Biochemistry Courses

Biochemistry Courses

For an official description of the courses below, the reader is referred to the current

University of Colorado at Boulder Catalog. The following descriptions are more informal

and are intended to supplement the catalog in helping students choose courses.

CHEM 1071-4. Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry

This course has three lectures and a three-hour lab each week. It has a prerequisite of CHEM 1111 or the formerly-taught course CHEM 1051 or the equivalent. It is a recommended second semester course for students who are interested in a biologically related area and who do not plan to take any further chemistry. Organic and biological chemistry are important areas of chemistry, and such students will be well served by learning the material in CHEM 1071. However, students who plan to go on to take organic chemistry and perhaps further chemistry and/or biochemistry must take CHEM 1131. CHEM 1071 does not satisfy the prerequisites for advanced courses.

CHEM 3351-4. Organic Chemistry 1 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors

Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3311 but offers a small class and coverage in more depth. It is taught only in the fall semester. It is usually restricted to chemistry and biochemistry majors, but will be opened to non-majors if it is not filled. It is strongly recommended that majors take this class unless they have to take organic chemistry during the off semester or in the summer. It is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3361 but may be taken with 3321 if needed.

CHEM 3371-4. Organic Chemistry 2 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors

Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3331, but, like 3351, is intended for majors. It is taught only in the spring semester. It is usually taken with CHEM 3381 but may be taken with 3341 instead if necessary. It is strongly recommended for majors unless they have to take organic chemistry in the off semester or the summer.

CHEM 4191-3. Chemistry & Biochemistry of the Biosphere

This environmental chemistry course is not a requirement for any degree but is a recommended elective. It is not offered every year, but is taught in most spring semesters. Graduate students may take it as CHEM 5191 and receive graduate credit. It has a prerequisite of a year of organic chemistry, and biochemistry is also recommended.

CHEM 4411-3. Physical Chemistry with Biochemistry Applications 1

This class covers thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. It parallels the traditional physical chemistry course CHEM 4511, covering the same general topics but choosing examples from biochemistry to illustrate them. Either class satisfies the first half of the physical chemistry lecture requirement for either a biochemistry or a chemistry major. The prerequisites include three semesters of calculus and at least one semester of physics, preferably two, and at least one semester of organic chemistry. Taught in the fall semester only.

CHEM 4431-3. Physical Chemistry with Biochemistry Applications 2

This class is a follow-up to CHEM 4411, taught in the spring semester.. It covers quantum chemistry and statistical thermodynamics. It parallels the traditional physical chemistry course CHEM 4531, covering the same general topics but choosing examples from biochemistry to illustrate them. Either class satisfies the second half of the physical chemistry lecture requirement for either a biochemistry or a chemistry major. The prerequisite is either CHEM 4411 or 4511.

CHEM 4711-3. General Biochemistry 1

This is the first semester of the two-semester general biochemistry lecture sequence. It is taught in fall and spring semesters and also in the summer. It is required for a biochemistry major and also for a MCDB major, and is a useful elective for premedical students and for majors in chemistry, EPOB, and chemical engineering. The prerequisite is a year of organic chemistry. Biology may be helpful as well, but is not required.

CHEM 4731-3. General Biochemistry 2

This is the continuation of CHEM 4711. It is also taught in the fall and spring semesters, but not in the summer. It is required for a biochemistry major and may be a useful elective for premeds and biology, chemistry, and chemical engineering majors. The prerequisite is CHEM 4711.

CHEM 4761-4. Biochemistry Laboratory

Two lectures and two four-hour labs per week. This class introduces many of the experimental techniques of modern biochemistry. It is required for the biochemistry major, and it also satisfies the critical thinking core requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences. The prerequisite is CHEM 4711, and it is strongly recommended that either CHEM 4731 or MCDB 3500 be taken either first or concurrently.

CHEM 4901- (1-6). Independent Study in Chemistry and Biochemistry

This is a variable credit course and may be taken for one to six hours of credit. It is a controlled enrollment class, and prior arrangements must be made with a faculty mentor and the department before a student may enroll. It is highly recommended for students with a good record.

Chem 5191-3. Chemistry & Biochemistry of the Biosphere

Same lectures as CHEM 4191. Not open to undergraduates. Prereqisites: CHEM 3311/3331 or CHEM 3351/3371, and instructor consent. Biochemistry or inorganic chemistry strongly recommended.

Chem 5711-3. General Biochemistry 1

Same lectures as CHEM 4711. Course work includes library studies and preparation of special reports. Not open to undergraduates. Prerequisite: one year of organic chemistry and graduate standing.

Chem 5731-3. General Biochemistry 2

Same lectures as CHEM 4731. Course work includes library studies and report preparations. Not open to undergraduates. Prerequisites CHEM 5711 and graduate standing, or instructor consent.

Chem 5771-5. Advanced General Biochemistry 1

In-depth analysis of DNA structure and replication, RNA synthesis and processing, protein synthesis, enzyme function and mechanism, protein structure, protein dynamics, and physical chemistry of macromolecules. Intended as a comprehensive treatment of areas central to modern biochemistry for entering graduate students. Prerequisites: CHEM 4731 or equivalent, and graduate standing, or instructor consent.

Chem 5781-5. Advanced General Biochemistry 2

Detailed consideration of contemporary topics in biochemistry, including protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary), methods of structure determination and prediction, protein folding (kinetics, thermodynamics, denaturation, and renaturation), and protein dynamics (internal motions and methods of analysis). Prerequisites: CHEM 5771 or instructor consent.



				Biochemistry Courses For an official description of the courses below, the reader is referred to the current University of Colorado at Boulder Catalog. The following descriptions are more informal and are intended to supplement the catalog in helping students choose courses. CHEM 1071-4. Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry This course has three lectures and a three-hour lab each week. It has a prerequisite of CHEM 1111 or the formerly-taught course CHEM 1051 or the equivalent. It is a recommended second semester course for students who are interested in a biologically related area and who do not plan to take any further chemistry. Organic and biological chemistry are important areas of chemistry, and such students will be well served by learning the material in CHEM 1071. However, students who plan to go on to take organic chemistry and perhaps further chemistry and/or biochemistry must take CHEM 1131. CHEM 1071 does not satisfy the prerequisites for advanced courses. CHEM 3351-4. Organic Chemistry 1 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3311 but offers a small class and coverage in more depth. It is taught only in the fall semester. It is usually restricted to chemistry and biochemistry majors, but will be opened to non-majors if it is not filled. It is strongly recommended that majors take this class unless they have to take organic chemistry during the off semester or in the summer. It is usually taken concurrently with CHEM 3361 but may be taken with 3321 if needed. CHEM 3371-4. Organic Chemistry 2 for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors Three lectures and a recitation each week. This course parallels CHEM 3331, but, like 3351, is intended for majors. It is taught only in the spring semester. It is usually taken with CHEM 3381 but may be taken with 3341 instead if necessary. It is strongly recommended for majors unless they have to take organic chemistry in the off semester or the summer. CHEM 4191-3. Chemistry & Biochemistry of the Biosphere This environmental chemistry course is not a requirement for any degree but is a recommended elective. It is not offered every year, but is taught in most spring semesters. Graduate students may take it as CHEM 5191 and receive graduate credit. It has a prerequisite of a year of organic chemistry, and biochemistry is also recommended. CHEM 4411-3. Physical Chemistry with Biochemistry Applications 1 This class covers thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. It parallels the traditional physical chemistry course CHEM 4511, covering the same general topics but choosing examples from biochemistry to illustrate them. Either class satisfies the first half of the physical chemistry lecture requirement for either a biochemistry or a chemistry major. The prerequisites include three semesters of calculus and at least one semester of physics, preferably two, and at least one semester of organic chemistry. Taught in the fall semester only. CHEM 4431-3. Physical Chemistry with Biochemistry Applications 2 This class is a follow-up to CHEM 4411, taught in the spring semester.. It covers quantum chemistry and statistical thermodynamics. It parallels the traditional physical chemistry course CHEM 4531, covering the same general topics but choosing examples from biochemistry to illustrate them. Either class satisfies the second half of the physical chemistry lecture requirement for either a biochemistry or a chemistry major. The prerequisite is either CHEM 4411 or 4511. CHEM 4711-3. General Biochemistry 1 This is the first semester of the two-semester general biochemistry lecture sequence. It is taught in fall and spring semesters and also in the summer. It is required for a biochemistry major and also for a MCDB major, and is a useful elective for premedical students and for majors in chemistry, EPOB, and chemical engineering. The prerequisite is a year of organic chemistry. Biology may be helpful as well, but is not required. CHEM 4731-3. General Biochemistry 2 This is the continuation of CHEM 4711. It is also taught in the fall and spring semesters, but not in the summer. It is required for a biochemistry major and may be a useful elective for premeds and biology, chemistry, and chemical engineering majors. The prerequisite is CHEM 4711. CHEM 4761-4. Biochemistry Laboratory Two lectures and two four-hour labs per week. This class introduces many of the experimental techniques of modern biochemistry. It is required for the biochemistry major, and it also satisfies the critical thinking core requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences. The prerequisite is CHEM 4711, and it is strongly recommended that either CHEM 4731 or MCDB 3500 be taken either first or concurrently. CHEM 4901- (1-6). Independent Study in Chemistry and Biochemistry This is a variable credit course and may be taken for one to six hours of credit. It is a controlled enrollment class, and prior arrangements must be made with a faculty mentor and the department before a student may enroll. It is highly recommended for students with a good record. Chem 5191-3. Chemistry & Biochemistry of the Biosphere Same lectures as CHEM 4191. Not open to undergraduates. Prereqisites: CHEM 3311/3331 or CHEM 3351/3371, and instructor consent. Biochemistry or inorganic chemistry strongly recommended. Chem 5711-3. General Biochemistry 1 Same lectures as CHEM 4711. Course work includes library studies and preparation of special reports. Not open to undergraduates. Prerequisite: one year of organic chemistry and graduate standing. Chem 5731-3. General Biochemistry 2 Same lectures as CHEM 4731. Course work includes library studies and report preparations. Not open to undergraduates. Prerequisites CHEM 5711 and graduate standing, or instructor consent. Chem 5771-5. Advanced General Biochemistry 1 In-depth analysis of DNA structure and replication, RNA synthesis and processing, protein synthesis, enzyme function and mechanism, protein structure, protein dynamics, and physical chemistry of macromolecules. Intended as a comprehensive treatment of areas central to modern biochemistry for entering graduate students. Prerequisites: CHEM 4731 or equivalent, and graduate standing, or instructor consent. Chem 5781-5. Advanced General Biochemistry 2 Detailed consideration of contemporary topics in biochemistry, including protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary), methods of structure determination and prediction, protein folding (kinetics, thermodynamics, denaturation, and renaturation), and protein dynamics (internal motions and methods of analysis). Prerequisites: CHEM 5771 or instructor consent.