Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
BCHM 551 Course Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
BCHM 551
BIOCHEMISTRY
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A survey of the structure and reactivity of bioorganic molecules within biological systems.
Emphasis is placed on: 1) organic functional groups within carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and
nucleic acids; 2) mechanisms and regulation of enzyme catalyzed equilibria; 3) energy
generation and utilization by anabolic and catabolic metabolism; 4) membrane dynamics,
transport and signaling; and 5) the flow of biological information from nucleic acids to protein
synthesis.
RATIONALE
Biochemistry is intended primarily for graduate Biomedical Science students with the ambition
of attending medical school, teaching, or working in the pharmaceutical industry. Exploring the
biochemical make-up of the human body as a unique design of the Almighty God brings glory to
our Creator and, hopefully, will instill a sense of awe and humility within the student. This
course is uniquely designed to emphasize the chemistry of biological macromolecules as being
integral to the proper structure and functioning of the human body against the backdrop of their
clinical significance in disease states. It attempts to look at each concept from a clinician’s
viewpoint and will serve to bridge the gap between bench research and clinical applications of
the results thus generated. The course outline and approach will follow contemporary trends in
medicine and therapeutics research.
I.
PREREQUISITE
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASE
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III.
IV.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Office
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
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BCHM 551 Course Syllabus
V.
A.
Describe different protein conformations in physiology and disease.
B.
Discuss high-energy phosphates and their coupling to metabolism.
C.
Explain the clinical significance of carbohydrate metabolism pathways,
regulation, and storage.
D.
Explain the clinical significance of lipids metabolism pathways, regulation, and
storage (including cholesterol biosynthesis).
E.
Explain the clinical significance of protein/amino acid metabolism pathways,
regulation, and storage (including nucleotides).
F.
Describe the biochemistry of molecular transport across cell membranes and
signal transduction.
G.
Explain the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients of significant clinical
implications.
H.
Discuss the biochemical constitution of the extracellular matrix and their role in
maintaining cellular communication and integrity.
I.
Explain a clinical biochemistry laboratory result with respect to related diseases.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will
complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums (2)
Discussion boards are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is
required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum.
Each thread must be 350–500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge.
In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’
threads. Each reply must be 200–250 words.
D.
Assignments (8)
The student will give detailed and well-explained answers to the case study
questions assigned. There are no length restrictions as long as the responses are
thoughtfully constructed.
E.
Group Video Presentation
At the beginning of the course, the student will be assigned to a partner and, in
collaboration with the partner, produce a 10–15-minute teaching video on the
assigned metabolic pathway.
F.
Quizzes (8)
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BCHM 551 Course Syllabus
Each quiz will cover the Reading & Study material for the assigned
modules/weeks. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 20–40 multiplechoice questions, and have a 50-minute time limit.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Discussion Board Forums (2 at 50 pts ea)
Assignments (6 at 15 pts ea, 2 at 20 pts ea)
Group Video Presentation
Quizzes (8 at 80 pts ea)
Total
B.
10
100
130
130
640
1010
Scale
A = 930–1010 A- = 900–929 B+ = 870–899 B = 830–869 B- = 800-829
C+ = 770–799 C = 730–769 C- = 700–729 D = 600–699 F = 0–599
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
course will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
Page 3 of 3
COUR ### Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
BCHM 551
Textbooks: Glew & Rosenthal, Clinical Studies in Medical Biochemistry (2006).
Rodwell et al., Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry (2015).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 7, 10, 32
Rodwell et al.: chs. 17–20
3 presentations
1 study guide
Course Requirements Checklist
Class Introductions
Assignment 1
Quiz 1
10
0
15
80
2
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 9, 11, 13
Rodwell et al.: chs. 21–26
1 presentation
1 study guide
DB Forum 1
Assignment 2
Quiz 2
50
15
80
3
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 14–15, 27
Rodwell et al.: chs. 21–26
1 presentation
1 study guide
Assignment 3
Quiz 3
15
80
4
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 16–17, 20
Rodwell et al.: chs. 21–26
1 presentation
1 study guide
Assignment 4
Quiz 4
20
80
5
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 2, 6, 18
Rodwell et al.: chs. 4–6, 28
1 presentation
1 study guide
Assignment 5
Quiz 5
15
80
6
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 12, 21, 28
Rodwell et al.: chs. 43–45
1 presentation
1 study guide
DB Forum 2
Assignment 6
Quiz 6
50
15
80
7
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 29–31
Rodwell et al.: chs. 31, 43–45
1 presentation
1 study guide
Assignment 7
Quiz 7
15
80
8
Glew & Rosenthal: chs. 23–25
Rodwell et al.: chs. 43–45
2 presentations
1 study guide
Assignment 8
Group Video Presentation
Quiz 8
20
130
80
TOTAL
1010
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
DB = Discussion Board
NOTE: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday
night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.