Biochemistry & Biotechnology 4-Year Degree Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your BS in Biochemistry and Biotechnology degree in a timely manner. The plan below is one of several possible ways for you to complete the Biochemistry and Biotechnology degree. Your individualized plan may look different if you have already fulfilled some requirements. Check your Financial Aid as it may require additional term credits for full-time funding. You must complete all university and program requirements successfully to complete this degree (GPA, 120 credits, LASC, WI, residency).

  • Program: Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology
  • Total Credits: 120
  • Catalog: 2025-2026
Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Biological Chemistry Emphasis

Program: Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Biological Chemistry Emphasis

First Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (1st Fall)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 CHEM 150 General Chemistry I Lecture 3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 31 CHEM 150L General Chemistry I Lab 1
Graduation Requirement: First-Year Experience Course FYE 101 First Year Experience 1
LASC Goal 21     3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 BIOL 115/115L Organismal Biology with Lab 4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 42 MATH 261 Calculus I 4
Total Credits: 16
Spring (1st Spring)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 CHEM 210 General Chemistry II Lecture 3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 31 CHEM 210L General Chemistry II Lab 1
Core Requirement: BCBT 220 Survey of BCBT Research and Methodology 1
Emphasis Requirement: LASC Goal 4 MATH 262 Calculus II 4
LASC Goal 1B ENGL 101 English Composition I 3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 BIOL 111/111L Cell Biology with Lab 3
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

  • 1 CHEM 275 can be taken in place of either CHEM 150L or CHEM 210L and counts as a LASC 2.
  • 2 ACT Math or Math Placement Exam score is needed to inform whether a student should begin directly in Calculus I or a lower math class.

 

Second Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (2nd Fall)
Core Requirement: CHEM 350 Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 355 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 35 PHYS 200 Physics I with Calculus and Lab 4
Core Requirement: BIOL 341/341L Genetics with Lab 4
Core Requirement: BCBT 360 Team-Based BCBT Research 3
Total Credits: 15
Spring (2nd Spring)
Core Requirement: CHEM 360 Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 365 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
Emphasis Requirement: CHEM 380 Analytical Chemistry I with Lab 4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 35 PHYS 201 Physics II with Calculus and Lab 4
Core Requirement: BIOL 385/385L Molecular Biology with Lab 4
Total Credits: 16

Notes:

  • 5 If a student has not taken Calculus, PHYS 160/161 can be taken instead of PHYS 200/201.

 

Third Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (3rd Fall)10
LASC Goal/WI Elective8     3
LASC Goal 1A Elective COMM 100 Speech Communication 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 400 Biochemistry I 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 405 Biochemistry I Lab 1
Core Requirement: Biology Elective7 BIOL 323/323L Human Anatomy with Lab 4
Total Credits: 14
Spring (3rd Spring)
Core Requirement: CHEM 410 Biochemistry II 3
Emphasis Requirement: CHEM 450 Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics 3
Core Requirement: Physiology Elective9 BIOL 349/349L Human Physiology with Lab 4
LASC Goal/WI Elective8     3
LASC Goal Elective8     3
Total Credits: 16

Notes:

  • 7 Other classes such as BIOL 350/350L, BIOL 365/365L, or BIOL 430/430L can be taken instead.
  • 8 When selecting LASC 5 and 6 courses, students should consider courses that double-count in LASC areas 7, 8, 9, and 10. Some of these are also Writing Intensive. A carefully selected set of 4 courses can fulfill LASC areas 5-10, along with 3 Writing Intensive requirements.
  • 9 Other physiology classes such as BIOL 347/347L or BIOL 360/360L can be taken instead.
  • 10 Study abroad is possible during the fall of Year 3.

 

Fourth

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (4th Fall)
Emphasis Requirement: CHEM 300 Inorganic Chemistry 3
Restricted Electives:3     3
LASC Goal Elective4,8     3
LASC Goal/WI Elective4,8     3
Elective:4     3
Total Credits: 15
Spring (4th Spring)
Core Requirement: Biotechniques Elective-WI for major6 BCBT 463 Genomics, Proteomics, and Beyond 3
Emphasis Requirement: BCBT 494 Senior Research Thesis 1
Emphasis Requirement: BCBT 450 Biophysical Chemistry 3
LASC Goal Elective4,8     3
Elective:4     3
Total Credits: 13

Notes:

  • 3 Consult with an advisor as the list of possible electives is extensive.
  • 4 In considering electives, keep in mind that all of the Liberal Arts and Science Curriculum requirements must be fulfilled.
  • 6 BCBT 463 is only offered in the spring of even years. An alternative course is BCBT 464, which is offered in the spring of odd years.
  • 8 When selecting LASC 5 and 6 courses, students should consider courses that double-count in LASC areas 7, 8, 9, and 10. Some of these are also Writing Intensive. A carefully selected set of 4 courses can fulfill LASC areas 5-10, along with 3 Writing Intensive requirements.

*Official degree requirements can only be found in the Minnesota State Moorhead Bulletin/Catalog. The information on this webpage is a high-level overview of the degree. Please refer to the bulletin for up-to-date requirements.

Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Molecular Biology Emphasis

Program: Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Molecular Biology Emphasis

First Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (1st Fall)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 CHEM 150 General Chemistry I Lecture 3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 31 CHEM 150L General Chemistry I Lab 1
Graduation Requirement: First-Year Experience Course FYE 101 First Year Experience 1
LASC Goal 21     3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 BIOL 115/115L Organismal Biology with Lab 4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 42 MATH 261 Calculus I 4
Total Credits: 16
Spring (1st Spring)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 CHEM 210 General Chemistry II Lecture 3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 31 CHEM 210L General Chemistry II Lab 1
Core Requirement: BCBT 220 Survey of BCBT Research and Methodology 1
Emphasis Requirement: LASC Goal 43 MATH 262 Calculus II 4
LASC Goal 1B ENGL 101 English Composition I 3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3 BIOL 111/111L Cell Biology with Lab 3
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

  • 1 CHEM 275 can be taken in place of CHEM 150L or CHEM 210L and counts as a LASC 2.
  • 2 ACT Math or Math Placement Exam score is needed to inform whether a student should begin directly in Calculus I or a lower math class.
  • 3 Students may take BIOL 275 instead.

 

Second Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (2nd Fall)
Core Requirement: CHEM 350 Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 355 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 35 PHYS 200 Physics I with Calculus and Lab 4
Core Requirement: BIOL 341/341L Genetics with Lab 4
Core Requirement: BCBT 360 Team-Based BCBT Research 3
Total Credits: 15
Spring (2nd Spring)
Core Requirement: CHEM 360 Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 365 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
Emphasis Requirement:12 CHEM 380 Analytical Chemistry I with Lab 4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 35 PHYS 201 Physics II with Calculus and Lab 4
Core Requirement: BIOL 385/385L Molecular Biology with Lab 4
Total Credits: 16

Notes:

  • 5 If a student has not taken Calculus, PHYS 160/161 can be taken instead of PHYS 200/201.
  • 12 Students may take CHEM 300, a fall class, instead.

 

Third Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (3rd Fall)13
LASC Goal/WI Elective8     3
LASC Goal 1A COMM 100 Speech Communication 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 400 Biochemistry I 3
Core Requirement: CHEM 405 Biochemistry I Lab 1
Core Requirement: Biology Elective7 BIOL 323/323L Human Anatomy with Lab 4
Total Credits: 14
Spring (3rd Spring)
Core Requirement: CHEM 410 Biochemistry II 3
Core Requirement: Physiology Elective9 BIOL 349/349L Human Physiology with Lab 4
LASC Goal/WI Elective8     3
LASC Goal Elective8     3
Elective4     3
Total Credits: 16

Notes:

  • 7 Other classes such as BIOL 350/350L, BIOL 365/365L, or BIOL 430/430L can be taken instead.
  • 8 When selecting LASC 5 and 6 courses, students should consider courses that double-count in LASC areas 7, 8, 9, and 10. Some of these are also Writing Intensive. A carefully selected set of 4 courses can fulfill LASC areas 5-10, along with 3 Writing Intensive requirements.
  • 9 Other physiology classes such as BIOL 347/347L or BIOL 360/360L can be taken instead.
  • 13 Study abroad is possible during the fall of Year 3.

 

Fourth

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (4th Fall)
Emphasis Requirement: Biology Elective11     3
Restricted Electives:11     3
Elective4     3
LASC Goal/WI Elective4     3
LASC Goal Elective4,8     3
Total Credits: 15
Spring (4th Spring)
Core Requirement:6 BCBT 463 Proteomics 3
Emphasis Requirement:10 BCBT 450 Biophysical Chemistry 3
LASC Goal Elective:4,8     3
Elective:4     4
Total Credits: 13

Notes:

  • 4 In considering electives, keep in mind that all of the Liberal Arts and Science Curriculum requirements must be fulfilled.
  • 6 BCBT 463 is only offered in the spring of even years. An alternative course is BCBT 464, which is offered in the spring of odd years.
  • 8 When selecting LASC 5 and 6 courses, students should consider courses that double-count in LASC areas 7, 8, 9, and 10. Some of these are also Writing Intensive. A carefully selected set of 4 courses can fulfill LASC areas 5-10, along with 3 Writing Intensive requirements.
  • 10 CHEM 450 may be taken instead.
  • 11 Consult with an advisor as the list of possible electives is extensive.

*Official degree requirements can only be found in the Minnesota State Moorhead Bulletin/Catalog. The information on this webpage is a high-level overview of the degree. Please refer to the bulletin for up-to-date requirements.