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Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology

Established in 1978, the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology program was the first undergraduate program of its kind. Chemical biology is the application of chemistry to the understanding and utilization of biological phenomena. Chemical biology represents an approach to understanding biology through the underlying chemical interactions of biological macromolecules and provides students with the essential tools to reveal the logic of how biological systems operate as well as engineer changes in those systems.

Program Description

The program offers a complete education in chemistry with additional mathematics and physics training to ensure a solid foundation in quantitative physical sciences. It also includes a set of biology courses that introduce the key elements of cellular, molecular, and physiological biology. It launches students into careers in chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, forensic science, medicine, or biology.  With this degree program, students gain the training necessary for admission to professional schools in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or other health professions as well as graduate school.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology program can be certified in Chemistry by the American Chemical Society (ACS) if CH 412 Inorganic Chemistry is taken as a general or technical elective during the program.

Concentrations

  • Bioinformatics

  • Bioanalytical Chemistry

Program Objectives and Outcomes

The objectives of the chemistry program are to prepare students such that, within several years of graduation, they will:

  • Be able to create and evaluate scientific solutions to important chemical, biotechnology, healthcare, and environmental problems and articulate their anticipated societal impact.  

  • Be able to work collaboratively with peers from a variety of cultural and scientific backgrounds and to promote an inclusive and supportive professional environment. 

  • Become life-long learners from the perspectives of furthering career advancement, embracing technology, and generating societal impact.

Student Objectives and Outcomes

  1. Apply knowledge of chemistry, biology, math, physics and computational methods to investigate and evaluate problems in chemical and biological systems to create innovative solutions (Scientific Foundations)
  2. Apply modern techniques in biology and chemistry to characterize the structure and function of molecules to explain and predict biological, chemical, and physical properties and their impact on biochemical systems (Technical Foundations)
  3. Employ an inquiry-based approach to science to form and articulate testable hypothesis, to design and conduct experiments with current chemical and biological techniques particularly in the context of human health and the conservation of the environment (Experimentation)
  4. Examine, analyze, and critique primary chemical and biological literature (Critical Thinking)
  5. Communicate and articulate scientific ideas effectively both in writing and orally (Scientific communication)
  6. Work effectively as a leader or member of a multidisciplinary team creating an inclusive and supportive environment (Teamwork, Leadership, and Inclusiveness)
  7. Conduct basic and applied scientific research in an ethical and professional manner (Professionalism)
  8. Develop innovative ideas using knowledge in chemical and biological sciences for societal impact (Innovation)
  9. Recognize the impact of chemical and biological research in our society, and understand how policy decisions are shaped by new scientific discoveries (Societal Issues)

Chemical Biology Curriculum

Term I

BIO 181Biology and Biotechnology

3
BIO 182Introductory Biology Laboratory

1
CAL 103Writing and Communications Colloquium

3
CH 115General Chemistry I

3
CH 117General Chemistry Laboratory I

1
CH 179Career Pathways in Chemical and Biological Sciences

1
MA 121Differential Calculus

2
MA 122Integral Calculus

2

Term II

BIO 291Cell and Molecular Biology

4
CAL 105CAL Colloquium: Knowledge, Nature, Culture

3
CH 116General Chemistry II

3
CH 118General Chemistry Laboratory II

1
CH 189Seminar in Chemistry and Biology

1
MA 125Vectors and Matrices

2
MA 126Multivariable Calculus I

2

Term III

BIO 301/CH 301Professional Ethics for Scientific Research

1
Or
CH 301/BIO 301Professional Ethics for Scientific Research

1

BIO 382Biological Systems

4
CH 243Organic Chemistry I

3
CH 245Organic Chemistry Lab I

1
ENGR 241Probability and Statistics with Data Science Applications

4
PEP 111Mechanics

3

Term IV

CH 244Organic Chemistry II

3
CH 246Organic Chemistry Laboratory II

1
CH 321Thermodynamics

3

CS 105Introduction to Scientific Computing

3
Or
CS 115Introduction to Computer Science

4

PEP 112Electricity and Magnetism

3
PEP 221Physics Lab I for Scientists

1
HUM
Humanities

3

Term V

BIO 484Molecular Genetics

4
CH 362Instrumental Analysis I - Spectroscopy and Chromatography

4
CH 580Biochemistry I - Cellular Metabolism and Regulation

3
MGT 103Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking

2
PEP 222Physics Lab II for Scientists

1
HUM
Humanities

3

Term VI

BT 243Macroeconomics

3
Or
BT 244Microeconomics

3

BIO 398/CH 398Research Proposals for Undergraduate Research

1
CH 421Chemical Dynamics

4
CH 461Instrumental Analysis II - Electrochemistry

4
CH 581Biochemistry II: Biomolecular Structure and Function

3

Term VII

BIO 568Computational Biology

3
Or
BIO 583Physiology

3

CH 498/BIO 498Senior Capstone Research Project I

3
IDE 401Senior Innovation II: Value Proposition

1
G.E.
General Elective

3
T.E.
Technical Elective

3
HUM
Humanities

3

Term VIII

CH 499/BIO 499Senior Capstone Research Project II

3
CH 582Biophysical Chemistry

3
IDE 402Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch

1
G.E.
General Elective

3
T.E.
Technical Elective

3
HUM
Humanities

3

Notes:

(1) Inorganic Chemistry, CH 412, is required if you wish to pursue ACS certification and is only offered in Spring semester. If you are interested, it can be taken in Term V or Term VII. It can be used to fulfill a general elective or technical elective in addition to the ACS certification.

2) Technical Electives can be selected from available CH and BIO 300, 400, and 500- level courses that are not already included in your degree program requirements. Suggested technical electives for the Chemical Biology program include the following:  

If you are interested in a taking a course related to biology of chemistry in another department not on this list, please contact your academic advisor.

 

(3) General Electives can be selected from available courses offered by programs in SES, SSE, SOB and HASS (including CH/BIO courses). Approval from the student’s advisor and the course instructor may be required.

  • Recommended general elective if planning to pursue an engineering master's would be: MA 221 Differential Equations. 
  • Recommended general elective courses connected to the major include:  EN 250 Quantitative Biology and PEP 242 Modern Physics.

(4) Humanities: Please see Humanities Requirements for specific requirements.

Bioinformatics Concentration Curriculum

New and powerful techniques have been developed for determining the structures of biological molecules and manipulating biomolecular sequences which results in large amounts of data. Bioinformatics makes use of mathematical and computer science techniques to process this data so it can be used for further scientific advances. The Stevens Bioinformatics track is built on the foundations of chemical biology. Students elect CS 115 as an introduction to computing in the freshman year in place of CS 105. After the first two years in the Chemical Biology Program, the Bioinformatics student begins replacing certain electives with computer science courses. The Bioinformatics track concentrates on giving students the ability to contribute to building the software and analytical infrastructure of the field.

Term V

CH 362Instrumental Analysis I - Spectroscopy and Chromatography

4
CH 580Biochemistry I - Cellular Metabolism and Regulation

3
CS 135Discrete Structures

4
CS 284Data Structures

4
MGT 103Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking

2
PEP 222Physics Lab II for Scientists

1

Term VI

BT 243Macroeconomics

3
Or
BT 244Microeconomics

3

CH 398/BIO 398Research Proposals for Undergraduate Research

1
CH 421Chemical Dynamics

4
CH 461Instrumental Analysis II - Electrochemistry

4
CH 581Biochemistry II: Biomolecular Structure and Function

3
HUM
Humanities

3

Term VII

BIO 484Molecular Genetics

4
BIO 568Computational Biology

3
BIO 583Physiology

3
CH 498/BIO 498Senior Capstone Research Project I

3
CS 385Algorithms

4
IDE 401Senior Innovation II: Value Proposition

1

Term VIII

BIO 586Immunology

3
CH 499/BIO 499Senior Capstone Research Project II

3
CH 582Biophysical Chemistry

3
CS 442Database Management Systems

3
IDE 402Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch

1
HUM
Humanities

3
HUM
Humanities

3
Notes:
The Bioinformatics Concentration requires CS 115 in place of CS 105.
For CS 284: CS 115 must have been chosen in Term IV. 

Bioanalytical Chemistry Concentration Curriculum

 Biological systems are characterized by presence of large, complex biological molecules arrayed as collections of genes, transcripts, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and associated metabolites. Whereas a comprehensive chemical definition of biological systems was once beyond the realm of possibility, we can now envision the treatment of biological cells, tissues, and even complete organisms in terms of their chemical composition and interactions. Bioanalytical chemistry comprises the techniques and instrumentation necessary to separate and analyze the chemical composition of biological systems. Bioanalytical chemists have already made tremendous contributions in the areas of genomics, gene expression analysis, and disease gene/protein identification, as well as drug discovery and forensic science. In addition to further contributions in these fields, bioanalytical chemists will be increasingly needed to improve the practice of medicine through chemically- defined diseases states, and to protect our general public through surveillance for illicit drugs, explosives, and pathogens. The track in bioanalytical chemistry is built on the foundations of chemical biology. After the first two years in the regular chemical biology program, the bioanalytical chemistry student begins concentrating on analytical techniques relevant to biological macromolecules such as mass spectrometry, magnetic resonance imaging, flow cytometry, and genome and transcriptome array analysis.

Term V

BIO 484Molecular Genetics

4
CH 362Instrumental Analysis I - Spectroscopy and Chromatography

4
CH 580Biochemistry I - Cellular Metabolism and Regulation

3
MGT 103Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking

2
PEP 222Physics Lab II for Scientists

1
HUM
Humanities

3

Term VI

BT 243Macroeconomics

3
Or
BT 244Microeconomics

3

CH 398/BIO 398Research Proposals for Undergraduate Research

1
CH 421Chemical Dynamics

4
CH 461Instrumental Analysis II - Electrochemistry

4
CH 581Biochemistry II: Biomolecular Structure and Function

3
HUM
Humanities

3

Term VII

BIO 568Computational Biology

3
Or
BIO 583Physiology

3

CH 498/BIO 498Senior Capstone Research Project I

3
CH 550Spectra and Structure

3
CH 660Advanced Instrumental Analysis

3
CH 666Modern Mass Spectrometry

3
IDE 401Senior Innovation II: Value Proposition

1

Term VIII

CH 412Inorganic Chemistry I

4
CH 499/BIO 499Senior Capstone Research Project II

3
CH 582Biophysical Chemistry

3
CH 662Separation Methods in Analytical and Organic Chemistry

3
IDE 402Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch

1
HUM
Humanities

3

Note:

CH 662, CH 666, and CH 660: Requires advisor’ approval before registering.