Below is a list of the required courses for the MBB major and a suggested time table for when most students choose to take the courses. In addition to the required core courses that all MBB students must take, the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry offers two course options to students to fulfill the requirements for the major. "Electives" Option is intended to expose MBB students to different current topics in molecular biology and biochemistry. Students with a strong math background, who are interested in biophysical questions and research are recommended to take "P-Chem" Option, which requires Physical Chemistry and Multivariable Calculus to fulfill their requirements for the MBB major. MBB students considering a minor in Chemistry are encouraged to take Course Option II with the Physical Chemistry courses because it will fulfill their minor requirements.
Students are strongly urged to contact Dr.
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MBB: Suggested Path
First Year
| Course # | Title | Credits |
| 119:115/116 | General Biology | 4,4 |
| 119:117 | Bio Research Lab (Gen Bio Lab) | 2 |
| 160:161/162 or 160:163/164 (H=Honors) | General Chemistry I & II | 4,4 |
| 160:171 | Intro. To Experimentation (Chem. Lab) | 1 |
| 640:151/152 or 640:135/138 | Calculus I & II Calc II may be replaced by Statistics: 960:401 (3cr) or Statistics 960:211(2cr) and 212(2cr) | 4,4 |
| *First Year students with AP Biology credit may opt for Intro to MBB Research lab 694:214 (3cr,Spring only) or 694:215 Honors (4cr, Fall only) | (3 or 4, see year 2*) | |
Second Year
| 160:307/308 or 160:315/316 (H) | Organic Chemistry I & II** | 4,4 |
| 160:309 or 311(H) | Organic Chemistry Lab (may be deferred to Year 3) | 2 |
| 750:203/204 | Physics I & II (other Physics Lecture+Lab are allowed, see DN) | 3,3 |
| 750:205/206 | Physics I & II Lab | 1,1 |
| 447:380 | Genetics | 4 |
| 694:316 (4cr,Honors Fall only) or 694:315 (3cr, Spring only) | Intro to MBB Research lab (or take in First Year - see above) | 3 or 4 |
| Student wanting the MBB Major Option 2 (P-Chem) may want Calc III (640:651) in Year 2 | ||
**In select cases, an advanced elective will be allowed to substitute for Organic-II but approval is needed from the UG Director as most medical schools and MBB-based graduate programs require two semesters of Organic chemistry.
Third Year
| 694:383 (Fall only) | MBB Seminar: careers in science (only for MBB majors) | 1 |
| 694:407 (Fall only) or 694:395 Fall,Spring | Biochemistry | 3 |
| 694:408 (Spring only) | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| MBB electives (3x3 credits) see list below, typically split between Years 3 and 4 | 3,3,3 | |
| 694:381 Fall 694:382 Spring |
MBB research in a P.I.'s lab, see below | 3 3 |
Fourth Year
| 694:484 (Spring only) | MBB Seminar: Research Presentations (only for MBB majors) | 1 |
| 694:481 Fall 694:482 Spring Honors thesis option - see below |
Continue with MBB research in a P.I.'s lab, see below | 3, 3 |
| Students doing the MBB Major Option 2 (P-Chem) take two semesters of P-Chem + 1 Elective - see below | 3,3 | |
MBB Electives --- see DN (Degree Navigator)
- 694:230 Analytical Methods in Biology (3) (Fall)
- 694:390 Introductory Computational Biology (3) (Spring)
- 694:411 Molecular Pathways (3) (Fall)
- 694:412 Proteomics & Structural Genomics (3) (Spring)
- 694:413 Chromatin and Epigenomics (3) (Fall)
- 694:420 Membrane Dynamics (Fall, but not always offered)
- 694:421 Special Topics in Molecular Biology: The Biology of Aging (3) (Spring,but not always offered)
- 694:492 Gene Regulation in Cancer & Development(3) (Spring)
MBB Major "Electives" Option (9 credits)
- Two 3-credit MBB electives
- One 400 level 3-credit elective from MBB or a department in the Division of Life Sciences (DLS) or approved by the UG Director
MBB Major "P-Chem" Option (13 credits)
- 01:160:327-328 Physical Chemistry (3,3) (requires 01:640:251 as a prerequisite) or 01:160:341-342 Physical Chemistry: Biochemical Systems (3,3). See Degree Navigator for alternative physical chemistry options.
- 01:640:251 Multivariable Calculus (4) (Calculus 640:151,152 are required for this course)
- One 3-credit elective course offered by the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
MBB Research Options (research in a P.I.'s lab) only research in the third and fourth years counts towards the major – also see Degree Navigator (exceptions will need the UG Director's approval).
- Lab Option I: Students must accumulate 12 or more credits of research
- Lab Option II: Students accumulating 6-11 credits of research must take an additional MBB elective.
- Non-lab option is almost never used, see DN and contact UG Director for more information.
- MBB Dept. Honors Thesis: only in final year, see dept. web site and contact UG Director
MBB Undergraduate Director Prof. Sam Gunderson,