Jul 15, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Chemistry: Biochemistry Specialization, BS

Contact Information

Dr. Zhengtao Zhu
Professor and Department Head
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Health Sciences
Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry 2206
Office Phone: 605-394-2447
E-mail: Zhengtao.Zhu@sdsmt.edu

Department Website

Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

CHEM-BCM Flowchart (TBA)

Curriculum Checklist

A specialization is considered a separate major in South Dakota Mines’ student record system. In order to pursue this specialization, please request a change of major even if you are currently pursuing a major in the non-specialized version of Chemistry .

Freshman Year

First Semester

CHEM 111 Introduction to Chemistry, Biology, and Health Sciences Credits: (1-0) 1
CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 ¹
ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4 ¹
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Second Semester

CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
CHEM 114L General Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
MATH 125 Calculus II Credits: (4-0) 4
PHYS 211/211L University Physics I/Lab Credits: (4-1) 5 ⁴
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 16

Sophomore Year

First Semester

CHEM 326 Organic Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 326L Organic Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-2) 2
CHEM 332 Analytical Chemistry Credits: 2 or 3 ²
CHEM 332L Analytical Chemistry Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
MATH 321 Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3¹

Total: 15

Second Semester

CHEM 328 Organic Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 328L Organic Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-2) 2
ENGL 279 Communication in the STEM Workplace Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
PHYS 213/213L University Physics II/Lab Credits: (4-1) 5 ⁴
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 16

Junior Year

First Semester

CHEM 342 Physical Chemistry I Credits: 2 to 3 ²
CHEM 352 Systematic Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 464/564 Biochemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 464L/564L Biochemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 482/582 Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁵
BIOL 331 Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁶
BIOL 331L Microbiology Lab Credits: (0-1) 1

Total: 17

Second Semester

CHEM 344 Physical Chemistry II Credits: 2 to 3 ²
CHEM 344L Physical Chemistry II Lab Credits: 1 to 2 ³
CHEM 452/552 Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁵
CHEM 452L/552L Inorganic Chemistry Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 ⁵
BIOL 371 Genetics Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁶
BIOL 371L Genetics Lab Credits: (0-1) 1

Total: 13

Senior Year

First Semester

CHEM 490 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1
ENGL 289 STEM Communication for Technical and Public Audiences Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Electives or Program Electives or Specialization Electives Credits: 10 ^4,5,6,7,8

Total: 14

Second Semester

CHEM 370 Chemical Literature Credits: (1-0) 1 ⁵
CHEM 434 Instrumental Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁵
CHEM 434L Instrumental Analysis Lab Credits: (0-2) 2 ⁵
CHEM 465/565 Biochemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁵
Free Electives or Program Electives or Specialization Electives Credits: 6 ^4,5,6,7,8

Total: 15

Total credits: 120

Notes:

¹ Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the “General Education Requirements ” section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.

²Three-credit version required for major.

³ Two-credit version required for major.

⁴May also use a sequence of PHYS 207 , PHYS 207L , PHYS 209 , and PHYS 209L . Please be aware of the credit differences in these course sequences. Additional Free Electives may be needed to reach the graduation requirement of 120 credits.

⁵Course is offered on a rotational basis. Contact department for questions on course offerings.

⁶Biology courses needed for the specialization will require BIOL 151 and/or BIOL 153 be completed for a pre-requisite.

⁷ Three credits are required as the program electives from the following courses:

⁸ Three credits are required as the Specialization electives from the following courses:

Objectives and Outcomes

Program Learning Objectives:

Discipline-specific knowledge

Graduates will understand Chemistry based on principles of basic sciences and mathematics, preparing them for careers, graduate school, or professional school.
Graduates will acquire laboratory and data analysis skills required for careers in Chemistry, graduate or professional school through laboratory courses and independent student research.

Communication

Graduates will communicate effectively and professionally through written and oral means on aspects of Chemistry.

Critical Thinking

Graduates will master problem-solving skills in Chemistry.

Student Outcomes:

Discipline-specific knowledge

1. Graduates will demonstrate understanding of mathematics and physics
2. Graduates will demonstrate understanding of areas of Chemistry, including analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical.
Graduates will demonstrate laboratory and data analysis skills commensurate with entry-level positions and graduate and professional schools.

Communication

1. Graduates can give effective oral presentations on an aspect of Chemistry learned from course work, the literature, or laboratory research.
2. Graduates can compose effective written presentations on as aspect of Chemistry learned from course work, the literature, or laboratory research.

Critical Thinking

1. Graduates will demonstrate mastery of problem-solving skills in Chemistry.
2. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to integrate problem-solving skills into research-related problems.