Chemistry/Biochemistry courses are taken by many STEM majors as preparation for medicine and other health degree programs and to attain the chemical literacy needed for the modern world.
If you are having trouble enrolling in a Chemistry or Biochemistry course, please confirm that you have completed the course prerequisites indicated on https://app.testudo.umd.edu/soc/. The department is not able to waive course prerequisites. If you have satisfied the prerequisites and are still unable to enroll, contact chem-uso@umd.edu for assistance.
Below is a listing of Chemistry/Biochemistry courses required and taken by many majors outside the department. A complete list of undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry course can be viewed at https://academiccatalog.umd.edu/undergraduate/.
1XX Level Chemistry Courses
CHEM131 (3-credit) – Fundamentals of General Chemistry
An introductory chemistry course designed for students majoring in sciences other than chemistry/biochemistry. Instills knowledge of atomic structure and chemical periodicity, chemical bonding, equilibria, chemical reactions, and stoichiometry.
CHEM132 (1-credit) – General Chemistry I Laboratory
In this course students gain practical laboratory experiences while quantitatively exploring chemical concepts developed in CHEM131. CHEM131 is a co-requisite of this course.
CHEM135 (3-credit) – General Chemistry for Engineers
Required introductory course for all UMD Engineering Majors. Surveys the nature and composition of matter, chemical reactions, thermodynamics and electrochemistry, with applications to engineering.
CHEM134 (1-credit) – Chemical Principles for Engineering
For current or prospective UMD Engineering Majors who have Chemistry AP exam scores of 4-5 or have successfully completed CHEM131. Topics covered include organic molecules and polymers, chemical thermodynamics, kinetics and electrochemistry, and engineering applications
CHEM136 (1-credit) – General Chemistry Laboratory for Engineers
In this course students gain practical laboratory experience as they quantitatively explore chemical concepts developed in CHEM135. This course is for current and prospective engineering majors intending to take CHEM231 and CHEM232, and has CHEM135 or CHEM134 as a co-requisite.
2XX Level Chemistry Courses
CHEM231 (3-credit) – Organic Chemistry I
Introduction to the structure, bonding, and nomenclature of organic molecules, and the principles of organic reaction mechanisms that can be used to produce new organic molecules.
CHEM232 (1-credit) – Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
Students gain practical experience in common organic chemistry laboratory techniques for reaction, separation and purification, including recrystallization, distillation, extraction, chromatography. CHEM231 is a co-requisite of this course.
CHEM241 (3-credit) – Organic Chemistry II
This course builds upon CHEM231, focusing on the properties of different organic compounds, and the impact of functional groups and structure on reaction mechanisms and synthesis of new compounds.
CHEM242 (1-credit) – Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
Students gain practical experience in synthetic organic chemistry through functional group manipulation and spectroscopic methods essential to analysis composition and elucidate structure. CHEM242 is a co-requisite of this course.
CHEM271 (2-credit) – General Chemistry and Energetics
This course introduces the physical aspects of chemistry and their quantitative analysis, including chemical kinetics, thermodynamics and electrochemistry in the context of current chemistry research.
CHEM272 (2-credit) – General Bioanalytical Chemistry Laboratory
This course introduces analytical chemistry with an emphasis on bio-analytical measurements, instrumentation and techniques. CHEM271 is a co-requisite of this course.
4XX Level Biochemistry Courses
BCHM461 (3-credit) – Biochemistry I
This course introduces modern biochemistry. Structure, chemical properties, and function of biomolecules, including proteins and enzymes, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Basic enzyme kinetics and catalytic mechanisms.
BCHM462 (3-credit) – Biochemistry II
This course builds on the BCHM 461 foundation and dives deeper into the topic of metabolism in all of its chemical complexity. The course covers the reactions that make life possible from a chemical and mechanistic perspective, and how cells produce the metabolites and biomolecules required for life.
BCHM463 (3-credit) – Biochemistry of Physiology
A one-semester course introduces and surveys key topics in modern biochemistry, including protein structure, enzyme catalysis, metabolism, and metabolic regulation with respect to their relationship to physiology.
BCHM464 Biochemistry Laboratory (3 Credits)
Biochemical and genetic methods for studying protein function. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular cloning, protein purification, enzyme activity assays, computer modeling of protein structure.
Prerequisite: BCHM461 or BCHM463; and a grade of C- or better in the prerequisite is required for all College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences majors and recommended for all students. Corequisite: BCHM465. Restriction: BCHM, CHEM, and Nutritional Sciences majors have first priority, followed by other life science majors.
BCHM465 Biochemistry III (3 Credits)
CORE Capstone (CS) Course. An advanced course in biochemistry. Biochemical approach to cellular information processing. DNA and RNA structure. DNA replication, transcription, and repair. Translation of mRNA to make proteins.
Prerequisite: BCHM461 or BCHM463; and a grade of C- or better in the prerequisite is required for College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences majors and recommended for all students.