Biochemistry, B.S. to Chemical Biology, Master's Accelerated Program
Saint Louis University's bachelor's-to-master's program in chemical biology provides a strong foundation in chemistry and branches out into medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and molecular biology.
A five-year course schedule is provided to SLU undergraduates that demonstrates how to complete the undergraduate B.S. degree in biochemistry or biology together with a master’s degree in chemical biology. The master’s degree can either be a coursework-based M.A. degree or a thesis-based M.S. degree. This program provides excellent preparation for a career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following SLU programs:
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry has been continuously certified by the American Chemical Society since 2004.
Existing SLU undergraduates pursuing a B.S. in biochemistry may apply to the accelerated bachelor’s-master’s (ABM) program after completing 75 credits (typically during the spring semester of their third year) if they have a GPA of 3.00 or higher, commensurate with the admission standards for the master’s program in chemical biology. The application will include a personal statement and three letters of support, of which at least two must be from members of the SLU faculty.Ìý
If accepted into the program, students who have completed 90 undergraduate credits (typically during their fourth year) may apply up to 15 credits of graduate-level courses (5000-level and up) towards both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements, assuming a grade of "B" or better. Students targeting a coursework-based M.A. degree will be mentored by the chemical biology program coordinator. Students targeting a thesis-based M.S. will take CHEB-5110 in the summer after having completed 90 credits (typically between years three and four) and select a research mentor.
Prior to 120 credits, students enrolled in the program will need to adhere to the continuation standards of their undergraduate major. After 120 credits (typically the fifthÌýyear), the chemical biology master’s level program continuation requirements apply.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollmentÌýunless otherwise noted. Ìý
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
M.A. in Chemical Biology OptionÌý
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
Critical course: ÌýBIOLÌý1240 &ÌýBIOLÌý1245 |
General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution and Principles of Biology I Laboratory |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý1130 &ÌýCHEMÌý1115 |
General Chemistry 1 for Majors and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
MATHÌý1510 | Calculus I | 4 |
Core course | 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ÌýBIOLÌý1260 &ÌýBIOLÌý1265 |
General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Principles of Biology II Laboratory |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý1140 &ÌýCHEMÌý1125 |
General Chemistry 2 for Majors and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory |
4 |
MATHÌý1520 | Calculus II | 4 |
Core course | 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý2200 &ÌýCHEMÌý2205 |
Analytical Chemistry 1 and Analytical Chemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý2430 &ÌýCHEMÌý2435 |
Organic Chemistry 1 for Majors and Organic Chemistry 1 Lab for Majors |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýPHYSÌý1310 &ÌýPHYSÌý1320 |
College Physics I and College Physics I Laboratory |
4 |
Core course | 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý2440 &ÌýCHEMÌý2445 |
Organic Chemistry 2 for Majors and Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory for Majors |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýPHYSÌý1330 &ÌýPHYSÌý1340 |
College Physics II and College Physics II Laboratory |
4 |
Core courses | 6 | |
Ìý | Credits | 14 |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
CHEBÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemical Biology | 1-3 |
CHEMÌý3100 | The Chemical Literature | 1 |
CHEMÌý3330 | Physical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý4610 &ÌýCHEMÌý4615 |
Biochemistry 1 and Biochemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
Core courses | 6 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15-17 |
Spring | ||
CHEBÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemical Biology | 1-3 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý3340 &ÌýCHEMÌý3345 |
Physical Chemistry 2 and Physical Chemistry Laboratory |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý4620 &ÌýCHEMÌý4625 |
Biochemistry 2 and Biochemistry 2 Laboratory |
4 |
Core courses | 6 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15-17 |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
CHEBÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemical Biology | 1-3 |
CHEMÌý5630 | Introduction to Chemical Biology and Biotechnology | 3 |
BIOLÌý3030 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
CHEMÌý5500 or CHEMÌý4500 |
Inorganic Chemistry or Inorganic Chemistry |
3 |
Core courses | 6 | |
Ìý | Credits | 16-18 |
Spring | ||
CHEBÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemical Biology | 1-3 |
CHEMÌý5470 | Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
PPYÌý5410 | Molecular Pharmacology | 3 |
Elective or Core courses (if needed) | 9 | |
Ìý | Credits | 16-18 |
Summer | ||
CHEBÌý5980 | Graduate Independent Study in Chemical Biology | 3 |
Ìý | Credits | 3 |
Year Five | ||
Fall | ||
CHEBÌý5970 | Research Topics | 3 |
BIOLÌý5700 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 3 |
Graduate Elective †| 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 9 |
Spring | ||
Oral Examination | Ìý | |
Critical course: ÌýGraduate Electives †| 9 | |
Ìý | Credits | 9 |
Ìý | Total Credits | 142-150 |
M.S. in Chemical Biology Option
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
Critical course: ÌýBIOLÌý1240 &ÌýBIOLÌý1245 |
General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution and Principles of Biology I Laboratory |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý1130 &ÌýCHEMÌý1115 |
General Chemistry 1 for Majors and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
MATHÌý1510 | Calculus I | 4 |
Core course | 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ÌýBIOLÌý1260 &ÌýBIOLÌý1265 |
General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Principles of Biology II Laboratory |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý1140 &ÌýCHEMÌý1125 |
General Chemistry 2 for Majors and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory |
4 |
MATHÌý1520 | Calculus II | 4 |
Core course | 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý2200 &ÌýCHEMÌý2205 |
Analytical Chemistry 1 and Analytical Chemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý2430 &ÌýCHEMÌý2435 |
Organic Chemistry 1 for Majors and Organic Chemistry 1 Lab for Majors |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýPHYSÌý1310 &ÌýPHYSÌý1320 or PHYSÌý1610 and PHYSÌý1620 |
College Physics I or University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory |
4 |
Core course | 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý2440 &ÌýCHEMÌý2445 |
Organic Chemistry 2 for Majors and Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory for Majors |
4 |
Critical course: ÌýPHYSÌý1330 &ÌýPHYSÌý1340 or PHYSÌý1610 and PHYSÌý1640 |
College Physics II or University Physics I and University Physics II Laboratory |
4 |
Core courses | 6 | |
Ìý | Credits | 14 |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
CHEMÌý3100 | The Chemical Literature | 1 |
CHEMÌý3330 | Physical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
CHEMÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemistry | 1 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý4610 &ÌýCHEMÌý4615 |
Biochemistry 1 and Biochemistry 1 Laboratory |
4 |
Core courses | 6 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý3340 &ÌýCHEMÌý3345 |
Physical Chemistry 2 and Physical Chemistry Laboratory |
4 |
CHEMÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemistry | 1 |
Critical course: ÌýCHEMÌý4620 &ÌýCHEMÌý4625 |
Biochemistry 2 and Biochemistry 2 Laboratory |
4 |
Core courses | 6 | |
Ìý | Credits | 15 |
Summer | ||
CHEBÌý5110 | Introduction to Chemical Biology Research I | 1 |
Ìý | Credits | 1 |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
BIOLÌý3030 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
BIOLÌý5700 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 3 |
CHEMÌý5630 | Introduction to Chemical Biology and Biotechnology | 3 |
CHEMÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemistry | 1 |
CHEMÌý5500 or CHEMÌý4500 |
Inorganic Chemistry or Inorganic Chemistry |
3 |
Core course | 3 | |
Ìý | Credits | 16 |
Spring | ||
CHEBÌý5120 | Introduction to Chemical Biology Research II | 1-3 |
CHEMÌý3970 | Independent Research in Chemistry | 1 |
PPYÌý5410 | Molecular Pharmacology | 3 |
Elective or Core courses (if needed) | 9 | |
Ìý | Credits | 14-16 |
Summer | ||
CHEBÌý5970 | Research Topics | 3 |
Ìý | Credits | 3 |
Year Five | ||
Fall | ||
CHEBÌý5990 | Thesis Research | 3 |
Graduate Electives †| 6 | |
Submit Research Progress Report | Ìý | |
Ìý | Credits | 9 |
Spring | ||
CHEMÌý5470 | Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
CHEBÌý5990 | Thesis Research | 3 |
Submit and defend Master’s Thesis | Ìý | |
Ìý | Credits | 6 |
Ìý | Total Credits | 138-140 |
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Elective must be selected from a 5000+ course. Electives should be selected in consultation with the chemical biology program coordinator from the chemistry, biology, pharmacology or biochemistry departments.