Professional Biochemistry
Curriculum
Department of Chemistry
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Career Opportunities
The Department of Chemistry
prepares its students well for
advanced studies. Graduates
of this program are ready for
the challenges of graduate
school or a career in industrial, environmental, or
health-related research. You also may pursue a
graduate degree in chemistry, toxicology,
environmental sciences, pharmacy, or medicinal
chemistry.
Job titles include:
• analytical chemist
• chemical research technician
• chemical safety officer
• chemical sales representative
• chemistry information retrieval specialist
• chemistry instrument technician
• environmental control analyst
• forensic chemist
• quality control technician
• research chemist
About half of all EMU professional
biochemistry majors choose to gain additional
knowledge by accepting a full-ride scholarship
to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry, environmental
sciences, biochemistry, toxicology, chemical
engineering, or materials science. They then
begin rewarding careers as research scientists
and university professors.
Departmental Points of Interest
• Research. Most professional
biochemistry students embark on their own
scientific research projects and work with
faculty members. There are research courses
for which you can sign up, and projects can
extend for more than one semester. You may
even co-author an article to be published in a
scientific journal or be a presenter at an
international conference.
• Facilities. Between 2009 and 2012, the
Mark Jefferson building was expanded and
completely renovated. The finished Science
Complex features interactive, technologicallymodern classrooms, state-of-the-art teaching
and research labs, and dedicated student
study/interaction areas. The completed
Science Complex received LEED® Gold
certification. Pictures of our facilities are
available on our department website:
www.emich.edu/chemistry/facilities.
• Employment. Students have a chance to
gain on-the-job experience at local companies
through our cooperative education program.
You can earn good wages and get credit for
working at companies such as NSF
International or Cayman Chemical.
• Honors Courses. Even before EMU had
an Honors program, the department has
offered Honors sections of popular courses.
Every year, these include General Chemistry I
and II, Organic Chemistry I, Organic
Chemistry Lab, and Introduction to Analytical
Chemistry.
• Evening Courses. The department
accommodates the needs of students who
work during the day. All courses required for
graduation are offered in the evenings on a
regular schedule.
• Chemistry Club. You also may join the
Chem Club, the oldest student organization on
campus. In the past, the group has organized
trips to the Dow Chemical research labs, the
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital clinical research
labs, and the Ypsilanti Water Treatment Plant.
Members also have assisted at the Ann Arbor
Hands-On Museum for National Chemistry
Week, organized picnics, and raised money
for undergraduate research projects.
• Speakers. The department’s visiting
speaker program gives students a chance to
listen to professionals discuss the latest
research. Most speakers reserve time to talk to
students before or after these events.
Faculty
Faculty members are approachable: We all
took our jobs because we enjoy helping
students, and an open door usually means
we’re “interruptible.” These approachable
faculty members—not teaching assistants—
will teach all your chemistry courses.
Dr. Brittany Albaugh is interested in
targeting epigenetic proteins implicated in
cancer development through drug discovery
and gene regulation.
Dr. Steven Backues is interested in
cellular autophagy (“self-eating”), which
promotes survival during starvation and
disposes damaged or unwanted cytoplasmic
constituents, and in how proteins control the
shape and dynamics of cell membranes.
Dr. Hedeel Evans is a biochemist whose
area of research involves the study of proteins
that regulate the supply of nucleotides needed
for the growth of cancer cells. She is the
recipient of major research grants from the
National Institute of Health.
Dr. Deborah Heyl-Clegg previously
worked for the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical
Research Division. Her research involves the
design, synthesis and purification of
biologically active peptides to develop
structure-activity relationships.
Recommended Course Sequence:
Year Term Courses
2
Scholarships
Each year, the Chemistry Department
awards a number of scholarships to chemistry
majors at every academic level. Our website
www.emich.edu/chemistry/scholarships
contains additional information and links to
other College and University scholarships.
Winter
CHEM 123/124 (General Chemistry II)
MATH 120 (Calculus I)*
Fall
CHEM 281 (Intro to Analytical Chem)
CHEM 371 (Organic Chemistry I)
CHEM 372 (Organic Chemistry II)
Winter CHEM 373 (Organic Chemistry lab)
MATH 121 (Calculus II)*
Fall
3
CHEM 451 (Biochemistry I)
CHEM 48x or 49x (Coop or UG
Research)a
PHY 223 (Mechanics Heat & Sound)
MATH 122 (Elem. Linear Algebra)
CHEM 452 (Biochemistry II)
CHEM 453 (Biochemistry Lab.)a
Winter
PHY 224 (Electricity & Light)
MATH 223 (Multivariable Calculus)
Professional or General?
The Professional and General
Biochemistry programs have most of their
lower-level courses in common. General
Biochemistry is well suited to those seeking
admission into medical or dental schools.
Professional Biochemistry students will take a
greater number of advanced courses, some
with more math and physics prerequisites.
With proper electives, the professional
biochemistry degree is eligible to be certified
by the American Chemical Society.
CHEM 121/122 (General Chemistry I)
BIO 110/111 (Introductory Biology I)a
Start Taking Math*
1
Suggestions about Math
If you are planning a career in any area of
science or technology, start your calculus
courses as soon as possible, and go as far as
possible. Calculus is the language of choice
whenever people get serious about describing
quantitatively how something depends on
changes in something else. That includes
business and the social, biological, and
physical sciences.
Fall
Fall
CHEM 461 (Chem. Thermodynamics)
BIO 301(Genetics)a
CHEM advanced electivea,b
Winter
CHEM 463 (Physical Chemistry Lab)
CHEM 465 (Quantum & Stat. Mechan.)
BIO advanced electivea,c
CHEM advanced electivea,b
4
*Begin taking math courses as soon as possible, so
that you are ready for Calculus I no later than fall of
your second year. Take calculus your first year if you
are eligible. This will increase your scheduling
flexibility for physics and physical chemistry.
a. May be taken in other semesters, as long as
prerequisites are met.
b. Choose one Chemistry course from the following:
332 (Inorganic Chemistry); 411 (Toxicology I); 432
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry; 433 (Inorganic/Organic
Synthesis Laboratory); 477/8/9 (Special Topics in
Chemistry); 481 (Instrumental Analysis); 487/8/9
(Cooperative Education); 497/8/9 (Undergraduate
Research); 551 (Macromolecular Biochemistry); 554
(Protein Structure and Function); 555
(Neurochemistry); 572 (Spectroscopic Organic
Structural Determination).
c. Choose 3 credits from any biology courses
numbered 300 or above.
Other Departmental Programs:
General Biochemistry:
This major prepares students for entry level
technical positions in biochemistry, particularly
in the pharmaceutical industry. It is often
selected by students in pre-medical, pre-dental
and pre-pharmacy programs.
Professional Chemistry:
This program, which meets American
Chemical Society requirements, prepares
students for careers as professional chemists.
Graduates are prepared to enter technical
positions in industry and governmental research,
or to undertake graduate study in chemistry.
General Chemistry:
This major prepares students for entry level
technical positions in the chemical industry and
related careers in business, patent law, technical
writing, or industrial health and safety. It may
also be selected by students for careers in
secondary education or health fields, such as
medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.
Want to learn more?
For more information contact: 734.487.0106
E-mail: chem_ug_advising@emich.edu
Dr. Hedeel Evans hevans@emich.edu
Dr. Debbie Heyl-Clegg dheylcle@emich.edu
Dr. Steven Backues sbackues@emich.edu
Biochemistry faculty advisers
Visit us on the Web:
www.emich.edu/chemistry
1-26-16