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Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Joint Major
This Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) major program is offered jointly by the Department of Chemistry and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
間眅埶AV Requirements
Entry requires permission of both Departments.
Program Requirements
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete 65-66 units, including all of
Atomic and molecular structure; chemical bonding; thermochemistry; elements; periodic table; gases liquids, solids, and solutions. This course includes a laboratory component. Prerequisite: BC high school chemistry 12 or CHEM 111. Recommended: MATH 151 (or 154) and PHYS 120 (or 101) as a corequisite. Students may not count both CHEM 120 and 121 for credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
Chemical equilibria; electrochemistry; chemical thermodynamics; kinetics. Students who intend to take further laboratory courses in chemistry should take CHEM 122 concurrently with CHEM 126. Prerequisite: CHEM 121 or 120. Recommended: MATH 152 (or 155) and PHYS 121 (or 102) as a corequisite. Quantitative.
Experiments in chemical equilibrium, acids and bases, qualitative analysis, electrochemistry and chemical kinetics. Prerequisite: CHEM 121. Corequisite: CHEM 122. Quantitative.
The principles of analytical chemistry and their practical application to solution samples. Titrimetric and electrochemical methods. Prerequisite: CHEM 122 and 126. Quantitative.
The chemistry of the elements and their inorganic compounds in terms of fundamental concepts of perodicity of properties, valence, ionization potential, electron affinity, electronegativity, stability of oxidation states, bonding, structure and stereochemistry. Co-ordination complexes and organometallic chemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 122. Corequisite: students who expect to take further courses in inorganic chemistry should take the laboratory course CHEM 236 concurrently with 230. Quantitative.
An introduction to the synthetic and spectroscopic techniques used in the preparation and characterization of both main group and transition metal compounds. Prerequisite: CHEM 122 and 126. Corequisite: CHEM 230. Students with credit for CHEM 236 may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Quantitative.
Elements of physical chemistry from the molecular point of view. Introduction to quantum chemistry, atomic and molecular structure, and spectroscopy. Prerequisite: CHEM 122, MATH 152, PHYS 121. Recommended: MATH 232. Quantitative.
Structure, bonding, physical and chemical properties of simple organic compounds. Introduction to spectroscopy. Kinetics and mechanisms of organic reactions. This course includes a laboratory component. Prerequisite: CHEM 121. Corequisite: CHEM 122. Quantitative.
An advanced treatment of Organic Chemistry II. Topics include dienes and their reactivity, conjugation and aromaticity, aromatic substitution reactions, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, ketones and aldehydes, biological molecules, radical reactions, organometallic reagents, pericyclic reactions and planning multi-step synthesis. Prerequisite: CHEM 281. Students should not receive credit for both CHEM 282 and 283. Students should not receive credit for both CHEM 282 and 283. Quantitative.
Laboratory work chosen to complement CHEM 282. Prerequisite: CHEM 281. Corequisite: CHEM 282 or 283. Quantitative.
Riemann sum, Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, definite, indefinite and improper integrals, approximate integration, integration techniques, applications of integration. First-order separable differential equations. Sequences and series, series tests, power series, convergence and applications of power series. Prerequisite: MATH 150 or 151; or MATH 154 or 157 with a grade of at least B. Students with credit for MATH 155 or 158 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
An introduction to the biochemical and physiological mechanisms of living organisms. Topics covered include cell structure and function, DNA replication and the flow of genetic information, enzyme function, metabolism and physiology of microorganisms, plants, and animals. Prerequisite: High school biology 12 (or equivalent) with a C grade or better, or BISC 100 with C- or better, or HSCI 100 with C+ or better. Breadth-Science.
Survey of the diversity of life, and its evolutionary history on earth. The student is introduced to the study of genetics, development, and evolution, giving an overview of how these processes interact to produce form and function. Also included are principles of behavior and ecological relationships of organisms to each other and their environment. Prerequisite: High school biology 12 (or equivalent) with a C grade or better, or BISC 100 with C- or better, or HSCI 100 with C+ or better. Breadth-Science.
Principles and concepts of the transmission of genetic information treated comparatively in man, animal, plant and microbe. Prerequisite: BISC 101 and 102 with a grade of C- or better.
The structure, function and synthesis of proteins, RNA and DNA and their interrelated biological functions within the cell. An introduction to molecular biology techniques and methods of protein purification and analysis. Prerequisite: or Corequisite CHEM 281.
A study of the molecular processes which underlie cell structure and function, integrating ultrastructural, physiological and biochemical approaches. Modern techniques used in the analysis of organelle and cell function are integral parts of the course. Prerequisite: MBB 222, BISC 101, CHEM 281 with grades of C- or better. Corequisite or Prerequisite: CHEM 282 or CHEM 283.
and one of
Designed for students specializing in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing science and engineering. Topics as for Math 151 with a more extensive review of functions, their properties and their graphs. Recommended for students with no previous knowledge of Calculus. In addition to regularly scheduled lectures, students enrolled in this course are encouraged to come for assistance to the Calculus Workshop (Burnaby), or Math Open Lab (Surrey). Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 12 (or equivalent) with a grade of at least B+, or MATH 100 with a grade of at least B-, or achieving a satisfactory grade on the 間眅埶AV Calculus Readiness Test. Students with credit for either MATH 151, 154 or 157 may not take MATH 150 for further credit. Quantitative.
Designed for students specializing in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing science and engineering. Logarithmic and exponential functions, trigonometric functions, inverse functions. Limits, continuity, and derivatives. Techniques of differentiation, including logarithmic and implicit differentiation. The Mean Value Theorem. Applications of Differentiation including extrema, curve sketching, related rates, Newton's method. Antiderivatives and applications. Conic sections, polar coordinates, parametric curves. Prerequisite: Pre-Calculus 12 (or equivalent) with a grade of at least A, or MATH 100 with a grade of at least B, or achieving a satisfactory grade on the 間眅埶AV Calculus Readiness Test. Students with credit for either MATH 150, 154 or 157 may not take MATH 151 for further credit. Quantitative.
and one of
Research methodology and associated statistical analysis techniques for students with training in the life sciences. Intended to be particularly accessible to students who are not specializing in Statistics. Prerequisite: 30 units. Students with credit for STAT 101, 102, 203 (formerly 103), 270 (formerly MATH 272) or 301 may not take STAT 201 for further credit. Quantitative.
Basic laws of probability, sample distributions. Introduction to statistical inference and applications. Corequisite: MATH 152 or 155 or 158. Students wishing an intuitive appreciation of a broad range of statistical strategies may wish to take STAT 100 first. Quantitative. Prerequisite: COREQ-MATH 152 or 155 or 158. Students wishing an intuitive appreciation of a broad range of statistical strategies may wish to take STAT 100 first. Equivalent Courses: STAT102 STAT103 STAT201 STAT203 STAT301. Quantitative.
and all of
A general calculus-based introduction to mechanics. Topics include translational and rotational motion, momentum, energy, gravitation, and selected topics in modern physics. Prerequisite: BC Principles of Physics 12 or PHYS 100 or equivalent, with a minimum grade of C-. This prerequisite may be waived, at the discretion of the department, as determined by the student's performance on a regularly scheduled PHYS 100 final exam. Please consult the physics advisor for further details. Corequisite: MATH 150 or 151 or 154 must precede or be taken concurrently. Students with credit for PHYS 101, 125 or 140 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
A general calculus-based introduction to electricity, magnetism and optics. Topics include electricity, magnetism, simple circuits, optics and topics from applied physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 120 or 125 or 140 (or PHYS 101 with a grade of A or B). Corequisite: MATH 152 or 155 must precede or be taken concurrently. Students with credit for PHYS 102, 126 or 141 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
Elementary experiments in optics, electricity, and mechanics that are designed to augment the general survey courses. Corequisite: PHYS 121 or 126 should be taken concurrently or may precede; or by permission of the department. Students with credit for PHYS 130 or 141 may not take PHYS 131 for further credit. Quantitative.
or all of
Newtonian mechanics and special relativity for students with good preparation in physics and mathematics. Topics include Newtonian particle mechanics, angular momentum, torque, conservation laws, gravitation, and special relativity. Prerequisite: Greater than 85% in both BC Pre-Calculus 12 & BC Physics 12, or a grade of A in PHYS 100, or equivalent. Co-requisite: MATH 150 or 151 or 154 must precede or be taken concurrently. Students with credit for PHYS 101, 120 or PHYS 140 may not take PHYS 125 for further credit. Quantitative.
Electricity, magnetism, and the electromagnetic character of light for students with good preparation in physics and mathematics. Topics include waves, simple electrical circuits, electricity, magnetism, the unifications of electromagnetism in relativity, light as an electromagnetic wave, and photons. Prerequisite: PHYS 125 or a grade of A or better in PHYS 120 or 140. Corequisite: MATH 152 or 155 must precede or be taken concurrently. Students with credit in PHYS 102, 121 or 141 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
Elementary experiments in optics, electricity, and mechanics that are designed to augment the general survey courses. Corequisite: PHYS 121 or 126 should be taken concurrently or may precede; or by permission of the department. Students with credit for PHYS 130 or 141 may not take PHYS 131 for further credit. Quantitative.
or all of
Force and motion, conservation of energy and momentum, fluids, properties of soft matter and thermal physics with applications taken from the life sciences. Prerequisite: BC Principles of Physics 12 or PHYS 100 or equivalent, with a minimum grade of C-. This prerequisite may be waived, at the discretion of the department, as determined by the student's performance on a regularly scheduled PHYS 100 final exam. Please consult the physics advisor for further details. Corequisite: MATH 150 or 151 or 154 or 157; BISC 100 or 101 or 102. Students with credit for PHYS 120, 125 or 140 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
Waves and optics; electricity and magnetism; modern physics emphasizing radioactivity, with applications taken from the life sciences. Prerequisite: PHYS 101 or 120 or 125 or 140, with a minimum grade of C-. Recommended corequisite: MATH 152 or 155 or 158. Students are encouraged to take PHYS 130 at the same time as PHYS 102. Students with credit for PHYS 121, 126, or 141 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
Elementary experiments in optics, electricity, and mechanics that are designed to augment the general survey courses. Corequisite: PHYS 121 or 126 should be taken concurrently or may precede; or by permission of the department. Students with credit for PHYS 130 or 141 may not take PHYS 131 for further credit. Quantitative.
or both of
A general calculus-based introduction to mechanics taught in an integrated lecture-laboratory environment. Topics include translational and rotational motion, momentum, energy, gravitation, and selected topics in modern physics. Prerequisite: BC Principles of Physics 12, or equivalent, with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: MATH 150 or 151 or 154 must precede or be taken concurrently. Students with credit for PHYS 125 or 120 or 101 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
A general calculus-based introduction to electricity, magnetism and optics taught in an integrated lecture-laboratory environment. Topics include electricity, magnetism, simple circuits, optics and topics from applied physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 140, with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: MATH 152 or 155 must precede or be taken concurrently. Students with credit for PHYS 126 or 121 or 102 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Science.
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete all of the following
Principles and applications of basic analytical instrumentation based upon spectroscopy, chromatography and electrochemistry. Prerequisite: CHEM 215 and CHEM 260, or permission of the department. Students with credit for CHEM 416 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
The synthesis and characterization of classical and organometallic complexes of the transition metals, and their physical and chemical properties. Prerequisite: CHEM 230, 236 and 260, or permission of the department. Quantitative.
Basic principles of infrared, ultraviolet, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy as applied to the identification of organic compounds. Prerequisite: CHEM 260 and 283 and 286, or permission of the department.
Contemporary techniques in biochemistry including protein purification, immunochemical methods, and lipid characterization. Prerequisite: MBB 231, with a minimum grade of C. Recommended: CHEM 215 and CHEM 286 precede MBB 309W. Writing.
The enzymes and intermediates of major catabolic and anabolic pathways. Their regulation and integration in health and disease states. Prerequisite: MBB 231, with a minimum grade of C.
The study of DNA and RNA in relation to gene structure and expression: DNA replication and the regulation of gene expression in bacteria and higher organisms. Introduction to recombinant DNA and cloning theory; natural vector structures and recombinant vector construction. Prerequisite: MBB 231, and BISC 202, with a minimum grade of C.
and one of
Elements of physical chemistry from the macroscopic point of view. Thermodynamics, and its applications to chemical equilibrium. Chemical kinetics and reaction rate theories. Prerequisite: CHEM 122, MATH 152 (or 155), PHYS 121 (or 102). Recommended: MATH 251. Credit will not be granted for both CHEM 360 and MBB 323. Quantitative.
Introduction to physical biochemistry including rigorous treatment of thermodynamics and molecular transport and interactions with specific emphasis on biochemical and molecular biological processes. CHEM 360 may be substituted as an alternative to this requirement for MBB majors. Prerequisite: MATH 152 (or 155), PHYS 121 (or 102, or 126, or 141), CHEM 122 (or 102), MBB 222 with a minimum grade of C.
and a minimum of six units of 400 level MBB courses, and a minimum of two upper division chemistry courses, including at least 3 units (excluding CHEM 481) at the 400-level.
Electives
In addition to the above, students complete
• courses chosen to fulfill the WOB requirements
• upper division courses from any to total a minimum of 44 upper division units
• electives at any division from any faculty to provide 120 units as required for the degree.
Co-operative Education Recommendation
Students are encouraged to enrol in co-operative education.
Faculty of Science Major Requirements
In addition to the above requirements, students must also satisfy Faculty of Science major program requirements to complete a total of 120 units including
- additional upper division units to total a minimum of 44 upper division units (excluding EDUC 401 to 406)
- students who were enrolled at 間眅埶AV between fall 1991 and summer 2006 are required to complete a minimum of 12 units in subjects outside the Faculty of Science (excluding EDUC 401 to 406) including six units minimum to be completed in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to 間眅埶AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See for university-wide information.
WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit
Requirement |
Units |
Notes | |
W - Writing |
6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at 間眅埶AV within the student’s major subject | |
Q - Quantitative |
6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division | |
B - Breadth |
18 |
Designated Breadth | Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division 6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc 6 units Humanities: B-Hum 6 units Sciences: B-Sci |
6 |
Additional Breadth | 6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements) Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas. |
Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit
The University's residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 uits, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.
- At least half of the program's total units must be earned through 間眅埶AV study
- At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through 間眅埶AV study
- At least two thirds of the upper division units in the courses of a school offering (or joint offer) must be earned through that school at 間眅埶AV
- For information regarding transfer, consult an Advisor.
Elective Courses
In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.