Rounding Out Your Semester with Other Courses
Credit Totals and Optional Extra Classes
Ultimately, our Biochemistry majors aim for a starting semester with between 14 and 16 credits.
Notably, this credit total falls comfortably between the full-time student minimum (12) and maximum (18). The Honors program allows for 21 credits per semester, but that would be very unusual.
Find more information on all courses at the ISU Course Catalog.
Summary of first-semester credits
| Biochemistry Learning Community | 1 cr |
| Introduction to Biochemistry | 1 cr |
| Chemistry + Lab | 5-6 cr |
| Math | 4 cr |
| Sub-Total | 11-12 cr |
| Scholarship/Honors/Choices* | 1-5 cr left to be added |
| Final Total | 14-16 cr |
Round out your semester with courses that meet requirements
All of these choices will count toward your progress as a Biochemistry major in either the LAS or CALS colleges.
Common first-semester courses:
| Library 160 | To be taken along with first English class | 1 cr |
|---|---|---|
| English 150 | Placement guidelines | 3 cr |
| Honors requirements | ENGL 2500H, LIB 1600, and Honors seminar | 5 cr |
| Biology | BIOL 2110 (for 2110L, see specialization recommendation) | 3-4 cr |
University Requirements:
- International Perspectives
- U.S. Communities and Cultures
- Honors seminars that meet I.D. or U.C.C. requirements
College-Specific Requirements:
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) requirements for Biochemistry majors:
| Speech Fundamentals | SP CM 2120, AGEDS 3110, or COMST 2140 | 3 cr |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics | Ethics course list | 3 cr |
| Humanities | Humanities course list | 3 cr |
| Social Sciences | Social Sciences course list | 3 cr |
| Math, Statistics, Physical Sciences | The Math, Statistics, and Physical Sciences requirements may be met through core Biochemistry-major courses. | 3 cr, 3 cr, 5 cr |
| Life Science | The Life Science requirement may be met through core Biochemistry-major courses. | 6 cr |
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) requirements for Biochemistry majors:
| World Language | LAS World Language requirement | Varies |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | Arts and Humanities course list | 12 cr |
| Mathematical Disciplines | The Mathematical Disciplines requirement may be met through core Biochemistry-major courses. | 3 cr |
| Natural Sciences | The Natural Sciences requirement may be met through core Biochemistry-major courses. | 8 cr |
| Social Sciences | Social Sciences course list | 9 cr |
Note upper-level electives that support your focus option
Each biochemistry focus option features a curated list of upper-level electives that will support your professional goals:
- Approved course lists of electives for each biochemistry focus option
- Sample 4-year plans for each biochemistry focus option
Although you won't take these courses your first semester, you might plan ahead to take pre-requisites for the upper-level electives you'd like to take in the future.
- Example 1: Both Micro 3020 (Biology of Microorganisms) and Micro 3100 (Medical Microbiology) are electives for the Pre-Medicine focus option for Biochemistry majors in LAS. Micro 3020 is a pre-requisite for taking Micro 3100. Taking Micro 3020 requires credit in Biol 2110, Biol 2120, and 3 credits of Chemistry. Thus, you might start planning now for how Micro 3020 could fit into your schedule in your sophomore year, supporting taking Micro 3100 in your junior year.
- Example 2: Gen 4620 (Evolutionary Genetics) is an elective for the Research & Biotechnology focus option for Biochemistry majors in CALS. If you want to take Gen 4620, it has a pre-requisite of Biol 3150 (Biological Evolution), which also happens to be an elective for the same focus option in CALS. You could start planning now for how Biol 3150 could fit into your schedule in your junior year, supporting taking Gen 4620 in your senior year.