Nov 21, 2024

Course Catalog 2024-2025

Biochemistry Major

The major consists of a minimum of 11.5 full courses (or the equivalent). Many students are required to complete 12.5 full courses to satisfy the general chemistry course requirement.

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major, with the exception that one chemistry course in which a student has earned a grade of D may be used to fill the requirements of the major. However, no course in which a student has earned a D grade may be counted as a prerequisite.

View the catalog page for the chemistry and biochemistry department.

Summary of Requirements

Two Full General Chemistry Courses
Four Full Core Chemistry Courses
3.5 Full Biochemistry Courses
Three Full Mathematics and Physics Courses

Note(s) on Requirements

Students placing into and beginning the biochemistry major with CHEM 102 do not need to take an additional course in place of CHEM 101 .
Students placing into and beginning the biochemistry major with CHEM 205 who do not have credit for either CHEM 101 or CHEM 102 will need to take one additional full core chemistry or biochemistry course numbered 300 or above in place of general chemistry.

ACS-Certified Major Requirements

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry curriculum is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and certifies graduates who satisfy the ACS guidelines.

Read the ACS’s publication on why to obtain an ACS-certified bachelor’s degree.

For ACS certification in biochemistry, majors must successfully complete:

The Minimum Major Requirements
One Full (or Two Half) Additional 300-Level Chemistry Course(s)
One Full (or Two Half) Research Course(s), including a well-written, comprehensive, well-documented research report
- CHEM 525H / CHEM 526H
- CHEM 525F / CHEM 526F

Transfer of Credit Toward the Major

Transferred credit for CHEM 101 or CHEM 102 counts toward the major.

Study Away and Other Outside Coursework

Prior approval is required for chemistry coursework taken away from Oberlin to be applied to the biochemistry major.

Note: Except for coursework transferred in at the time of entry by transfer students, the department cannot approve transfer of credit for courses taken at community colleges.

At least half of the full courses (or equivalent) required for the major must be completed while in residence at Oberlin or enrolled in Oberlin programs. Students desiring an exception to this policy must obtain the explicit approval of the department chair.

Normally, transfer credit for chemistry courses numbered 300 and above will not count toward the requirements of the biochemistry major.

View the detailed procedure and required forms for the department’s transfer of credit process.

Course of Study

Entry-Level Course Sequence Options

The normal general chemistry sequence is CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 . All students are eligible to enroll in CHEM 101 , regardless of prior study in chemistry.

Students with no high school preparation may benefit from taking a 000-level course (i.e., courses designed for non-majors) prior to enrolling in CHEM 101 .
Students with strong high school preparation may be able to begin with CHEM 102 .
Students with exceptional preparation can petition to enter at CHEM 205 .

See the Initial and Advanced Placement section of the department catalog page for details.

Recommended Pathways

Potential biochemistry majors are encouraged to take:

In their first year:
- CHEM 101 / CHEM 102
- MATH 133
By the end of their second year:
- BIOL 100
As early as possible:
- BIOL 223
- BIOL 224
- CHEM 254
- MATH 134
- PHYS 103 or PHYS 110
- PHYS 104 or PHYS 111

Key Constraints:

CHEM 254 and BIOL 213 are prerequisites for CHEM 374 . For students planning to take CHEM 374 in fall 2025 and beyond, the prerequisites will be CHEM 254 , BIOL 223 , and BIOL 224 .
CHEM 339 and CHEM 349 have mathematics and physics course prerequisites.

Biochemistry Major Pathways table

Honors in Biochemistry

Students with outstanding records are invited to apply to participate in the Honors Program in Biochemistry. Selection of honors students occurs in the spring semester for the following fall.

Seniors in the program elect a minimum of 1.5 full courses of CHEM 525/526 (with at least one half course in the first semester) and work year-long (including Winter Term) on a research project.

Honors students write a thesis based on their research, give two presentations, and take an oral examination. Students majoring in both chemistry and biochemistry must choose which major will be applied to any honors conferred.

Detailed Major Requirements