Minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Program Learning Outcomes for the Minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Upon completing the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of biology with particular emphasis on biochemistry and cell biology.
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to interpret and communicate the results of biological research.
- Demonstrate the critical thinking and analysis skills necessary to evaluate published and proposed research in the biological sciences.
Requirements for the Minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Students pursuing the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology must complete:
- A minimum of 18 courses (minimum of 44 credit hours) to satisfy minor requirements.
The minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology is intended for those with an interest in the life sciences but who may be majoring in other areas. This minor incorporates many of the life science core courses required for the health professions.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this minor. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the minor’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the Program Director. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the minor's Official Certifier). Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology | Minimum of 44 | |
Minor Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| MATH 101 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS I 1 | 3 |
| or MATH 105 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS I | |
| MATH 102 | SINGLE VARIABLE CALCULUS II | 3 |
| or MATH 106 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN CALCULUS II | |
| PHYS 125 | GENERAL PHYSICS (WITH LAB) 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 126 | GENERAL PHYSICS II (WITH LAB) 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| or CHEM 111 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY I | |
| CHEM 123 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | 1 |
| or CHEM 113 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB I | |
| CHEM 122 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | 3 |
| or CHEM 112 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY II | |
| CHEM 124 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | 1 |
| or CHEM 114 | AP/OTH CREDIT IN GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB II | |
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY DISCUSSION I | 3 |
| CHEM 215 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB | 2 |
| or CHEM 365 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB | |
| CHEM 313 & CHEM 314 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY DISCUSSION II | 3 |
| BIOS 201 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | 3 |
| BIOS 301 | BIOCHEMISTRY I | 3 |
| BIOS 341 | CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
| Lab Course Requirement | ||
| BIOS 211 | INTERMEDIATE EXPERIMENTAL CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES 3 | 2 |
| Lecture Course Requirement | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: 4 | 3 | |
| PARADIGMS IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| BIOCHEMISTRY II | ||
| EVOLUTION | ||
| ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY FOR THE BIOSCIENCES | ||
| MICROBIOLOGY: THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT | ||
| CONCEIVING AND MISCONCEIVING THE MONSTROUS IN FICTION AND IN ART, IN MEDICINE AND IN BIOSCIENCE | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY | ||
| CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF THE NEURON | ||
| TRANSFER CREDIT IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| STEM CELL BIOLOGY | ||
| MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASES | ||
| MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND GENETICS | ||
| PLANT MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT | ||
| MOLECULAR MEMBRANE BIOLOGY | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE | ||
| VIRUSES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES | ||
| CANCER BIOLOGY | ||
| COMPUTATION WITH BIOLOGICAL DATA | ||
| MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOPHYSICS | ||
| STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY | ||
| Total Credit Hours | Minimum of 44 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | MATH 111 and MATH 112 may be substituted for MATH 101 or MATH 105. |
| 2 | PHYS 101 and PHYS 103 or PHYS 111 may be substituted for PHYS 125; PHYS 102 and PHYS 104 or PHYS 112 may be substituted for PHYS 126. The BioSciences department has determined that credit awarded for PHYS 141 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS I and credit awarded for PHYS 142 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS II are not eligible for meeting the requirements of the Biochemistry and Cell Biology minor. |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Lecture courses are noted in Rice's Course Catalog with a course type of "lecture". These courses do not include courses listed with a course type of "lecture/laboratory". For further details on course types, please see course descriptions. |
Policies for the Minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Advising
Rice University policies are governed primarily by the General Announcements; students are encouraged to look there first for academic policies. Advising information specific to the Department of BioSciences can be found by clicking on the Undergraduate Program tab on the department website.
Program Restrictions and Exclusions
Students pursuing the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology should be aware of the following program restrictions:
- As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, i.) students may declare their intent to pursue a minor only after they have first declared a major, and ii.) students may not major and minor in the same subject.
- Students pursuing the BA Degree or the BS Degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Biochemistry may not additionally declare the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
- Students pursuing the BA Degree or the BS Degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics may not additionally declare the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
- Students pursuing the BA Degree or the BS Degree with a major in Biosciences and a major concentration in Integrative Biology may not additionally declare the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the BioSciences website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the Minor in Biochemistry and Cell Biology
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Research in the BioSciences
Research is highly encouraged for all biosciences majors, and there are many opportunities for independent research at Rice. Information about research for credit and research internships specific to the Department of BioSciences can be found by clicking on the Research tab on the department website.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the BioSciences website: https://biosciences.rice.edu/.