Major Biology/ Minor Biochemistry

The mission of the Bachelor program major in chemistry/minor in biochemistry is to provide students with the background needed for science related positions, and prepare its graduates for careers in chemistry and biological sciences nationally and internationally. The program equips its graduates for pursuing graduate studies in chemistry and professional programs such as pharmacy, medicine and dentistry.

  • Provide students with a broad foundation in chemistry and biochemistry while integrating basic related sciences to a wide variety of chemical and biochemical problems.
  • Apply chemical and biochemical principles in solving qualitative and quantitative chemical and biochemical problems.
  • Become proficient in chemical and biochemical laboratory techniques and be able to apply them within the work environment.
  • Equip students with the skills required to succeed in graduate school or professional school.
  • Demonstrate ethical behavior, accountability as well as personal and academic integrity and demonstrate time and resource management.
  • Supplying appropriately trained graduates with required knowledge and skills to enhance employment and career opportunities in the relevant fields.
  • Understanding a wide range of scientific principles and providing high quality teaching and provide appropriate learning environment for an undergraduate program.
  • Preparing students for admission in professional qualifications and post-graduate studies in the field.
  • Stimulating and challenging reasoning ability by teaching students to think as scientists.
  • Developing the abilities to apply analytical thinking and operating skills to find solutions to chemical problems.
  • Analyzing data related to biological problems and developing solutions to the problem.
  • Applying the standard data analyses methodology and safety procedures and operations in a related laboratory.
  • Operating several basic related equipment and instruments.
  • Performing the required tasks for a research or experimental project.
  • Enhancing oral and written communication skills, and problem solving abilities.
  • Ensuring that the student is capable of working confidently and adopting a mature, professional and safe approach in their work.
  • Teamwork and the ability to tackle practical work, and analysis of the results, data, arguments and cases.
  • Information retrieval in relation to literature information sources, including online searches and information technology skills.
  • An ethical attitude and approach.

Graduates of the bachelor program in major chemistry/minor biochemistry can be employed within the following:

  • Governmental sector:  including education, various ministries such as Ministry of Environment, Ministry of National Economy, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Health, the Water Authority and Metrology.
  • Private sector: including science education and pharmaceutical companies.
  • Industrial sector: including research centers and non-governmental organizations.
  • Pursuing graduate studies at the national and international levels.
Study plan

The study plan consists of 128 credit hours distributed as follows:

Requirements

Credit Hours

University requirements

21-22

Faculty requirements

21

Specialization requirements (major and minor)

73

Free electives

13-12

Total

128

,
Specialization Requirements (73 credit hours)

1. Compulsory courses: 61 credit hours including the following:

Course No.

Course Title

Prerequisite(s)

BIOL232

Invertebrate zoology

BIOL111

BIOL235

Vertebrate zoology

BIOL232

BIOL241

Botany

BIOL111

BIOL243

General microbiology

BIOL111

BIOL244

Cell biology

BIOL111

BIOL331

Genetics

BIOL244

BIOL332

Ecology

BIOL235

BIOL333

Molecular biology

BIOL244

BIOL411

Seminar in biology

4th year level

BIOL430

Animal physiology

BIOL235, BIOC331

BIOL431

Plant physiology

BIOL241, BIOC331

CHEM112

General chemistry lab 2

CHEM111 and (CHEM132 or concurrent)

CHEM132

General chemistry 2

CHEM141 or CHEM143 for Environmental Engineering students

CHEM221

Organic chemistry lab

(CHEM230 or CHEM242 or concurrent) and (CHEM112 or CHEM113)

CHEM230

Basics of organic chemistry

CHEM132 or CHEM133

CHEM234

Analytical chemistry 1

CHEM112 and CHEM132

BIOC311

Biochemistry lab 1

BIOC331 or concurrent

BIOC312

Biochemistry lab 2

BIOC311, BIOC332 or concurrent

BIOC331

Biochemistry 1

BIOL131, (CHEM242 or CHEM230 or concurrent)

BIOC332

Biochemistry 2

BIOC331

BIOC413

Clinical biochemistry lab

BIOC432 or concurrent

BIOC432

Clinical biochemistry methods

BIOC331, (CHEM221 or CHEM234 or concurrent)

STAT2381

Biostatistics

 

 

2. Elective courses

Group I: Students choose 3 credit hours from biology or biochemistry courses that are 300 level or above.

Group II: 9 credit hours from the following courses, or any course offered by the Department of chemistry that are 300 level or above:

Course No.

Course Title

Prerequisite(s)

BIOC434

Enzymology

BIOC331

BIOC435

Endocrinology

BIOC332

BIOC438

Special topics in biochemistry

4th year level and department approval

CHEM430

Bioinorganic chemistry

CHEM434 or concurrent

CHEM433

Xenobiotic metabolic chemistry

BIOC331, CHEM242