Molecular and Cellular Biology

The Molecular and Cellular Biology major provides students with a solid preparation in molecular biology, molecular genetics, microbiology, cellular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and structural biology. Students will also acquire a strong background in math and physical sciences. After completion of the core curriculum in MCB, students may complete the required advanced course work by taking a variety of MCB courses or by selecting a more focused group of courses in any of the following areas: biochemistry, biophysics, cell and developmental biology, microbiology, physiology, and bioinformatics and computational biology. The Biological Sciences Advising Office is available to help students plan their combination of advanced courses.

Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum

E-mail address: mcb@life.uiuc.edu

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required courses: 67-71 hours, including 21 hours of 300- or 400-level courses; 12 hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

General Education requirements: Completion of the LAS General Education requirements, the Advanced Composition and Western Cultures requirements. All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Distinction: To be eligible for graduation with distinction a student must graduate with a 3.0 grade point average, and submit a thesis or a paper describing an undergraduate research project for approval by the MCB Distinction Committee at least one month before graduation.

Students earning a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology may not also earn a second degree in the Specialized Curriculum in Biochemistry.

Students earning a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology may not double major in Integrative Biology.

Hours	Requirements
4-5	MATH 220–Calculus or MATH 221–Calculus I
3	Select one:
	MATH 231–Calculus II
	STAT 100–Statistics
8-9	Select one group of courses:
	CHEM 102–General Chemistry I, and
	CHEM 103–General Chemistry Lab I, and
	CHEM 104–General Chemistry II, and
	CHEM 105–General Chemistry Lab II
	or
	CHEM 202–Accelerated Chemistry I, and
	CHEM 203–Accelerated Chemistry Lab I, and
	CHEM 204–Accelerated Chemistry II, and
	CHEM 205–Accelerated Chemistry Lab II
5	CHEM 232–Elementary Organic Chemistry I
	CHEM 233–Elementary Organic Chem Lab I
10-12	Select one group of courses:
	PHYS 101– College Physics, Mech & Heat, and
	PHYS 102– College Physics, E&M & Modern
	or
	PHYS 211– Univ Physics, Mechanics, and
	PHYS 212–Univ Physics, Elec & Mag, and
	PHYS 213–Univ Physics, Thermal Physics, and
	PHYS 214– Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
4	IB 150–Organismal & Evolutionary Biol
4	MCB 150–Molec & Cellular Basis of Life
3	MCB 250–Molecular Genetics
2	MCB 251–Exp Techniqs In Molecular Biol
3	MCB 252–Cells, Tissues & Development
2	MCB 253–Exp Techniqs In Cellular Biol
3	MCB 354–Biochem & Phys Basis of Life
15-16	At least four additional courses at the 200- to 400-level are also required, including one laboratory course.

A more advanced course may be substituted for any of the required supporting courses in MATH, CHEM, STAT, and PHYS with permission of an academic adviser. An alternative statistics course may be substituted with permission of an academic adviser.

Certain advanced courses may be taken prior to completion of the MCB 251-253-354 sequence with permission of an academic adviser. A minimum of 15 hours of 300- or 400-level courses in MCB is required.

In addition, undergraduate research (MCB 290 or departmental equivalent) is strongly recommended for students planning to go to graduate school. No more than 10 hours of MCB 290 or departmental equivalent credit may be counted as advanced credit for a degree in MCB.

Major in Specialized Curriculum in Biochemistry

A total of at least 122-129 semester hours of course work as outlined below, with a minimum 2.0 academic grade point average required for graduation. In addition, in order to graduate, students must attain a 2.5 average in the chemistry, biochemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, and advanced electives in Science/Engineering courses specified in this curriculum. All proposals for course substitutions must be approved by the faculty adviser. This curriculum is intended for those students who desire a rigorous education in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology, who have definite research-oriented goals, and whose career objectives include graduate school, MD/PhD programs, or industry.

E-mail:biocug@life.uiuc.edu

Web address for department: www.life.uiuc.edu/biochem

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

General education: All campus general education requirements must be satisfied.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 122-129 hours

Students earning the Biochemistry major automatically complete the Chemistry minor. Students earning a degree in the Specialized Curriculum in Biochemistry may not earn a second degree in the Science and Letters Curriculum in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Departmental distinction: In addition to meeting the above requirements, a student seeking distinction must satisfy the following:

• Complete 10 hours of BIOC 492.
• Earn at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
• Present a senior thesis for deposit in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Hours	Requirements 1,2
8-9	General chemistry, select from:
	CHEM 202–Accelerated Chemistry I; CHEM 203–Accelerated Chemistry Lab I; CHEM 204–Accelerated Chemistry II; and CHEM 205–Accelerated Chemistry Lab II
	or
	CHEM 102–General Chemistry I; CHEM 103–General Chemistry Lab I; CHEM 104–General Chemistry II; and CHEM 105–General Chemistry Lab II
8-9	Organic chemistry, select from:
	CHEM 236–Fundamental Organic Chem I; CHEM 237–Structure and Synthesis; and CHEM 436–Fundamental Organic Chem II
	or
	CHEM 232–Elementary Organic Chemistry I; CHEM 233–Elementary Organic Chem Lab I; and CHEM 332–Elementary Organic Chem II
7-8	Physical chemistry, select from:
	CHEM 440-B–Physical Chemistry Principles (Biological Perspective Section) and BIOC 446–Physical Biochemistry
	or
	CHEM 442–Physical Chemistry I and CHEM 444–Physical Chemistry II
11-12	Mathematics
	MATH 220–Calculus or MATH 221—Calculus I
	MATH 231–Calculus II
	MATH 241–Calculus III3
10-12	Physics, select from: 4
	PHYS 211–Univ Physics, Mechanics; PHYS 212–Univ Physics, Elec & Mag; PHYS 213–Univ Physics, Thermal Physics; and PHYS 214–Univ Physics, Quantum Physics
	or
	PHYS 101–College Physics, Mech & Heat, and PHYS 102–College Physics, E&M & Modern Physics, or equivalent as approved by academic adviser
17	Molecular and Cellular Biology
	MCB 150–Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life
	MCB 250–Molecular Genetics
	MCB 251–Exp Techniqs in Molecular Biology
	MCB 252–Cells, Tissues & Development
	MCB 253–Exp Techniqs in Cellular Biology
	MCB 354–Biochem & Phys Basis of Life
	or equivalent as approved by academic adviser
23	Biochemistry:
	BIOC 455–Techniqs Biochem & Biotech
	BIOC 406–Gene Expression
	BIOC 460–Biochemistry Senior Seminar (satisfies Advanced Composition requirement)
	BIOC 445–Current Topics in Biochemistry
	BIOC 492 –Senior Thesis
6	Advanced Science/Engineering: select from approved list5
variable	Nontechnical Requirements:6
	General education:
	Foreign language–three semesters of college study (or three years of high school study) in a single foreign language to satisfy the campus foreign language requirement
	Composition I writing requirement to satisfy the campus Composition I requirement
	Advanced Composition writing requirement (BIOC 460 is required)
	Humanities/Arts to satisfy the campus general education requirements
	Social/Behavioral sciences to satisfy the campus general education requirements
	Cultural Studies to satisfy the campus general education requirement 7
variable	Electives (not including any credit in satisfaction of the above requirements)