Biochemistry Careers
Biochemistry is the application of chemical principles to biological systems. The Human Genome Project has provided further impetus towards understanding the molecular basis of life processes. Today employment opportunities are especially strong in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, genomics, proteomics, medicine, and allied health. Mount Union biochemistry majors are well prepared to enter any of these areas as well as graduate school.
Biochemistry Major
The biochemistry major is a chemistry major specifically tailored to application in the life sciences. A total of 36 semester hours are required in the area of chemistry, plus extra-departmental courses in biology, math, and physics. The completion of your degree is rounded out by about 50 semester hours in general education requirements.
Required Departmental Course
CH 110 General Chemistry I
CH 111 General Chemistry II
CH 220 Analytical Chemistry
CH 231 Organic Chemistry I
CH 232 Organic Chemistry II
CH 370/1 General Biochemistry
CH 372/3 Advanced Biochemistry
CH 381/2 Junior Seminar
CH 481/2 Senior Seminar
CH 460 Research (SCE)
(or CH 494 or CH 499)
Total 34
Chemistry Electives
CH 341/2 Physical Chemistry I
CH 343/4 Physical Chemistry II
CH 360 Indep. Study Var.
CH 414 Inorganic Chemistry
CH 451 Instrumental Analysis
Required Extra-Departmental Courses
BI 101 Fund. Biol. I
BI 102 Fund. Biol. II
BI 300 Mol. & Cell. Biol.
PH 101 General Physics I
PH 102 General Physics II
MA 141 Calculus I
MA 142 Calculus II
Total 30
Chemistry Minor
A total of 18 semester hours in chemistry are required for the minor plus MA 141 Calculus I or MA 123 Elementary Statistics
Required for Chemistry Minor
CH 110 General Chemistry I
CH 111 General Chemistry II
Plus three additional courses in at least two areas of chemistry not including Seminar to total 18 hours.
Activities & Events
On campus organizations sponsored by the Chemistry Department include the Alembroic Society, a chemistry honor society, and a student affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society. Activities include guest speakers, field trips, and departmental socials.
Facilities & Equipment
Mount Union's Chemistry Department is preparing to move into a new $23 million natural science facility in Fall 2003. The department is well equipped in terms of instrumentation, computer resources, and library books and journals.
Available equipment includes: (*Shared)
- FT-NMR
- FTIR
- Atomic Absorption
- Gas Chromatography
- HPLC
- UV/Vis Absorption
- Electrochem. Workstation
- Ultra-centrifuge*
- X-ray Diffraction*
- SEM*
as well as numerous basic laboratory items including digital balances, pH meters, Spec. 20's, digital melting points, and specialized glassware.