Ken Otter, Professor and Co-Chair
Todd Whitcombe, Professor and Co-Chair
Dezene Huber, Professor
Chow Lee, Professor
Kathy Lewis, Professor
Brent Murray, Professor
Geoffrey Payne, Professor
Stephen Rader, Professor
Kerry Reimer, Professor
Mark Shrimpton, Professor
Andrea Gorrell, Associate Professor
Daniel Erasmus, Assistant Professor
Kalindi Morgan, Assistant Professor
Michael Preston, Assistant Professor
Website: www.unbc.ca/biochemistry
Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BSc)
Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BSc Honours)
Minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB) investigates how molecules work in living systems. There is no clear line dividing living from non-living systems; rather, there is a gradual increase in complexity from clearly inanimate molecules up to obviously complex organisms. The goal of biochemistry and molecular biology is to understand how simple, inanimate molecular interactions support life and how living systems are shaped by their molecular foundation.
The BCMB degree has two main components: learning about molecules, and learning about the scientific method. The former involves acquiring expertise in the foundations of biochemistry, such as organic and physical chemistry, and then exploring biological molecules and how they operate in living systems. The latter involves exploring how science asks questions to understand the workings of nature, while developing competence in laboratory skills and analysis. These two aspects are linked in that understanding how information is acquired is as important as the information itself, since different experimental systems can yield different insights into complex biological problems.
BCMB majors continue on to successful careers in a diverse range of fields, notably medicine, teaching, pharmacy, the biotechnology industry, science policy, and law. BCMB majors acquire strong skills in laboratory techniques, and are therefore qualified for many kinds of research positions, including graduate programs such as immunology, molecular genetics, and developmental biology. For students with interests in human health but not necessarily its molecular basis, UNBC also offers a degree in Health Science (the BHSc degree), which focuses on the social determinants of health and how health care is delivered. BCMB majors are encouraged to pursue their interests by combining the BCMB degree with minors in other fields, such as computer science, physics, business, or education.
Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology requires students to take at least 74 credit hours of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-oriented courses, of which 33 credit hours must be upper division (i.e., 300 or 400 level). The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is 127 credit hours.
Program Requirements
Lower-Division Requirements
100 Level
| BIOL 103-3 | Introductory Biology I |
| BIOL 104-3 | Introductory Biology II |
| BIOL 123-1 | Introductory Biology I Laboratory |
| BIOL 124-1 | Introductory Biology II Laboratory |
| CHEM 100-3 | General Chemistry I |
| CHEM 101-3 | General Chemistry II |
| CHEM 120-1 | General Chemistry Lab I |
| CHEM 121-1 | General Chemistry Lab II |
| MATH 100-3 | Calculus I |
| MATH 101-3 | Calculus II |
| PHYS 100-4 | Physics for Life Sciences I |
| or PHYS 110-4 | Introductory Physics I: Mechanics |
| PHYS 101-4 | Physics for Life Sciences II |
| or PHYS 111-4 | Introductory Physics II: Waves and Electricity |
200 Level
| BCMB 255-2 | Introduction to Biochemical Methods |
| BIOL 203-3 | Microbiology |
| BIOL 210-3 | Genetics |
| CHEM 201-3 | Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 203-3 | Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 204-3 | Introductory Biochemistry |
| CHEM 250-1 | Organic Chemistry Lab I |
| CHEM 251-1 | Organic Chemistry Lab II |
| STAT 240-3 | Basic Statistics |
| or STAT 371-3 | Probability and Statistics for Scientists and Engineers |
Upper-Division Requirements
300 Level
| BCMB 306-3 | Intermediary Metabolism |
| BCMB 310-3 | Molecular Biology Methods |
| BCMB 320-3 | Biochemical Methods |
| BCMB 340-3 | Physical Biochemistry |
| BIOL 311-3 | Cell and Molecular Biology |
400 Level
| BCMB 404-3 | Proteins and Enzymology |
Four of the following:
| BCMB 401-3 | Basic Science of Oncology |
| BCMB 402-3 | Macromolecular Structure |
| BCMB 403-3 | Advanced Nucleic Acids |
| BCMB 405-3 | Special Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 312-3 | Molecular Cell Physiology |
| BIOL 323-3 | Evolutionary Biology |
| BIOL 423-3 | Molecular Evolution and Ecology |
| BIOL 425-3 | Applied Genetics and Biotechnology |
Subject Requirements
Nine additional credit hours chosen from the following, of which at least 6 credit hours must be at the 300 or 400 level:
| Any 200-level or above BCMB, BIOL or CHEM courses | |
| CPSC 450-3 | Bioinformatics |
| HHSC 305-3 | Human Physiology I |
| HHSC 306-3 | Human Physiology II |
| PSYC 318-3 | Sensation and Perception |
| PSYC 421-3 | Advanced Biopsychology |
Note: NRES 430-6 can count towards this requirement with permission of the Program Chair.
Elective and Academic Breadth Requirements
Elective credit hours as necessary to ensure completion of 127 credit hours including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation on Academic Breadth).
Note: no more than 3 credit hours of continuing education courses may be used towards the BCMB major.
BSc Honours - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The BSc Honours in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers students a higher level of specialization and research experience, especially for students planning to pursue postgraduate work.
Honours students must complete the degree requirements for the BSc – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major. In addition to the total number of credit hours required for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major, each student must complete 6 credit hours of undergraduate thesis coursework, normally BCMB 430-6, under the supervision of a faculty member. Another undergraduate thesis course can be substituted with approval of the BCMB Curriculum Chair.
Students may apply to the BCMB Honours Program after completion of 60 credit hours in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major with a Cumulative GPA of not less than 3.33. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee entry to the Honours Program. Entrance to the Honours Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is at the discretion of the BCMB Program, and is contingent on the availability of a faculty member willing to supervise the undergraduate research thesis. Maintenance of a Cumulative GPA of 3.33 is required to remain in the Honours Program.
The minimum requirement for completion of a BSc Honours – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is 133 credit hours.
Minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is designed to provide students with a core of study in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The program of study includes a grounding in chemistry and biology since these are the disciplines from which modern biochemistry and molecular biology arose. The minimum requirement for completion of the minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is 42 credit hours, of which at least 12 credit hours must be at the upper-division level.
100 Level
| BIOL 103-3 | Introductory Biology I |
| BIOL 104-3 | Introductory Biology II |
| BIOL 123-1 | Introductory Biology I Laboratory |
| BIOL 124-1 | Introductory Biology II Laboratory |
| CHEM 100-3 | General Chemistry I |
| CHEM 101-3 | General Chemistry II |
| CHEM 120-1 | General Chemistry Lab I |
| CHEM 121-1 | General Chemistry Lab II |
200 Level
| BCMB 255-2 | Introduction to Biochemical Methods |
| BIOL 210-3 | Genetics |
| CHEM 201-3 | Organic Chemistry I |
| CHEM 203-3 | Organic Chemistry II |
| CHEM 204-3 | Introductory Biochemistry |
Note: Students are allowed to double-count all applicable first- and second-year courses; however, they must take upper-division courses for the minor that are not included in their major requirements or upper-division subject requirements to ensure completion of 12 upper-division credit hours outside of their major. Students must ensure that all prerequisites are fulfilled prior to taking a course at the 300 and 400 level.
300 and 400 Level
Twelve credit hours must be chosen from the following:
| BCMB 306-3 | Intermediary Metabolism |
| BCMB 310-3 | Molecular Biology Methods |
| or BCMB 320-3 | Biochemical Methods |
| BCMB 340-3 | Physical Biochemistry |
| BCMB 401-3 | Basic Science of Oncology |
| BCMB 402-3 | Macromolecular Structure |
| BCMB 403-3 | Advanced Nucleic Acids |
| BCMB 404-3 | Proteins and Enzymology |
| BCMB 405-3 | Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 311-3 | Cell and Molecular Biology |
| BIOL 312-3 | Molecular Cell Physiology |
| BIOL 323-3 | Evolutionary Biology |
| BIOL 423-3 | Molecular Evolution and Ecology |
| BIOL 425-3 | Applied Genetics and Biotechnology |
Updated: June 27, 2024