BA in Chemistry: Chemical Biology

The BA in Chemistry–Chemical Biology Specialization is designed to meet the educational needs of students who wish to pursue a BA in Chemistry but who have a particular interest in pursuing a deep understanding of biological phenomena at the atomic and molecular level, and in the application of chemical approaches to interrogate and manipulate biological systems. The major’s strong emphasis on research skill development builds on a core of courses covering the principal areas of chemistry as an intellectual foundation. 

Compared to the traditional Chemistry major, the BA in Chemistry–Chemical Biology Specialization provides the same fundamental grounding in general, organic, and inorganic chemistry but diverges partway through the physical chemistry sequence to focus on biophysical chemistry and other advanced coursework. Majors offered by the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology program and in the Department of Chemistry also allow students to explore the molecular biosciences but with different focuses and objectives, as described in this Bulletin. 

Chemistry–Chemical Biology majors are exceptionally well prepared for graduate education in chemical, biochemical, or biophysical research, or for a wide range of careers in teaching, in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, or in regulatory agencies. The major additionally provides excellent preparation for professional training in medicine and related health fields.

Completion of the Chemistry–Chemical Biology major qualifies students for certification by the American Chemical Society and permits diversification through coupling with minors in other fields of science, mathematics, or computer science, and with the Modular Medical/Dental Integrated Curriculum (MMEDIC) program.

All students should refer to the Departmental Regulations section of the Chemistry Department for important stipulations. NOTE: Students may not switch tracks in general or organic chemistry after the initial course in the sequence.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Demonstrate mastery of the in-depth curriculum in chemical biology and foundational material in each subdiscipline (inorganic, organic, biological, analytical and physical chemistry) and in cell and molecular biology.
• Appropriately integrate and apply concepts and quantitative reasoning to evaluate existing scientific hypotheses, particularly those at the chemistry-biology interface.
• Be able to identify important unsolved problems at the chemistry-biology interface, propose their own scientific hypotheses to address these problems, and evaluate the validity of their hypotheses through the design and execution of experiments.
• Be able to apply experimental techniques and use modern instrumentation for data acquisition and processing, and to utilize appropriate computer modeling and data fitting software in data analyses in laboratory courses and, ideally, in independent, inquiry-driven research.
• Identify and ethically utilize relevant scientific information using literature database searches or other public domain tools.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate scientific information and hypotheses, including their own, both orally and in writing.
• Be well prepared to pursue their postgraduation objectives, including advanced study in MD, PhD, or other graduate programs, as well as careers in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries and in law, government, or public policy.

Hub Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Chemistry–Chemical Biology Specialization will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Inquiry, and most of the requirements in Communication and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

Program Requirements

The Chemistry–Chemical Biology Specialization requires a minimum of twelve 4-unit courses in chemistry, as well as two 4-unit courses each in biology, mathematics, and physics. Unless noted otherwise, all required courses are 4 unit hours. All required chemistry courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. 

Core Chemistry Courses

• General Chemistry: CAS CH 111, 112 (or CH 109, 110, or CH 101, 102, 201, or CH 101, 116, 201)
• Organic Chemistry: CAS CH 211, 212 (or CH 203, 214, or CH 203, 204, 220, or CH 214, 218)
• Inorganic Chemistry: CAS CH 232
• Physical/biophysical chemistry: CAS CH 352, 525
• Introduction to Biochemistry and Chemical Biology: CAS BB 421, CH 623 (or BB 421, 422 or BB 421, CH 647)
• Advanced Laboratory in Chemical Biology: CAS CH 524

Note: CAS CH 201 and CH 220 are 2 units. CAS CH 116 is 5 units. 

Required Related Courses

• Biology: CAS BI 108
• Cell Biology: CAS BI 213 (or 203)
• Mathematics: CAS MA 123, 124 (MA 127 fulfills MA 123, 124 requirement)
• Physics: CAS PY 211, 212 (or 211, 106 or 241, 242 or 251, 252)

Elective Requirement 

Two additional 4-unit electives must be completed, selected from the list below. At least one elective must be at the 400 level or higher, and at least one must be a CAS CH course. Completion of two terms of research (CAS CH 401, 402 or CAS CH 491, 492) can be used to fulfill one elective requirement; the research must involve a project at the chemistry-biology interface. 

Advanced Coursework in Chemistry (1–2 courses must be selected from the following list)

• CAS CH 301 Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
• CAS CH 303 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory
• CAS CH 351 Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics
• CAS CH 541 Natural Products Chemistry
• CAS CH 623 Chemical Biology (if not taken to satisfy the introduction to biochemistry and chemical biology requirement)
• CAS CH 624 Macromolecular Structure Determination
• CAS CH 625 Enzymology
• CAS CH 626 Epigenetics
• CAS CH 627 RNA Structure and Function
• CAS CH 628 Protein Chemistry
• CAS CH 629 DNA Nanotechnology
• CAS CH 633 Physical Methods for Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry
• CAS CH 634 Metallobiochemistry
• CAS CH 641 Physical Organic Chemistry
• CAS CH 642 Organic Reaction Mechanisms
• CAS CH 643 Synthetic Methods of Organic Chemistry
• CAS CH 644 Medicinal Chemistry
• CAS CH 647 The Chemistry of Biotechnology (if not taken to satisfy the introduction to biochemistry and chemical biology requirement)
• CAS CH 648 Contemporary Drug Discovery
• CAS CH 721 Quantitative Biochemistry

Advanced Coursework in Related Areas (0–1 course from the following list may be selected)

• CAS BI 525 Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
• CAS BI 560 Systems Biology
• CAS BI 577 Quantitative Approaches in Molecular Biology
• CAS BI 611 Microbiome: Our Intimate Relationship with Microorganisms
• ENG BF 527 Bioinformatics Applications
  • The elective requirement may alternatively be satisfied by the completion of the requirements of a major or minor in biology, biomedical engineering, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics, or physics, upon petition.
  • Students in the MMEDIC program may substitute GMS BI 751 and CAS CH 527 for CH 421, and GMS BI 751 and CAS BI 528 for CH 422.

Honors in the Major

Requirements

• CAS CH 401, 402 Honors Research in Chemistry

Minimum 16 hours per week of experimental or theoretical research within a chemistry department, or approved research group outside the chemistry department undertaking research at the chemistry-biology interface. An honors thesis will be submitted at the end of the spring term and defended before a committee of three faculty members. To graduate with Honors in Chemistry, a grade of B or higher is required in CH 401 and CH 402. An oral presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at the end of the spring term is also required.

Prereq: 3.0 overall GPA, 3.2 GPA in required major courses, and approval of honors application by Undergraduate Programs Committee.