Undergraduate Resources

People

Each BBMB undergraduate is supported by an Academic Advisor and a Faculty Mentor.

• Meet BBMB's Academic Advisors. You can find your assigned Advisor on AccessPlus under "Student"->"Current Stdnt Info."
  • Schedule an appointment with Ben Noack.
  • Schedule an appointment with Elizabeth Zimmerman.
• You can find your Faculty Mentor in Navigate, which you can access through your "Student" tab in AccessPlus. Your Faculty Mentor will be listed as part of your Success Team.
  • BBMB students are assigned a first-year Faculty Mentor, which is discussed in BBMB 110.
  • Students get to know faculty in their first year and will select a Faculty Mentor to work with in their second year and beyond.

Quick Links

• For new students:
  • Incoming Student Resources
  • Orientation Walkthrough
• Planning your course of study:
  • Academic Calendar
  • Schedule of Classes 
  • 4-Year Planning Sheet (printable / digital)
  • Course placement and options:
    • Chemistry
    • English
    • Math
  • University Requirements:
    • U.S. Diversity Requirement Approved List
    • International Perspectives Approved List
• Succeeding in your course of study (Academic Success):
  • Resources for Studying & Time Management
  • Map of Study Spots
  • Supplemental Instruction
• Adjusting your course of study:
  • Degree Audit Adjustment Procedure
  • Forms
    The following changes should be processed through your Academic Advisor:
    • Change of Major (If you change majors, please inform Claire Kruesel, Undergraduate Program Coordinator)
    • Incomplete Contract
    • Minor
    • Multiple Curricula
    • Withdrawal

Undergraduate Majors

BBMB offers undergraduate study in two different colleges: You can study Biochemistry in either the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). Another option is to major in Biophysics (LAS). 

What are the requirements for each major?

• B.S. Biochemistry (CALS): Program Requirements
• B.S. Biochemistry (LAS): Program Requirements
• B.S. Biophysics (LAS): Program Requirements

What if I'm a transfer student?

BBMB welcomes transfer students and provides options for making efficient use of your previous study. More information:

• Future Transfer Students
• Transfer Plans by College
• Evaluation of Transfer Credits 

How are BBMB majors the same?

Every BBMB student, regardless of major, has access to extracurricular opportunities like BBMB Club, Stupka Symposium, and research.

All undergraduate students seeking a degree from Iowa State University complete a common set of general education requirements.

What's the difference between Biochemistry and Biophysics?

If you study Biochemistry or Biophysics, the core courses you'll take will vary slightly to reflect the major's focus. Majors in Biochemistry will spend more time studying biochemistry and biology, and majors in Biophysics wil spend more time studying math, physics, and/or statistics.

What's the difference between Biochemistry (CALS) and Biochemistry (LAS)?

As colleges, CALS and LAS have different structures and focuses. To learn more about the student experience in each college, check out these pages:

• The CALS student experience
• The LAS student experience

If you study Biochemistry, regardless of college, the core courses you'll take will be the same but CALS and LAS have slightly different requirements outside the core Biochemistry major. For example, CALS has an Agricultural Courses requirement, and LAS has a World Language requirement.

For more information on all our majors, see the sections below, organized by college.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS)

LAS Academic Services

B.S. in Biochemistry (LAS) Major Program of Study

• Current Biochemistry Course of Study
• Biochemistry 4-Year Sample Plan

B.S. in Biophysics Major Program of Study

• Current Biophysics Course of Study
• Biophysics 4-Year Sample Plan

LAS Requirements: Approved-Course Lists

• Arts & Humanities (12 cr. req'd)
• Mathematical Disciplines (3 cr. req'd)--click to 2nd tab
• Natural Sciences (8 cr. req'd)--click to 3rd tab
• Social Sciences (9 cr. req'd)--click to 4th tab

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

CALS Student Services:  Forms and Resources

B.S. in Biochemistry (CALS)

• Overview of Biochemistry-CALS major
• Current Biochemistry-CALS Course of Study
• Biochemistry-CALS 4-Year Sample Plan

CALS Requirements: Approved-Course Lists

• Agricultural Science (9 cr. req'd)
• Humanities (3 cr. req'd)
• Social Science (3 cr. req'd)
• Ethics (3 cr. req'd)

For general questions about the BBMB undergraduate program not addressed by the above, contact Claire Kruesel, BBMB Undergraduate Program Coordinator: kruesel@iastate.edu