Program Directors: Jennifer Palenchar, PhD., James W. Wilson, PhD
Office Location: Mendel Science Center Rm. 215
Telephone: (610) 519-4840
[Website]
About
Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary program requiring comprehensive coursework in both Biology and Chemistry. The biological relevance of chemical concepts is stressed throughout the curriculum. Students are encouraged to pursue one of the many available research experiences.
PRIMARY MAJOR (122 credits)
Students are accepted into the major as incoming freshmen, or upon consultation with a program director.
Required Major Courses (69 credits)
Program Notes:
- Students may substitute the sequence of MAT 1500 and MAT 1505 for MAT 1312 and STAT 1313 with permission from the program directors.
- The Biochemistry program offers three mechanisms for participation in research by undergraduate majors. Competitive fellowships for 8-10 weeks of summer research are funded by University, government, or industrial sources. Recipients of these fellowships carry out a research program under the direction of a faculty member. Students may also enroll in research mentored by a faculty member for academic credit during the school year, which fulfills the elective requirement in the relevant department (CHM 4801, 4802, 4803, 4851, 4851 or BIO 6509, 6609). Students may also volunteer in research laboratories. In each case, students should discuss participation in research with Program of Biochemistry faculty members. A student must find a faculty mentor prior to enrolling in these courses.
CHM 1151 or CHM 1611
CHM 2201/2211 or CHM 3201/3211
Choose one sequence.
- Typically Biochemistry students will take CHM 2201/2211. CHM 3201/3211 are restricted to Chemistry majors.
CHM 2202/2212 or CHM 3202/3212
Choose one sequence.
- Typically Biochemistry students will take CHM 2202/2212. CHM 3202/3212 are restricted to Chemistry majors.
Calculus I or Biocalculus
Students may substitute the sequence of MAT 1500 and MAT 1505 for MAT 1312 and STAT 1313 with permission from the program directors.
Calculus II or Statistics for Life Sciences
Students may substitute the sequence of MAT 1500 and MAT 1505 for MAT 1312 and STAT 1313 with permission from the program directors.
PHY 2410/2411 or PHY 1100/1101
Choose 1 pair of lecture + lab courses from the following:
PHY 2412/2413 or PHY 1102/1103
Choose 1 pair of lecture + lab courses from the following:
Approved Chemistry Elective
Chemistry Elective (3000 level or above) (3 cr) – Select 1 course of three or more credits from CHM 3000:9999.
Approved Biology Elective
Biology Elective (3000 level or above) (3 cr) – Select 1 course of three or more credits from BIO 3000:9999 or BIO 6509 (2 cr).
Core Curriculum Requirements (33 credits)
Biochemistry Majors meet the following core requirements in the major and therefore are omitted from the summary below:
- Core Math (3 cr)
- Natural Science (8 cr)
Literature and Writing Seminar (1 course)
All students take a thematic literature and writing seminar course. Courses designated with the Core Lit & Writing Sem attribute fulfill the requirement.
History (1 course)
This requirement is met by taking a specifically designed course designated by the Core History attribute.
Social Sciences (2 courses)
Students satisfy the requirement by taking two courses designated by the Core Social Sciences attribute.
Students majoring in Cognitive and Behavior Neuroscience, Criminology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology fulfill the Core Social Science requirement through the regular program of study in their major.
Fine Arts (1 course)
The requirement is met by taking a course that focuses either on the creative processes that go into making a work of art, or on analysis and interpretation of the products of that artistic creativity. All courses designated with the Fine Arts Requirement attribute fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement.
Upper-Level Theology (1 course)
The upper division Theology and Religious Studies Core Curriculum requirement develops the theme of faith seeking understanding, engaging culture from a specific disciplinary perspective. Students must take THL 1000 before taking an upper division course designated by the Core Theology attribute.
Language Requirement
Courses that fulfill language requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
Students may satisfy the Core Curriculum Language requirement in one of the following ways:
Option A: Start or Continue a Language Offered through Villanova
Start or continue a language through the required ‘exit’ course indicating that the requirement has been met. Students must begin their language studies to fulfill the Core Curriculum Language requirement no later than sophomore year. Students continuing language studies should begin their first year and continue without interruption.
Students must complete the exit course or higher depending on placement.
- American Sign Language - ASL 1112/1152*
- Ancient Greek - GRK 1112
- Arabic - ARB 1112
- Chinese - CHI 1112
- French - FFS 1122
- German**
- Irish - IS 1112
- Italian - ITA 1122
- Japanese - JPN 1112
- Latin - LAT 1122
- Russian - RUS 1112
- Spanish - SPA 1122
- Swahili - SWA 1112
*Students who entered Villanova fall of 2023 or later, may select this option to satisfy their language requirement.
**German is offered through a partner institution and is only available upon discussion/approval with the Office for Undergraduate Students
Option B: Petition for Exemption from the Core Language Requirement
Documented Language Proficiency
Students who can provide acceptable documentation of proficiency (e.g., TOEFL score, transcript from high school in a language not offered through Villanova) may petition for a language exemption. See the Office for Undergraduate Students for more information.
Native speakers of languages other than English who do not have documentation of language proficiency may satisfy the Core Language requirement by satisfactorily passing a proficiency exam administered by Villanova or another accredited institution and completing a Petition for Exemption. See the Office for Undergraduate Students for more information.
Documented Learning Difference
Students who have documentation supporting an accommodation for differences that affect language acquisition, may be granted a language waiver and may fulfill the Core Language requirement by taking two approved ‘world culture’ courses. Students must submit documentation to Learning Support Services (lss@villanova.edu) or the Office of Disability Services (ods@villanova.edu), depending on the nature of their difference.
NOTES:
- Placement tests are used to place students only and are not to be confused with a proficiency exam.
- Those who begin their language study in the intermediate or advanced levels, satisfy the requirement through demonstration of proficiency, or receive a language waiver for documented learning differences that affect language acquisition, must still complete the total number of required credits for degree completion.
- Additional questions regarding the Core Curriculum Language requirement should be addressed to a student’s faculty advisor or to the Office for Undergraduate Students in SAC 107.
Diversity Requirement (2 courses)
Diversity Courses
Courses that fulfill Core Diversity requirements may be used to fulfill other requirements (i.e., primary major, core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives).
Overview
Consistent with the University’s Mission Statement and its implementation of the new Core Curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences, students will take at least two courses designated as “diversity.” Learning to see through the eyes of other peoples and cultures is essential to becoming a citizen of the world. Beyond introducing students to the contextual study of diverse groups, diversity education must foster understanding of how individuals are affected within systems of power, oppression, deprivation, marginalization, and privilege.
Students are required to select two courses, covering two out of the three areas below:
Diversity 1: Courses that focus on populations (often named as non-dominant, minority, or impoverished groups) in the U.S. or Western Europe, and the systems or mechanisms that give rise to the experiences of power, privilege, and marginalization.
Diversity 2: Courses that focus on women’s experiences and/or highlight the relationship between gender, culture, and power.
Diversity 3: Courses that focus on the culture, economics, politics or ecology of societies and nations other than those of Western Europe and the United States and that emphasize power, privilege, and marginalization or a critical analysis of how these cultures define and express themselves.
NOTES:
- Service-learning courses, internships, and other experiential or community-based learning courses may be applied toward the Diversity requirement, provided they include a significant reflective component and have been pre-approved for diversity course credit.
- Study abroad courses may be applied toward this requirement; such courses will be assessed the same way as Villanova courses.
- Although some courses have more than one Diversity attribute, all students must take two different courses; a single course with multiple attributes may not be used to fulfill both Diversity course requirements.
- The Diversity Requirement cannot be fulfilled by independent study or a senior thesis.
- Language courses cannot fulfill the requirement, although literature courses in another language may fulfill the requirement if they are designated with a Diversity attribute.
- A student may fulfill one Diversity course requirement (DIV 1) by taking three 1-credit IGR workshops.
Free Elective Requirement (20 credits)
Students with a Biochemistry primary major have twenty (20) required free elective credits.
Degree Credit Summary
- Major Credits: 69 credits
- Core Credits: 33 credits
- Free Electives Credits: 20 credits
- Total Required Credits: 122 Credits
Note: The above credit totals are based on the minimum number of required credits in each degree area. The minimum number of required credits in each area listed above must be met. Credits taken beyond the required minimum for one area may not be applied to another area.
SECONDARY MAJOR
Students who declare biochemistry as a secondary major must complete the Required Major Courses to achieve this major. Students are able to count any eligible course taken in their primary major, the core curriculum, minors, concentrations, or free electives toward these requirements.