Undergraduate

Current Students

Degree Plan

BCBP offers two undergraduate degree programs: BS in Biochemistry and BS in Genetics. Our rigorous programs are grounded in math, physics, chemistry, and biology, and require all students to engage in research. Both degrees provide an excellent foundation for students interested in graduate school, medical and professional schools, and careers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

Sample Degree Plans

Biochemistry degree plan
Genetics degree plan
Biochemistry and genetics double major degree plan

Freshman year

Most first-year students register for core curriculum courses, including math and science classes. All BICH/GENE students must participate in a Life Sciences Learning Community course, which is designed as an orientation to the resources and opportunities offered by TAMU and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Genetics and Biochemistry Enrichment Experience (GaBEE) is also integrated into your first year, and will equip you will the skillset required for a successful transition to university-level studies.

Sample Freshman Year Schedule

Biochemistry | Fall

MATH 151	Engineering Mathematics I	4 cr.
CHEM 119	Fundamentals of Chemistry I	4 cr.
ENGL 104	Composition & Rhetoric	3 cr.
BICH 101	Perspectives in Biochemistry & Genetics	1 cr.
AGLS 125	Life Sciences Learning Community	1 cr.
	*Free Elective	3 cr.

*Students intending to pursue an advanced degree in Biochemistry are strongly encouraged to use free electives for additional upper-division courses in BICH, GENE, BIOL, CHEM, MATH or STAT. General Electives may be any course numbered 100-499 that is not used elsewhere (Except BICH 303, BICH 410, BICH 412, BICH 440, BICH 441, MATH 100-104, MATH 130-148).

Biochemistry | Spring

MATH 152	Engineering Mathematics II	4 cr.
CHEM 120	Fundamentals of Chemistry	4 cr.
BIOL 111	Introductory Biology I	4 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.

Genetics | Fall

MATH 151	Engineering Mathematics I	4 cr.
CHEM 119	Fundamentals of Chemistry I	4 cr.
ENGL 104	Composition & Rheotric	3 cr.
GENE 101	Perspectives in Biochemistry & Genetics	1 cr.
AGLS 125	Life Sciences Learning Community	1 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.

Genetics | Spring

MATH 151	Engineering Mathematics I	4 cr.
CHEM 119	Fundamentals of Chemistry I	4 cr.
ENGL 104	Composition & Rheotric	3 cr.
GENE 101	Perspectives in Biochemistry & Genetics	1 cr.
AGLS 125	Life Sciences Learning Community	1 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.

Sophomore year

The second year of a typical degree plan is heavy in math and science. A firm understanding of these foundational concepts will be critical to success in major-specific courses. This is also the time to begin reaching out to research-active faculty to secure a lab position in the upcoming semesters.

Biochemistry | Fall

CHEM 227	Organic Chemistry I	3 cr.
CHEM 237	Organic Chemistry I Lab	1 cr.
PHYS 206	Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science	3 cr.
PHYS 226	Physics of Motion Laboratory for the Sciences	1 cr.
MATH 251	Engineering Mathematics III	3 cr.
BIOL 112	Introductory Biology II	4 cr.

Biochemistry | Spring

CHEM 228	Organic Chemistry II	3 cr.
CHEM 238	Organic Chemistry II Lab	1 cr.
PHYS 207	Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science	3 cr.
PHYS 227	Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory for the Sciences	1 cr.
ENGL 210	Technical and Business Writing	3 cr.
	*Free Elective	3 cr.

*Students intending to pursue an advanced degree in Biochemistry are strongly encouraged to use free electives for additional upper-division courses in BICH, GENE, BIOL, CHEM, MATH or STAT. General Electives may be any course numbered 100-499 that is not used elsewhere (Except BICH 303, BICH 410, BICH 412, BICH 440, BICH 441, MATH 100-104, MATH 130-148).

Genetics | Fall

CHEM 227	Organic Chemistry I	3 cr.
CHEM 237	Organic Chemistry I Lab	1 cr.
BIOL 112	Introductory Biology II	4 cr.
STAT 211	Principles of Statistics I	3 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.
	**General Elective	1 cr.

*Of the 21 hours needed in your degree listed as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from Language, Philosophy and Culture; 3 from Creative Arts; 3 from Social & Behavioral Sciences; 6 from American History; 6 from POLS 206 & 207. The required 3 hours from International & Cultural Diversity, as well as the 3 hours from Cultural Discourse, may be met by satisfying the Language, Philosophy and Culture; Creative Arts; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the American History requirements if they are also on the approved list of International & Cultural Diversity/Cultural Discourse courses.

**Students intending to pursue an advanced degree in Genetics are strongly encouraged to use some Free Electives for additional upper-division courses in GENE, BICH, BIOL, CHEM, MATH or STAT. General Electives may be any course numbered 100-499 that is not used elsewhere (Except BICH 303, BICH 410, BICH 412, BICH 440, BICH 441, MATH 100-104, MATH 130-148)

Genetics | Spring

CHEM 228	Organic Chemistry II	3 cr.
CHEM 238	Organic Chemistry II Lab	1 cr.
GENE 302	Principles of Genetics	3 cr.
GENE 312	Comprehensive Genetics Lab	1 cr.
STAT 212	Principles of Statistics II	3 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.
	**General Elective	1 cr.

Junior year

You’ve made it! You can now enroll in major-specific courses and research credits. Most Aggies agree that this marks the start of the most rewarding period of their degree.

Biochemistry | Fall

BICH 440	Biochemistry I	3 cr.
GENE 302	Principles of Genetics	3 cr.
GENE 312	Comprehensive Genetics Lab	1 cr.
BICH 404	Biochemical Calculations	2 cr.
CHEM 327	Physical Chemistry I	3 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.

Biochemistry | Spring

BICH 441	Biochemistry II	3 cr.
BICH 414	Biochemical Techniques I	2 cr.
BICH 491	Research	1 cr.
CHEM 328	Physical Chemistry II	3 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.
	**Free Elective	3 cr.

*Of the 21 hours needed in your degree listed as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from Language, Philosophy and Culture; 3 from Creative Arts; 3 from Social & Behavioral Sciences; 6 from American History; 6 from POLS 206 & 207. The required 3 hours from International & Cultural Diversity, as well as the 3 hours from Cultural Discourse, may be met by satisfying the Language, Philosophy and Culture; Creative Arts; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the American History requirements if they are also on the approved list of International & Cultural Diversity/Cultural Discourse courses.

**Students intending to pursue an advanced degree in Biochemistry are strongly encouraged to use free electives for additional upper-division courses in BICH, GENE, BIOL, CHEM, MATH or STAT. General Electives may be any course numbered 100-499 that is not used elsewhere (Except BICH 303, BICH 410, BICH 412, BICH 440, BICH 441, MATH 100-104, MATH 130-148).

Genetics | Fall

Most students will begin focusing on their major coursework in their third year. We strongly advise students to begin working on their 491 research credits, as it can prove difficult to find a lab, later on.

STAT 404	Statistical Computing	3 cr.
BICH 409	Principles of Biochemistry	3 cr.
PHYS 201	College Physics I	4 cr.
BIOL 351	Fundamentals of Microbiology	4 cr.
GENE 491	Research	2 cr.

Genetics | Spring

GENE 431	Molecular Genetics	3 cr.
GENE 412	Population & Ecological Genetics	3 cr.
PHYS 202	College Physics II	4 cr.
GENE 491	Research	1 cr.
GENE 491W	Research	1 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	3 cr.

Senior year

Your final semester will require a careful balance of remaining coursework, research, and considering your next steps. Good luck!

Biochemistry | Fall

BICH 491	Research	2 cr.
BICH 431	Molecular Genetics	3 cr.
BIOL 351	Fundamentals of Microbiology	4 cr.
	*Biochemistry Elective	3 cr.
	**University Core Curriculum	3 cr.

*Hours to be selected from any 400-level course in BICH with approval of student’s Academic Advisor. BICH 404, BICH 440, BICH 441 BICH 414, BICH 431, BICH 432, or BICH 491 may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

**Of the 21 hours needed in your degree listed as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from Language, Philosophy and Culture; 3 from Creative Arts; 3 from Social & Behavioral Sciences; 6 from American History; 6 from POLS 206 & 207. The required 3 hours from International & Cultural Diversity, as well as the 3 hours from Cultural Discourse, may be met by satisfying the Language, Philosophy and Culture; Creative Arts; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the American History requirements if they are also on the approved list of International & Cultural Diversity/Cultural Discourse courses.

Biochemistry | Spring

BICH 491	Research	1 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	6 cr.
	**Biochemistry Elective	3 cr.
	***Free Elective	5 cr.

*Of the 21 hours needed in your degree listed as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from Language, Philosophy and Culture; 3 from Creative Arts; 3 from Social & Behavioral Sciences; 6 from American History; 6 from POLS 206 & 207. The required 3 hours from International & Cultural Diversity, as well as the 3 hours from Cultural Discourse, may be met by satisfying the Language, Philosophy and Culture; Creative Arts; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the American History requirements if they are also on the approved list of International & Cultural Diversity/Cultural Discourse courses.

**Hours to be selected from any 400-level course in BICH with approval of the student’s Academic Advisor. BICH 404, BICH 440, BICH 441 BICH 414, BICH 431, BICH 432, or BICH 491 may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

***Students intending to pursue an advanced degree in Biochemistry are strongly encouraged to use free electives for additional upper-division courses in BICH, GENE, BIOL, CHEM, MATH or STAT. General Electives may be any course numbered 100-499 that is not used elsewhere (Except BICH 303, BICH 410, BICH 412, BICH 440, BICH 441, MATH 100-104, MATH 130-148).

Genetics | Fall

GENE 432	Molecular Genetics Lab	2 cr.
GENE 419	Computational Techniques for Evolutionary Analysis	3 cr.
	*University Core Curriculum	6 cr.
	**GENE Elective	3 cr.
	***General Elective	2 cr.

*Of the 21 hours needed in your degree listed as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from Language, Philosophy and Culture; 3 from Creative Arts; 3 from Social & Behavioral Sciences; 6 from American History; 6 from POLS 206 & 207. The required 3 hours from International & Cultural Diversity, as well as the 3 hours from Cultural Discourse, may be met by satisfying the Language, Philosophy and Culture; Creative Arts; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and the American History requirements if they are also on the approved list of International & Cultural Diversity/Cultural Discourse courses.

**Hours to be selected from any 400-level course in GENE with approval of the student’s Academic Advisor. Excludes BICH 409, BICH 410, BICH 411, BICH 414, BICH 431/GENE 431, BICH 432/GENE 432, BICH 440, BICH 441, BICH 491, GENE 412, GENE 419/BICH 419, GENE 450, GENE 491.

***Students intending to pursue an advanced degree in Genetics are strongly encouraged to use some Free Electives for additional upper-division courses in GENE, BICH, BIOL, CHEM, MATH, or STAT. General Electives may be any course numbered 100-499 that is not used elsewhere (Except BICH 303, BICH 410, BICH 412, BICH 440, BICH 441, MATH 100-104, MATH 130-148)

Genetics | Spring

BICH 450	Genomics	4 cr.
ENGL 210	Technical & Business Writing	3 cr.
	*GENE Elective	3 cr.
	**General Elective	3 cr.

*Hours to be selected from any 400-level course in GENE with approval of student’s Academic Advisor. Excludes: BICH 409, BICH 410, BICH 411, BICH 414, BICH 431/GENE 431, BICH 432/GENE 432, BICH 440, BICH 441, BICH 491, GENE 412, GENE 419/BICH 419, GENE 450, GENE 491.

**Students intending to pursue an advance degree in Genetics are strongly encouraged to use some Free Electives for additional upper division courses in GENE, BICH, BIOL, CHEM, MATH or STAT. General Electives may be any course numbered 100-499 that is not used elsewhere (Except: BICH 303, BICH 410, BICH 412, BICH 440, BICH 441, MATH 100-104, MATH 130-148)

How do I minor in Biochemistry or Genetics?

A biochemistry or genetics minor is a great complement to other STEM degrees. Learn more here!

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What future opportunities await me?

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