The study of chemistry or biochemistry at Swarthmore College involves the completion of a core curriculum (eight courses) providing the fundamentals of inorganic, organic, analytical, physical and biological chemistry. Whereas only one seminar is needed to meet the minimum requirements for the degree, students are encouraged to enrich their program with additional seminars and/or research courses. A variety of research opportunities exist for students majoring in the department including a number of interdisciplinary projects.
All applications for the major in Chemistry or Biochemistry are reviewed by the department as a whole. We do not base our decision on a minimum grade point average, but we do consider grades in all college-level courses in Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Physics. Decisions will normally not be made until Chemistry 22 (Organic Chemistry I) is completed and significant progress has been made towards meeting the Physics and Mathematics prerequisite requirements for enrollment in Physical Chemistry. An element in a student's acceptance as a major is our considered judgment of the student's potential for a satisfactory performance in advanced course work, including fulfillment of the comprehensive requirement.
Course students majoring in Biochemistry must complete Chemistry 22, 32, 38, 44, 45, 46, and either 108 (Topics in Biochemistry) or 110 (Topics in Modern Biophysical Chemistry). Biochemistry majors must also complete either
(1) a biochemically related sophomore-level Biology course (with lab) and a biochemically related advanced Biology seminar (with lab) OR
(2) two biochemically related, sophomore-level Biology courses (with labs). Please note that Biology 1, Chemistry 10, Math 15, one of Math 25, 25s or 26, one of Math 33, 34 or 35 and Physics 3, 4 are prerequisites for some of these offerings.
These prerequisites should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Biochemistry-related courses offered in the Department of Biology include: Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Microbial Pathogenesis and the Immune Response, Animal Physiology, Neurobiology, Developmental Biology, and Plant Physiology. Biochemistry-related seminars offered in the Department of Biology include: Human Genetics, Developmental Genetics, Regulation of Cell Division, Plant Developmental Biology, Microbial Processes and Biotechnology, Developmental Neurobiology and Learning and Memory.
FOR ALL STUDENTS: Chemistry 10, 22 and 44 constitute a minimum set of prerequisites for enrollment in any Chemistry Department seminar. These requirements should be completed by the end of the Fall semester of the junior year. Students should also make note of the Physics and Mathematics prerequisites for Chemistry 34 and 45A/B/C. Individual seminars carry additional prerequisites as listed under Courses.
All fields in Biochemistry (except the Research Thesis) will be examined in three hour written examinations prepared by the External Examiners. These exams may be "open book", with one or more of the principal texts used in the seminar available to the student during the examination. Where appropriate, Examiners may be encouraged to assign specific readings (papers from the original literature, sections from advanced texts, etc.) that students will prepare prior to the written exam. The Honors Research Thesis will be only be examined orally by the External Examiner chosen in that field. Honors oral exams will generally be given by individual Examiners, but the exams will be scheduled so that all Chemistry/Biochemistry Examiners can observe the Chemistry/Biochemistry orals for all Honors students. In the case of team-taught seminars where two Examiners are involved, both will contribute to the oral examination process for that seminar.
To be admitted as a major in the Honors Program in biochemistry, a student must present a minimum of two graded courses in chemistry taken at Swarthmore College. In addition, the Department looks for indications that the student will participate actively in seminars and can successfully work in an independent manner. To be eligible, no grade in the department may be below a B- and the minimum GPA in chemistry courses should be 3.0. A student previously accepted into the Honors Program but not maintaining this GPA in chemistry and biochemistry courses, will be, by department decision, asked to withdraw from Honors.
The Honors program in Biochemistry will consist of four preparations in at least two departments, as follows:
In addition to the academic credits that comprise the Honors program, Biochemistry majors are required to complete Chemistry 43, 45 and 46. Students should note the Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics prerequisites to these courses and the seminars that are included in the Honors program.
Biochemistry majors carrying out research in the Chemistry Department do not have to meet Senior Honors Study requirements. However, Biochemistry majors carrying out research in the Biology Department are expected to participate in the Senior Honors Study program defined by the Biology Department.
Because the Biochemistry major is a "Special Major" spanning the disciplines of Chemistry and Biology, it is not possible to Minor in Biochemistry in the Honors Program. Biochemistry Majors in the Honors Program do NOT need to select a minor.
Each year the chemistry department brings a number of visitors to campus who give lectures on their research and spend the day interacting with faculty and students. Attendance is a requirement for students doing research in the department as well as those students involved in the department's comprehensive examination program.
The comprehensive requirement in chemistry and biochemistry will consist of a series of short exams administered throughout the academic year to senior majors. These exams will be based on the presentations made by speakers in the Departments's Colloquium Series and the literature readings the speakers suggest. Senior majors are encouraged to (1) attend the "preview" sessions that are held the week before a presentation, (2) study the suggested readings and, (3) attend the colloquium presentations as preparations for the exams.
The following regulations will govern this process:
The Chemistry Department is eager to accommodate the foreign study aspirations of Chemistry and Biochemistry majors. Because of the sequential nature of the curriculum, however, substantial advance planning is required and interested students are encouraged to consult with the Foreign Study advisor and the Department Chair at the earliest possible opportunity. Students should be aware that it is very difficult to complete a Chemistry or Biochemistry major if the foreign study includes the Fall semester of the junior year.