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Undergraduate Resources

Undergraduate Resources

Note: Starting Fall 2023, students in Biochemistry will choose one of three focus options: Research & Biotechnology; Pre-Medicine; or Biophysics. Thus, all of the information below may not apply to students entering before Fall 2023. Please contact your Advisor, Faculty Mentor, or the BBMB Undergraduate Program Coordinator if you have questions about your program of study.

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

 

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Biochemistry Major and Focus Options

Biochemistry majors choose their focus option and College.

 

What are my choices for focus option?

Each focus option prepares students for their area of interest while meeting core biochemistry-major requirements. 

For detailed focus option requirements, see Biochemistry (CALS) Requirements, Biochemistry (LAS) Requirements, and upper-level core course electives for each focus option.

What's the difference between focus options?

A few core and general education courses vary among focus options reflect strategic preparation for your professional interests. For example, students focusing in pre-medicine will take psychology course as part of their gen eds to meet medical school admission requirements, whereas students focusing in biophysics will take a computer science course as one of their core courses. Students may switch focus options at any time.

Regardless of focus option, every biochemistry student will build a rigorous foundation of core courses in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, math, and physics. 

Regardless of focus option, every biochemistry student has access to extracurricular opportunities like BBMB Club, Stupka Symposium, and research.

 

What are my choices for College?

You may study Biochemistry in either the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). All three biochemistry focus options are available in both CALS and LAS.

What's the difference between Colleges?

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

Within biochemistry, the upper-level core course electives for each focus option differ slightly to reflect each College's specializations.

CALS and LAS have slightly different requirements outside the core Biochemistry major. For example, CALS has a speech fundamentals requirement and LAS has a World Language requirement. 

Regardless of College, all undergraduate students seeking a degree from Iowa State University complete a common set of general education 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:


General Education Requirements

All Iowa State University Students must meet the U.S. Diversity Requirement and International Perspectives Requirement.

Each College also has general education requirements:

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS)

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)

  • Humanities (3 cr. req'd)
  • Social Science (3 cr. req'd)
  • Ethics (3 cr. req'd)
  • CALS Life Science, Math, Physics, and Statistics requirements may be met by biochemistry-major core courses.

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