College of Science & Engineering
Biochemistry is the study of chemistry that occurs in living things. It applies the topics and principles that you learn in general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and math to a biological context.
Scholarships: Most of our department-level scholarships are intended for junior and senior biochemistry majors. However, biochemistry majors may be eligible to apply for some scholarships and fellowships that are offered by the Student Enrichment Opportunities Office.
Student Clubs: The Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Association is a student-run organization in the department. They carry out various outreach and student-support activities every year and organize the annual department graduation celebration. It is open to all Chemistry & Biochemistry majors.
Tutoring: The Chemistry Community Learning Room (CCLeaR, SCI 100) provides additional drop-in support for many undergraduate chemistry courses. Hours vary by semester.
Access the list of the major requirements to better understand the structure of the major.
The roadmap puts all of your graduation requirements into an easy-to-follow semester-by-semester plan so you know what to take to stay on track. Whether you are a freshman or a transfer student, you'll be able to find a roadmap that best fits you.
Besides your major requirements, students must complete their GE and University requirements. Be sure to make sure you've completed all of these requirements for graduation.
To learn more about this major, check out the major department’s website below. You can also find out how you can access their faculty advisors who can assist you not just with course choices, but also answer questions about the field and discuss your career plans.
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Thornton Hall Building, Room 806
Phone: (415) 338-1288
Email: chemist@sfsu.edu
Website: http://www.chemistry.sfsu.edu/0home/0layout.php
Chair: Teaster Baird, Jr.
Freshmen Student Advising Information
After choosing “Basic Subjects” GE courses in Steps 1-3 of your Orientation process (if you haven’t done so, log onto your Orientation Profile page to follow the “Pre-Orientation Advising Module”), STEP 4 Choosing Major Classes will show you if there are any classes you can take to satisfy major requirements for your first and/or second semester.
Once you have determined your Roadmap above, review the first section below and write down any course recommendations based on your corresponding major roadmap on your Freshmen Class Planner worksheet.
|
Class & Title |
Units |
Other Requirement Area(s) Met |
|
Class selected from Step 1 of your Freshmen Class Planner |
3 units |
Will vary depending on your class selection: GE Area A2 or GE Area E |
|
MATH 226 Calculus I#1 #2 #3 #4 OR MATH 199 Pre-Calculus #3 #4 |
4 units |
MATH 226 is a lower division major requirement. MATH 226 and MATH 199 are GE-Area B4 classes. |
|
Class selected from Step 3 of your Freshmen Class Planner |
3 units |
Will vary depending on your class selection: GE Area A1 or GE Area A3 |
|
CHEM 115 General Chemistry I#4 #5 #6 |
5 units |
Lower division major requirement |
Advisor Footnotes:
-
#1AP Calculus AB (or AB subscore), or BC score of 4 or 5 (but not 3) satisfies Math 226 requirement (4 units)
-
#2 Prerequisite for MATH 226 is high school pre-calculus with “B” or better, or high school calculus with a grade of “C” or better; or a college-level pre-calculus course with a “C” or better
-
#3 Take the First-Year Math Advising Exercise before choosing this course
-
#4 1-unit Supplemental Instruction courses (SCI) are offered for these classes as additional support. These courses can be found in the SFSU Class Schedule (https://webapps.sfsu.edu/public/classservices/classsearch) by searching for the "SCI" department prefix.
-
#5 Prerequisites for CHEM 115 are a student needs to have Category/Pathway 1 or Category/Pathway 2 for math. Satisfactory score on the Chemistry readiness assessment. CHEM 100 is recommended for students needing additional preparation for CHEM 115.
-
#6 AP Chemistry score of a 4 or 5 (but not 3) satisfies CHEM 115 requirement.
If any of the class(es) above ends up being FULL by the time you register, consider choosing more General Education courses to build up your schedule. Do not pick General Education Area B courses, as GE Area B will be fulfilled with major classes.
- BIOL 230 Introductory Biology I
-
If more units are needed, consider General Education courses from the areas suggested in the "GE Area Recommendations" section below. Do not pick General Education Area B courses, as GE Area B will be fulfilled with major classes.
|
GE Area |
Advisor Notes |
|
A1 Oral Communication |
Covered in “Step 3” on Class Planner |
|
A2 Written English Communication |
Covered in “Step 1” on Class Planner |
|
A3 Critical Thinking |
Covered in “Step 3” on Class Planner |
|
B1 Physical Science |
There are major courses for this area |
|
B2 Life Science |
There are major courses for this area |
|
B3 Laboratory Science |
There are major courses for this area |
|
B4 Quantitative Reasoning |
There are major courses for this area |
|
C1 Arts |
Choose any |
|
C2 Humanities |
Choose any |
|
D Social Sciences |
Choose any |
|
D US History |
Choose any |
|
E Lifelong Learning & Self-Development (LLD) |
Covered in “Step 1” on Class Planner |
|
F Ethnic Studies |
Choose any |
|
US/CA Government |
Choose any |
The Biochemistry BS program will accept either the PHYS 111/112 + PHYS 121/122 series or the PHYS 220/222 + PHYS 240/242 series. The choice of the sequence should be based on preparation and personal interest.
The PHYS 111/112 + PHYS 121/122 is non-calculus based and does not require that calculus be completed before taking it whereas the PHYS 220/222 + PHYS 240/242 is calculus-based and does. Some students may also prefer calculus-based physics for their own reasons.
- A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Chemistry exam will be accepted as a substitute for CHEM 115 (these students may enroll in CHEM 215).
- A score of 3 on the AP Chemistry exam will substitute for the preparation assessment or CHEM 100 (these students do not have to complete the preparation assessment and may enroll directly into CHEM 115).
The Biochemistry BS degree is appropriate for a number of career fields such as biotech and clinical lab technicians. The degree is also excellent preparation for advanced education in professional schools, such as medical school and pharmacy school and graduate school (M.S. and PhD programs). Other career opportunities include science policy and scientific writing.
Transfer Student Advising Information
Please see the box above labeled “Major Curriculum/Roadmaps & GE/University Requirements” for information on what courses to take in your first semester at SF State. View our Frequently Asked Questions for Transfers for helpful tips and additional information.