2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BS (BIOCHMMB-BS)

CIP Code: 260210

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science degree from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB BS) 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 and development, science education, and scientific writing. This degree will also prepare students for further professional training in human and veterinary medicine, physical therapy, physician assistancy, dentistry, pharmacy, and optometry.

The main goal of this program is to prepare students for careers in fields related to biochemistry and molecular biology and/or admission into graduate and professional degree programs. The BMB BS program will follow the foundational and threshold concepts and skills accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). This major will serve as a personalized program for accelerated students who seek more individualized attention than would be possible at institutions with larger enrollments.

Beyond the content knowledge endorsed by ASBMB, the curriculum uses cutting edge 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. Within the curriculum are also many opportunities for students to be associated with hands-on, up-to-date research through independent studies, undergraduate research projects, and authentic research laboratory experiences.

Students will acquire the skills and practices to work effectively as a scientist in the scientific community.

Program Admission Requirements

This academic program does not have admission requirements beyond regular admission to Wright State University. Any student is eligible to declare this academic program.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Explore how foundational chemistry content knowledge is related to biological processes such as energy transfer, information storage, evolution, homeostasis and structure function relationships.
Participate in the collection and analysis of scientific research data while considering the ethical factors present in doing research.
Perform scientific inquiry through various experiential learning opportunities
Effectively communicate scientific information in both oral and written formats.
Collaborate with colleagues, including peers, faculty, and staff.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Explain and apply core concepts of matter and energy transformation, including thermodynamics, catalysis, the coupling of exergonic and endergonic processes, and the nature of biological energy.
Explain and apply core concepts of macromolecular structure and function, including the nature of biological macromolecules, their interaction with water, the relationship between structure and function, and frequently encountered mechanisms for regulating their function.
Explain and apply core concepts of biological information, including the genome, the manner in which the information it contains is encoded and translated, and the mechanisms by which it is transmitted and maintained across generations.
Explain and apply the process of science, including hypothesis generation, experimental design, quantitative analysis, and data interpretation.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Work effectively in teams.

Honors Program

The BMB honors program allows qualified students to carry out sustained independent projects under the guidance of faculty mentors. Students pursuing a major in BMB who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in their COSM courses and obtained a B or better in all their BMB courses may apply to the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to pursue an honors program. Application for admission should be made by students who are currently taking, or have completed, BMB 4210: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I. Students interested in the honors program should seek additional information on the department website.

Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Program

This program offers a combined-degree program with a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. A combined-degree program provides an opportunity for an undergraduate student to begin working toward a master’s degree in their senior year. This allows students to complete the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in less combined time than it would take to complete them sequentially.

Students enrolled in a combined-degree program may “double count” a maximum of nine credit hours of graduate-level courses to satisfy both the bachelor’s and the master’s degree requirements. Students must earn at least 141 unique credit hours (any credits that “double-count” toward both degrees are counted only once toward the total number of unique hours) in the combined-degree program.

To participate in a combined-degree program, students must apply through the College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies and meet all admission qualifications. Learn more about combined programs in Policy 5330.

For More Information

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 1 Credit Hour

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one additional credit hour in the Additional Core Courses category.

UVC 1010 - First Year Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours

Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.

Required:

MTH 2240 - Applied Calculus Credit Hour(s): 4
OR
MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4
Note: Those students intending to apply to graduate school should take a full year of calculus.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 8 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Required:

BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1120L - Cells & Genes Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 1150L - Organisms & Ecosystems Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Required:

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1210R - General Chemistry Lab I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Core Requirements: 21 Credit Hours

All BMB courses require a grade of C or higher to count in the degree program.

BMB 1000 - Freshman Seminar in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 1
BMB 1010 - Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 1
BMB 2000 - Career Planning in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 1
BMB 2100 - Introduction to Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 2
BMB 3030 - Research Ethics Credit Hour(s): 1
BMB 3850 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 3900 - Scientific Communications Credit Hour(s): 2 (IW)
BMB 4020 - Research Perspectives Credit Hour(s): 1
BMB 4100 - Senior Reflection Credit Hour(s): 1 (IW)
BMB 4210 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4230 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II Credit Hour(s): 3
Two credits from the following courses (courses may be repeated)
BMB 4000 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1
BMB 4870 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar with Developing Researchers Credit Hour(s): 1

III. Major Requirements and Electives: 15 Credit Hours

Students are required to complete 9 credit hours of ‘Approved BMB Elective Courses’ and 6 credit hours of ‘Additional Approved CoSM Courses’ from the lists below. All BMB courses require a grade of C or higher to count in the degree program.

Approved BMB Elective Courses

(May also count towards Approved CoSM Courses, though not simultaneously)
BMB 4450 - Medical Biochemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4750 - Molecular Biology of Cancer Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4400 - Human Microbiome Credit Hour(s): 3
BMB 4444 - Cell Signaling Credit Hour(s): 3
Additional Approved CoSM Elective Courses:
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 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 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): 2
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
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 4415 - Forensic Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 4415L - Forensic Chemistry Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
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
or Any other course approved by the program director that is related to your course of study

IV. Related Course Requirements: 41 Credit Hours

BIO 2110 - Principles of Molecular and Classical Genetics Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 2140 - Introduction to Cell Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2.5
BIO 3140 - Molecular Biology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3.5
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1220R - General Chemistry Lab II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
One full year of Physics (those students intending to apply to graduate school should take a full year of calculus based physics (PHY 2400/2410):
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
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
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
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4
3 additional credit hours of MTH or STT

V. General Electives: 7 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BS (GPS)