Academic Bulletin

College of Arts & Sciences - Undergraduate

BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY- Dept. Code: BMB

Educational Objectives | Degree Programs | Major | Minor | Departmental Honors

Introduction

Biochemistry is the chemistry of life. It includes or has large areas of overlap with molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, metabolism, nutrition, genetics, etc. It tries to explain what happens in living organisms and how biological processes are regulated. It is a relatively young science. Our understanding is still developing and students (and faculty) can learn something that is totally new every day.
An Undergraduate Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology provides an excellent preparation for:

1.  Medical School

2.  Graduate Studies in all basic medical sciences:

Biochemistry                 Molecular Biology
Cell Biology                   Genetics
Neurobiology                Microbiology
Immunology                 Pharmacology
Biophysics                    Physiology
Bio-informatics              Biology
and others

3. Industry
Biotechnology               Pharmaceutical

4. Patent Law

5. Allied Health Professions
Nutrition                      Dentistry
Forensics                     Veterinary Medicine
Toxicology                   Clinical Chemistry
Environmental Science

6. Non-Health Professions
Chemistry
Physics
Scientific Publishing

• Kornberg A, "How I became a biochemist." IUBMB Life. 2002; 53: 3: 185-6.  12102176
• Kornberg A, "Biochemistry matters." Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2004; 11: 6: 493. 15164002.

Educational Objectives

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology intends to provide its students with the best possible opportunities to master the subject and become independent learners.

Degree Programs

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers an undergraduate B.S. degree as a member of the College of Arts & Sciences. It also offers the following graduate degrees: Ph.D. and combined M.D. and Ph.D.

Major

A major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology leading to a Bachelor of Science degree requires a thorough foundation in chemistry and biology or microbiology and background knowledge of physics and mathematics.

Minimum requirements:
1. 15 credits from the courses offered by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology plus at least 16 credits in chemistry and at least 19 credits in biology. Examples of courses that can be taken for the major are BMB 151, 251, 258, 506, 407 or 507, 501, 509, 511 and 545. Courses printed in bold letters are absolutely required. Only in exceptional cases will BMB 401 be accepted in place of BMB 506. Students are encouraged to take at least one semester of BMB 545 (laboratory research). The Department will make its own independent determination on a case-by-case basis concerning the equivalency of courses taken at other universities.

A UM cumulative grade point average of 2.9 is required to declare a biochemistry major or minor. Transfer students can only declare a biochemistry major if they have a grade point average of 3.5.  A grade of C or better must be earned in each Biochemistry and Molecular Biology course.

2.  Required Biology and/or Microbiology courses are:
BIL 150, 151, 160, 250, 252 or 256 or 251 (252 is preferred), 255 plus
BIL 355 (Developmental Biology) or MIC 301

3. Required Chemistry courses are CHM 111/113, 112/114, 201/205, and 202/206. Chemistry 331 is recommended.

4. Mathematics: MTH 111 and 112 or 131 and 132.

5. Physics:
For students contemplating graduate studies: PHY 205, 206 and 207 or PHY 205 and 210. For students not contemplating graduate studies: PHY 101 and 102 are acceptable.

Variations of the above program are feasible for students entering with advanced standing on the basis of placement tests or for transfer students.

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Minor

Minimum requirements are: 

1. 8 credits in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. BMB 506 is required. Students must have all the courses that are a prerequisite for BMB 506 and a good working knowledge of chemistry and biology before they take BMB 506. The remaining credits may come from any of the courses offered by the Department. Only in exceptional cases will BMB 401 be accepted in place of BMB 506 with the permission of the undergraduate advisor. Students should become familiar with the credit sharing rules. Credits for a minor cannot be used for a major. Credits can be shared between two majors.

2. The Department will make its own independent determination on a case-by-case basis concerning the equivalency of courses taken at other universities.

A grade of C or better must be earned in each Biochemistry and Molecular Biology course.

For graduate programs or combined Ph.D.-M.D. programs, consult the Bulletin of the Graduate School.

Registration in all 500-level courses requires permission from the Biochemistry advisor or course coordinator.

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Departmental Honors

Departmental honors can be earned by biochemistry majors who have:

1. successfully completed two semesters of research (5 or 6 credits of BMB 545). This research must be described in a brief thesis that needs to be approved by three BMB faculty members.

2. a 3.5 or higher grade point average in all BMB courses.

3. at least a 3.3 average for all their courses taken at the University of Miami.

For general honors see elsewhere in this Bulletin..

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