Biophysical Science, BA

Jay Hubisz
201 Physics Building
314-443-3901

Faculty

Marina Artuso, Stefan Ballmer, Steven Blusk, Duncan Brown, Simon Catterall, Eric Coughlin, Walter Freeman, Jay Hubisz, John Laiho, M. Lisa Manning, Alan Middleton, Liviu Movileanu, Alison Patteson, Joseph Paulsen, Ivan Pechenezhskiy, Britton Plourde, Jennifer Ross, Matthew Rudolph, Christian Santangelo, Eric A. Schiff, Jennifer Schwarz, Tomasz Skwarnicki, Mitchell Soderberg, Paul Souder, Sheldon Stone, Scott Watson, Denver Whittington

The B.A. in biophysical science is designed to serve students with strong interests in physical and mathematical aspects of the life sciences. The signature of the program is an exceptionally broad training in physics, biology, and chemistry. There are excellent scientific and professional opportunities for students who have acquired this broad grounding; bioinformatics, proteomics, and cell signaling are examples of subfields that benefit from a broad background in biophysical science. In conjunction with the other elements of the liberal arts core, graduates of the program are very well prepared to pursue careers in many sectors of the economy. The major is also well suited to students interested in graduate work in the health professions or in the biophysical sciences.

B.A. Degree Requirements

The B.A. in biophysical science requires a minimum of 61 credits of classwork, including 55 credits of specified courses. 18 credits of upper-division coursework in biology and physics are required, as are 3 credits of upper-division laboratory work in biology or physics.

BIO 121 - General Biology I
BIO 123 - General Biology II
and
BIO 124 - General Biology II Laboratory
PHY 101 - Major Concepts of Physics I
and
PHY 102 - Major Concepts of Physics II
CHE 106 - General Chemistry Lecture I
and
CHE 107 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHE 116 - General Chemistry Lecture II
and
CHE 117 - General Chemistry Laboratory II
MAT 285 - Life Sciences Calculus I and
MAT 286 - Life Sciences Calculus II
PHY 211 - General Physics I and
PHY 221 - General Physics Laboratory I
PHY 212 - General Physics II and
PHY 222 - General Physics Laboratory II
CHE 275 - Organic Chemistry I and
CHE 276 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
BIO 326 - Genetics and
BIO 327 - Cell Biology
PHY 315 - Biological and Medical Physics
PHY 361 - Introduction to Modern Physics
Upper-division biology electives
Upper-division laboratory elective

Footnotes

CHE 109 /CHE 119 and CHE 129 /CHE 139 , Chemistry for Honors and Majors, may be substituted.
MAT 295 , MAT 296 , Standard Calculus, may be substituted (8 credits).
PHY 215 , PHY 216 , Physics for Honors and Majors, may be substituted.
BIO 355 , BIO 407 , BIO 409 , BIO 422 , BIO 471 , BIO 462 , BIO 463 , BIO 465 , BIO 475 , BIO 501 , BIO 503 and BIO 565 are recommended upper-division biology electives.
Three credits of either a biology or a physics upper-division laboratory class, including experimental research, are required; the requirement for 6 elective credits of upper-division biology may be satisfied simultaneously.