 2 Semesters of Calculus or Honors Math. If you have AP credit and complete one term of advanced Calculus at Columbia (Calculus II or higher), this requirement is fulfilled.

V. Additional Course Requirements (Any three of these)

1. Math courses:
   • ODE (Ordinary differential equations) or One additional term of Calculus or Honors Math beyond that used to fulfill the previous Math requirement (IV-2). If you have AP credit, you must take at least two terms of Math at Columbia to meet this requirement. A single calculus course, no matter how advanced, does not fulfill both requirements IV-2 and V-1.
2. Chemistry courses:
   • C3071 Introduction to inorganic chemistry (strongly recommended)
   • G4147 Advanced organic chemistry
   • G4172 Bio-organic topics
3. Biology courses: Any Biology lecture course at the 3000/4000 level for 3 or more points. The following are recommended:
   
   
   • W3002 Intro to Animal Structure and Function
   • W3004 Neurobiology I: Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology or
   • W3005 Neurobiology II: Development & Systems
     
   • W3006 Physiology
     
   • C3032 or W3031Genetics
   • C3799 Readings Molecular Biology of Cancer
     
   • W3034 Biotechnology
   • W3022 Developmental Biology
   • W3041 Cell Biology
   • W3073 Cellular and Molecular Immunology
   • W3208 Intro to Evolutionary Biology
     
   • W3990 Readings in Cell Biology
   • W4011 Neural Syst: Circuits in the Brain
   • W4200 Biotechnology: Biopharmaceutical Dev & Reg
     
   • W4300 Drugs and Disease
     
   • W4400 Biological Networks
     
   • W4510(CHBC) Molecular Systems Biology I
   • G4008 Advanced Seminar in Neurobiology
     
   • G4044 Advanced Topics in Cell Biology
   • G4095 Chemical Genomics
   • G4260 Proteomics Lab
     
   • G4305 Seminar in Biotechnology
   • G4600 Signal Transduction
     
   • G6002(sec 2) Protein Thermodynamics (counts as 1/2 course)
     
     Every effort is made to keep this list up to date. However, last min. changes do occur. See recent changes for new course updates.
     
     Note: SCNC & HPSC courses do not count towards the Major even if listed under Biology courses on Bio web site.

VI. Recommended Seminar Courses (not required)

1. Biology C2908 - First-year seminar in modern biology - For first year students only
2. Chemistry C2408