2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Dec 26, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Combined Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BS & Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, MS

Program Description

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) offers a combined 4+1 degree program leading to Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees within a five-year plan of study. This program will focus on preparing students for careers in fields including, but not limited to, drug manufacturing and design, agriculture, forensic science (crime lab science), academic/clinical/industrial research, human and veterinary medicine, physical therapy, physician assistancy, dentistry, pharmacy and optometry with a focus on the development of student research skills. The program allows 9 Cr-h of “overlap” courses, where credit is given at both the undergraduate (UG) and graduate (GR) level facilitating both BS and MS completion in five years.

Admission Requirements

Only exceptionally well-prepared students are admitted to the program. Qualified applicants must have the following:

At least 90 credit hours by the end of the semester in which they are applying;
A minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA on all undergraduate coursework, including undergraduate credits earned at other institutions and transferred to Wright State;
Completion of BMB 3850, BMB 4210, and BMB 4230 with a grade of “B” or better, and a minimum calculated GPA of 3.2 for these three courses;
Approval of the undergraduate advisor;
Approval of the BMB Department Chair.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent to the department Vice-Chair for Education during the semester that they intend to complete the application criteria outlined above (typically Spring semester of Junior year). All qualified applicants will be given full consideration by the department Graduate Admissions Committee.

Program Learning Outcomes

The main goal of our program is to prepare students for careers in fields related to biochemistry and molecular biology and/or admission into graduate and further professional degree programs. The BMB BS portion of the program will follow the foundational and threshold concepts and skills accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and uses innovative science education pedagogies such as active learning, flipped classrooms and formative assessment to build skills in teamwork, critical thinking, scientific reasoning and oral/written communication. Additionally, within the BMB MS portion of the program students will undertake research endeavors with the intention of becoming proficient readers and writers of BMB research literature, the understanding of various BMB research techniques and the development of experimental design and data analysis skills.

For More Information

Program Requirements:

Wright State Core: 43 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3

Element 2: Mathematics: 4 Hours

MTH 2240 - Applied Calculus Credit Hour(s): 4
OR
MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

Departmental Requirements and Electives: 6.5 Hours

6.5 Credits from the folloiwng

ANT 3100 - Human Structure and Function I Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 3100L - Human Structure and Function I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
ANT 3120 - Human Structure and Function II Credit Hour(s): 4
ANT 3120L - Human Structure and Function II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 2120 - Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2140 - Introduction to Cell Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2.5
BIO 2140R - Introduction to Cell Biology Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 2310 - Evolution and Ecology Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 2310L - Evolution and Ecology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 3120 - General Microbiology Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 3120L - General Microbiology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 3250 - Basic Cell Culture Techniques Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 3250L - Basic Cell Culture Techniques Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 3810 - Introduction to Bioinformatics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4060 - Evolutionary Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4200 - Designing Biological Experiments Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4420 - Advanced Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4460 - Advanced Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4480 - Advanced Cell Techniques Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 4810 - Algorithms for Bioinformatics Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4010 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): .5 to 5
BMB 4400 - Human Microbiome Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4444 - Cell Signaling Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4450 - Medical Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4750 - Molecular Biology of Cancer Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4880 - Independent Reading in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 1 to 5
BMB 4950 - Honors Research in Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3 to 9
BMB 4990 - Undergraduate Research Credit Hour(s): 1 to 10
CHM 3120 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3120L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3510 - Thermodynamics and Kinetics Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3510L - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 3510R - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 3520 - Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3520L - Physical Chemistry Laboratory II Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 3520R - Physical Chemistry II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
NEU 3100 - How the Nervous System Works I Credit Hour(s): 4
NEU 3200 - How the Nervous System Works II Credit Hour(s): 4
NEU 3400 - Advanced Neuroscience Lab Techniques: Microscopy Credit Hour(s): 4
STT 4300 - Biostatistics Credit Hour(s): 3

Related Course Requirements: 38.5

BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 3140 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3.5
CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
SM 1010 - Scientific Thought and Reasoning Credit Hour(s): 4
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4
Four Credits of ANY MTH or STT course Credits / Units: 4
One Full Year of Physics Credits / Units: 10
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 1110R - Principles of Physics I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
AND
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 1120R - Principles of Physics II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
OR
PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 2400R - General Physics I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
AND
PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 2410R - General Physics II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0

General Electives: 3.0 Hours

Undergraduate and Graduate Overlap Requirements: 9

These courses are applied to the BMB electives portion of our standard 4 year degree under the Departmental Requirements and Electives.

BMB 7500 - Molecular Biochemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
Grad Elective Credits / Units: 3
BMB 7520 - Molecular Biochemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3

Graduate Requirements

Additional Core Requirements: 3

BMB 6020 - Research Perspectives in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 3

Advanced Courses: 19

Graduate Seminars: 3

Three credits from the following (Courses may be repeated)

BMB 8000 - Biochemistry Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1
BMB 9000 - Advanced Seminar in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 1

Elective Courses: 2

Five credits from the following courses

BMB 7010 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): .5 to 5
BMB 7260 - Bioenergetics and Metabolism Credit Hour(s): 2
BMB 7530 - Molecular Signalling - Molecular Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 7600 - Molecular Biology of the Nucleus Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 7630 - In Vivo NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 7650 - Computational Tools and Strategies in Biomed Sciences Credit Hour(s): 2 to 3
BMB 7660 - Systems Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 7670 - Molecular Basis of Inherited Diseases Credit Hour(s): 3

Research: 14

BMB 8990 - Biochemistry Research Credit Hour(s): .5 to 15

Total: 142 Hours

Additional Information

Other key aspects of the program are:
• Students in the 4+1 program must complete a minimum of 120 Cr-h to earn a BS degree by end of their 4th year, and a minimum of 30 Cr-h of graduate work to fulfill the requirements for the MS degree. This will require at least 14 Cr-h of laboratory research (BMB 8990) and a written thesis. Students must take BMB 8990 during the summer following completion of the BS degree in order to complete the program within 5-years (as shown in the Program of Study).
• The program allows 9 Cr-h of “overlap” courses, where credit is given at both the undergraduate (UG) and graduate (GR) level. These courses are indicated by a double-asterisk (**) in the Program of Study. An additional 3 credit hours of graduate course work can be completed as undergrad to a total of 12 graduate credits which can be applied to their graduate degree Program of Study.
• BMB 6020 (Research Perspectives; 3 Cr-h) is a requirement for the MS degree. Any BMB major who takes the UG version of this course (BMB 4020; 1 Cr-h), and later wishes to transition into the 4+1 program, can satisfy the GR requirement for Research Perspectives by taking 2 additional Cr-h of BMB 8990 (Research). This will reduce the total program hours to 30 from 31.
• Research Ethics is a course requirement for both the UG major (BMB 3030; 1 Cr-h) and the MS degree (BMB 7030; 0.5 Cr-h) in BMB. Students in the 4+1 program may take BMB 3030 and satisfy the graduate requirement for this course.
• The MS degree requires 5 Cr-h of seminars (BMB 8000 and/or BMB 9000). In the 4+1 program, this requirement can be fulfilled by a combination of seminars taken at the UG and GR level as follows: 2 Cr-h of BMB 4000/4870 plus 3 Cr-h of BMB 8000/9000.