Biochemistry 3+2 Plan, Joint Bachelor of Science/Master of Science
Biochemistry 3+2 Plan (BS/MS)
A feature of the Biochemistry MS program is the 3+2 plan. This plan gives qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to simultaneously pursue both the Baccalaureate (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degrees. Talented students are thus quickly moved toward expanding their academic and scientific horizons based on individual student’s abilities and motivation.
Specific requirements for the 3+2 program are included in the Biochemistry MS description of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, undergraduate programs section of this catalog. Students are encouraged to enter the program as early as the fall of the junior year but not later than the fall of the senior year.
Specific Admission Requirements
Students in the 3+2 program are expected to successfully complete the requirements for both the BS and MS degree in five academic years. This is shorter than the typical six years that are necessary to complete BS and MS programs independently. Students must apply to the 3+2 program during the Spring semester of their junior year or the Fall semester of their senior year and meet the course requirements listed below. Students applying to the 3+2 program must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a minimum 3.25 GPA in their chemistry courses.
Prior to being admitted to the Biochemistry 3+2 program, students much have completed or be in process of completing the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 4 |
| CHEM 121L | General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II (GT-SC2) | 4 |
| CHEM 122L | General Chemistry Lab II (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 301L | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 302 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 302L | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 2 |
| CHEM 311 | Biochemistry Survey | 3 |
| or CHEM 411 | Biochemistry I | |
| CHEM 317 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 317L | Quantitative Analysis Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 321 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
The application file for admission to the Biochemistry 3+2 plan must include:
- A completed Biochemistry MS application form (online);
- A letter of intent explaining your expectations and purpose for obtaining the MS in Biochemistry;
- Current CSU Pueblo transcript documenting an undergraduate GPA or 3.00 overall and 3.25 in chemistry courses; and
- Three letters of recommendation from CSU Pueblo faculty addressing your qualifications and potential to succeed in the program.
Specific Program Requirements
Students in the 3+2 BS/MS program must complete:
- The requirements for a BS in Biochemistry.
- The requirements for the MS in Biochemistry including thesis or non-thesis options.
It is expected that students take any 400/500 level courses at the 500 level once they are enrolled in the 3+2 program plan.
The 3+2 degree plan has the following requirements:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 24 | |
| BS Chemistry Core | 42 | |
| BS Biochemistry Concentration | 54 | |
| MS Biochemistry | 30-32 | |
| Total Credits | 150-152 | |
Undergraduate Requirements
Specific Core Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| CHEM 122 & 122L | General Chemistry II (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Lab II (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| CHEM 170 | Academic Orientation | 0.5 |
| CHEM 301 & 301L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | 5 |
| CHEM 302 & 302L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | 5 |
| CHEM 317 & 317L | Quantitative Analysis and Quantitative Analysis Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 321 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 370 | Academic Enrichment | 0.5 |
| CHEM 419 & 419L | Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 420 & 420L | Inorganic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 493 | Seminar | 1 |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
Specific Concentration Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 411 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 412 & 412L | Biochemistry II and Biochemistry II Lab | 5 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Research | 1-3 | |
| Independent Study | 1-7 | |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 181 & 181L | College Biology I/Organismal Bio (GT-SC2) and College Biology I/Organismal Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 182 & 182L | College Biology II/Cellular Biology (GT-SC2) and College Biology II/Cellular Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIOL 301 & 301L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 350 | Mendelian and Population Genetics | 2 |
| BIOL 351 & 351L | Molecular Biology & Genetics and Molecular Biology & Genetics Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 412 & 412L | Advanced Cellular Biology and Advanced Cellular Biology Lab | 4 |
| MATH 126 | Calculus & Analytic Geometry I (GT-MA1) | 5 |
| MATH 224 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 5 |
| PHYS 221 & 221L | General Physics I and General Physics I Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| PHYS 222 & 222L | General Physics II and General Physics II Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| Total Credits | 54 | |
Graduate Requirements
The course of study requires five semester credits of course work common to all students. Each student must complete three of the five core courses (9 credit hours). Students are required to complete 10-12 additional credit hours of approved graduate level electives in Chemistry, Biology, Math, or Engineering as outlined in the graduation plan developed with the student’s advisor and graduate committee, and approved by the Program Director. The signed graduation plan may be completed at any time, but is a requirement for successful completion of CHEM 510 Seminar (3 c.h.).
Thesis option students are required to defend their research results before their graduate committee. Non-thesis option students must take a written comprehensive examination over courses taken in their program of study. A non-thesis option student must submit a formal written report based on an internship and defend their internship and work before their graduate committee.
Each student must pass qualifying exams in three of five areas of selected chemistry content (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry). Students will have two opportunities to pass each area exam. Qualifier examinations are scheduled during the week preceding the beginning of classes each term or in consultation with the program director or department chair. If an examination is failed, the requirement may be satisfied by completing the designated undergraduate coursework in the appropriate subdiscipline, as specified by the program director or department chair, with a minimum grade of “B”.Students enrolling into the 3+2 program will be exempt from the requirement to pass qualifying exams if they have completed courses at CSU Pueblo in analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry with a grade of “B” or better.Students enrolled in the 3+2 program required to pass qualifying exams will schedule the exams in consultation with the Program Director.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| Biochemistry I | 3 | |
or CHEM 512 | Biochemistry II | |
| Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 | |
| Advanced Analytical Chemistry | 3 | |
| Advanced Physical Chemistry | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Plan A (Thesis Option)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis Option Courses | 11 | |
| Foundations in Graduate Studies | 3 | |
| Thesis Defense | 1 | |
| Seminar | 1 | |
| Thesis Research | 6 | |
| Electives | 10 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Plan B (Non-Thesis Option)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Thesis Option Courses | 9 | |
| Foundations in Graduate Studies | 3 | |
| Internship Defense | 1 | |
| Seminar | 1 | |
| Internship | 4 | |
| Electives | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Electives
Elective courses may be selected from the following or others may be added with permission of the Graduate Committee.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 501 & 501L | Advanced Organic Chemistry and Advanced Organic Chemistry Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 503 | Polymer Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 511 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 512 & 512L | Biochemistry II and Biochemistry II Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 519 & 519L | Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 521 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 525 | Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 529 | Advanced Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 531 | Advanced Physical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 550 | Industrial Chemistry | 2 |
| CHEM 591 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| CHEM 592 | Research | 1-6 |
| CHEM 595 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
Planning Sheet
Disclaimer: The Planning Sheet is designed as a guide for student's planning their course selections. The information on this page provides only a suggested schedule. Actual course selections should be made with the advice and consent of an academic advisor. While accurately portraying the information contained in the college catalog, this form is not considered a legal substitute for that document. Students should become familiar with the catalog in effect at the time in which they entered the institution.
Enrollment in CHEM 121 requires successful placement exam score or completion of CHEM 111 with a grade of C or better, and completion of MATH 120 with a grade of C or better, or mathematics placement above MATH 120. The placement exam is administered through the Testing Center - contact them to make arrangements.
Thesis Option
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 4 |
| CHEM 121L | General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| CHEM 170 | Academic Orientation | 0.5 |
| MATH 126 | Calculus & Analytic Geometry I (GT-MA1) | 5 |
| ENG 101 | Rhetoric & Writing I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| General Education recommended to select a Humanities course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II (GT-SC2) | 4 |
| CHEM 122L | General Chemistry Lab II (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| MATH 224 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 5 |
| ENG 117 or ENG 115 |
Intro. Scientific/Medical Writing (GT-CO2) or ENG 102 or Intro Tech Prof Writing GT-CO2 |
3 |
| General Education recommended to select a Social Science course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 301L | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHEM 292 | Research | 1 |
| BIOL 181 | College Biology I/Organismal Bio (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| BIOL 181L | College Biology I/Organismal Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| PHYS 221 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 221L | General Physics I Lab (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 302 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 302L | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 2 |
| CHEM 292 | Research | 1 |
| BIOL 182 | College Biology II/Cellular Biology (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| BIOL 182L | College Biology II/Cellular Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| PHYS 222 | General Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 222L | General Physics II Lab (GT-SC1) | 1 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 317 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 317L | Quantitative Analysis Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 492 | Research | 1 |
| BIOL 301L | General Microbiology Lab | 2 |
| BIOL 301 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 350 | Mendelian and Population Genetics | 2 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 321 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 370 | Academic Enrichment | 0.5 |
| CHEM 519 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 519L | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 599 | Thesis Research | 1 |
| BIOL 351 | Molecular Biology & Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 351L | Molecular Biology & Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| Credits | 14.5 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 420 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 420L | Inorganic Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 510 | Foundations in Graduate Studies | 3 |
| CHEM 511 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 599 | Thesis Research | 1 |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| General Education recommended to select a Social Science course | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 512 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 512L | Biochemistry II Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 521 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 599 | Thesis Research | 1 |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| BIOL 512 | Advanced Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 512L | Advanced Cellular Biology Lab | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 126 | |
Year 5
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 593 | Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 599 | Thesis Research | 2 |
| General Education recommended to select a Humanities course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 589 | Thesis Defense | 1 |
| CHEM 599 | Thesis Research | 1 |
| General Education recommended to select a History course | 3 | |
| General Education recommended to select a Humanities course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Non-Thesis Option
Follow years 1 and 2 in Thesis Option, then continue below.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 317 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 317L | Quantitative Analysis Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| BIOL 301 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 301L | General Microbiology Lab | 2 |
| BIOL 350 | Mendelian and Population Genetics | 2 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 321 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 370 | Academic Enrichment | 0.5 |
| CHEM 419 | Instrumental Analysis select CHEM 519 if accepted to 3+2 program | 3 |
| CHEM 419L | Instrumental Analysis Lab select CHEM 519L if accepted to 3+2 program | 2 |
| BIOL 351 | Molecular Biology & Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 351L | Molecular Biology & Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| Credits | 13.5 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 420 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 420L | Inorganic Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 510 | Foundations in Graduate Studies | 3 |
| CHEM 511 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 598 | Internship | 1 |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| General Education recommended to select a Social Science course | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 512 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 512L | Biochemistry II Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 521 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| BIOL 512 | Advanced Cellular Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 512L | Advanced Cellular Biology Lab | 1 |
| chem 598 | 1 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 61.5 | |
Year 5
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 593 | Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 598 | Internship | 2 |
| General Education recommended to select a Humanities course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 588 | Internship Defense | 1 |
| General Education recommended to select a History course | 3 | |
| General Education recommended to select a Humanities course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |