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Twin Cities Campus
Biochemistry MinorBiochemistry, Molecular Biology, & Biophysics TCBS
College of Biological Sciences
Biochemists study molecules found in living organisms, particularly proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Biochemistry minors focus their studies on the biosynthesis, metabolism, function, and regulation of these molecules of life. This information is essential to gain an understanding of many biological processes, including how diseases like cancer and diabetes develop, and how genetic engineering and biotechnology can be used in ways that benefit society.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
Most courses for the minor require a course in general biology. Please check individual course options for other prerequisites.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
Required prerequisites
Prerequisite courses
These courses are prerequisites to the first course in the minor, BIOC 4331.
BIOL 1009 - General Biology
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
or
Foundations of Biology
BIOL 1951 - Foundations of Biology Lecture I for Biological Sciences Majors
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
or
BIOL 1951H - Foundations of Biology Lecture I for Biological Sciences Majors
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
BIOL 1961 - Foundations of Biology Lab I for Biological Sciences Majors
[BIOL]
(2.0 cr)
BIOL 2003 - Foundations of Biology for Biological Sciences Majors, Part II
(3.0 cr)
or
BIOL 2003H - Foundations of Biology for Biological Sciences Majors, Part II
(3.0 cr)
Track 1
CHEM 1065 - Chemical Principles I Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
CHEM 1081 - Chemistry for the Life Sciences I
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1082 - Chemistry for the Life Sciences II
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1086 - Chemistry for the Life Sciences II Laboratory
(1.0 cr)
CHEM 2081 - Chemistry for the Life Sciences III
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 2085 - Chemistry for the Life Sciences III Laboratory
(2.0 cr)
or
Track 2
CHEM 1061 - Chemical Principles I
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1065 - Chemical Principles I Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
CHEM 1062 - Chemical Principles II
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1066 - Chemical Principles II Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
CHEM 2301 - Organic Chemistry I
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 2302 - Organic Chemistry II
(3.0 cr)
or
Honors Chemistry Track
CHEM 1071H - Honors Chemistry I
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1075H - Honors Chemistry I Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
CHEM 1072H - Honors Chemistry II
[PHYS]
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 1076H - Honors Chemistry II Laboratory
[PHYS]
(1.0 cr)
CHEM 2331H - Honors Elementary Organic Chemistry I
(3.0 cr)
CHEM 2332H - Honors Elementary Organic Chemistry II
(3.0 cr)
Minor Requirements
Students who wish to declare a minor in biochemistry can do so online at the College of Biological Sciences website.
Credits earned in prerequisite courses count towards the minor's 28 to 35 total required credits.
Minor Courses
BIOC 3021 - Biochemistry
(3.0 cr)
or
BIOC 3022 - Biochemistry for Life Scientists
(3.0 cr)
or
BIOC 4331 - Biochemistry I: Structure, Catalysis, and Metabolism in Biological Systems
(4.0 cr)
BIOC 4332 - Biochemistry II: Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction and Gene Expression
(4.0 cr)
BIOC 4025W - Laboratory in Biochemistry
[WI]
(2.0 cr)
Biochemistry Course Options
Take 2 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
BIOC 4125 - Laboratory in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 4225 - Laboratory in NMR Techniques
(1.0 cr)
·
BIOC 4325 - Laboratory in Mass Spectrometry
(1.0 cr)
·
BIOC 4351 - Protein Engineering
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 4521 - Introduction to Physical Biochemistry
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 4794W - Directed Research: Writing Intensive
[WI]
(1.0-7.0 cr)
·
BIOC 4994 - Directed Research
(1.0-7.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5216 - Current Topics in Signal Transduction
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5309 - Biocatalysis and Biodegradation
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5352 - Biotechnology and Bioengineering for Biochemists
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5361 - Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5444 - Muscle
(3.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5528 - Spectroscopy and Kinetics
(4.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5535 - Introduction to Modern Structural Biology -- Diffraction
(2.0 cr)
·
BIOC 5536 - Introduction to Modern Structural Biology - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
(2.0 cr)
·
MPHY 5040 - Introduction to Medical Physics
(3.0 cr)
·
MPHY 5160 - Advanced Radiation Physics and Dosimetry
(3.0 cr)
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Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 1009/Biol 1009H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 1951/H/Biol 2002/H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 1951/H/Biol 2002/H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 2003/Biol 2003H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 2003/Biol 2003H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1065/Chem 1075H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1061/Chem 1071H/Chem 1081 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1062/1072H/1082 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1061/Chem 1071H/Chem 1081 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1065/Chem 1075H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1062/1072H/1082 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1066/Chem 1076H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 2301/Chem 2331H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 2302/Chem 2332HChem 2304 |
Prerequisites: | Grade of at least C- in 2301 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1061/Chem 1071H/Chem 1081 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1065/Chem 1075H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1062/1072H/1082 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 1066/Chem 1076H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 2301/Chem 2331H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 2302/Chem 2332HChem 2304 |
Prerequisites: | At least C- in 2331H, UHP student |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 3021/BioC 3022/BioC 4331/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 3021/BioC 3022/BioC 4331/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 3021/BioC 3022/BioC 4331/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 4125/BioC 4185/Biol 4125/ |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -7.0 [max 42.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 4793W/Biol 4793W/EEB 4793 |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -7.0 [max 42.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Bioc 5309/MicE 5309 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 5352/MicB 5352 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 5444/ Phsl 5444 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 5535/BioC 5527 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 5527BioC 5536 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |