BIOPHYSICS, B.S.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (108 UNITS) Grades of “C” or better required. Courses may not need to be completed in order listed.
Core curriculum (31 units)
PHYS 231 General Physics I (4) & 231L Laboratory (1) Physical Science* Prerequisite: For PHYS 231A, MATH 122. For PHYS 231B, MATH 131.
PHYS 232 General Physics II (4) & 232L Laboratory (1) Physical Science* Prerequisite: PHYS 231 & 231L
PHYS 233 General Physics III (4) & 233L Laboratory (1) Physical Science* Prerequisite: PHYS 232 & 232L
PHYS 301 Mathematical Physics (4) Prerequisite: MATH 131, 132, & 133; PHYS 231, 232, & 233
PHYS 326 Human Body Mechanics (4) Prerequisite: BIOL 113 & 113L, MATH 133 & PHYS 233 & 233L
PHYS 385 Physics Seminar (1) Students complete seminar twice for a total of 2 units
PHYS 415 Advanced Physics Laboratory (2) Repeatable for additional credit. Prerequisite: PHYS 231, 232 & 233; MATH 231, 232 & 233
PHYS 464 Statistical and Thermal Physics (4) Prerequisite: MATH 131, 132, & 133; PHYS 231, 232, 233, & 301
Required Core Cognates (27 units)
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (4) & 111L Laboratory (1) Physical Science* Prerequisite: MATH 121 eligibility; CHEM 110 or placement
CHEM 112 General Chemistry II (4) & 112L Laboratory (1) Physical Science* Prerequisite: CHEM 111 & 111L
CHEM 113 General Chemistry III (4) & 113L Laboratory (1) Physical Science* Prerequisite: CHEM 112 & 112L
MATH 131 Calculus I (4) Prerequisite: MATH 122 or appropriate score on placement exam
MATH 132 Calculus II (4) Prerequisite: MATH 131 or appropriate score on placement exam
MATH 133 Calculus III (4) Prerequisite: MATH 132 or appropriate score on placement exam
Courses in Biophysics (38 units)
BIOL 111 General Biology I (4) & 111L (1) Laboratory Life Science*
BIOL 112 General Biology II (4) & 112L (1) Laboratory Life Science* Prerequisite: BIOL 111, BIOL 111L, BIOL 111A
BIOL 113 General Biology III (4) & 113L (1) Laboratory Life Science* Prerequisite: BIOL 112 & 112L
BIOL 301 Cell and Molecular Biology Prerequisite: BIOL 113, 113L & CHEM 271
PHYS 219 Introduction to Biophysics (1) Prerequisite: ENGL 111, 112, & 113
PHYS 336 Physics of Biomaterials (4) Prerequisite: BIOL 113 & 113L, MATH 133, PHYS 233 & 233L
PHYS 346 Biomedical Imaging (4) Prerequisite: BIOL 113 & 113L, MATH 133, PYS 233 & 233L
PHSY 356 Cellular Physics (4) Prerequisite: BIOL 113 & 113L, MATH 133, PYS 233 & 233L
Plus, choice of 6 elective units from
PHYS 308 Computational Physics (2) Prerequisite: MATH 133, PHYS 233, PHYS 301
PHYS 315 Modern Physics (4) Prerequisite : PHYS 233 & PHYS 301
PHYS 425 Radiation Physics (4) Prerequisite : PHYS 233
MATH 461 Biomathematical Modeling I (4) Prerequisite: CPTG 121, MATH 232, BIOL 113 & 113L
MATH 462 Biomathematical Modeling II (4) Prerequisite: MATH 461
BIOL 466 Systems Physiology (4) Prerequisite: BIOL 113 & 113L
CHEM 491 Biochemistry I (3) and 491L Laboratory (1) Prerequisite: CHEM 273
CHEM 492 Biochemistry II (3) and 492L Laboratory (1) Prerequisite: CHEM 491
CHEM 493 Biochemistry III (3) and 493L Laboratory (1) Prerequisite: CHEM 492
PHYS 298/498 Directed Research (1-4) Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent
Any other Biology or Neuroscience course
Required Core Cognates (12 units)
CHEM 271 Organic Chemistry I (4) & 271L Laboratory (1)
CHEM 272 Organic Chemistry II (4) & 272L Laboratory (1)
CHEM 273 Organic Chemistry III (4) & 273L Laboratory (1)
UNIVERSITY STUDIES FOUNDATIONAL STUDIES (20-37 UNITS) Grades of “C” or better required.
I FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR
II RHETORICAL SKILLS
III MATHEMATICS
IV WORLD LANGUAGES
V HEALTH AND FITNESS
UNST 101A (1) and 101B (1) OR UNST 100A (3) and 100B (3)
A. ENGL 111 (3), 112 (3), 113 (3) College Writing OR ENGL 124 Freshman Seminar (4)
B. Upper Division Rhetoric: PHYS 326 (4), PHYS 385 (1), PHYS 389 (0), PHYS 415 (2)
One college-level Mathematics: Math 133 required by major
Level 3 proficiency (e.g. 153) in one non-English language (4-12)
HLSC 120 Lifetime Fitness (2)
UNIVERSITY STUDIES GENERAL STUDIES (52 UNITS, 20 UPPER DIVISION)
2015-2016
FALL WINTER SPRING
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Grades of “D” or better required, unless courses are required by major.
THEME I. SOCIAL SCIENCES (SSCI) 8 units Globalization, Identity and Citizenship (4 units from SSCI 204/205/206/207) Prerequisite: ENGL 113/124 Social Science Breadth Courses (4 units)
THEME II. ARTS AND HUMANITIES (HUMN) 12 units
Exploring Culture (4 units from HUMN 104/105/106) Prerequisite: ENGL 111/124 Arts and Humanities Breadth Courses (4 units)
Arts and Humanities Breadth Courses (4 units)
THEME III RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES (RLGN) 16 units
RLGN 304 Adventism in Global Perspective or RLGN 305 Religion in Three Cultures (4) Prerequisite: ENGL 113/124, Junior Status A. Spiritual Experience and Expressions (0-4 units)
B. Beliefs and Heritage (4 units)
C. Scripture (4 units)
D. Religion and Society (0-4 units)
THEME IV NATURAL SCIENCES (NSCI) 12 units
Scientific Foundations (4 units from NSCI 404/405/406/407)
Life Science (4 units) Either life science or physical science must include a laboratory
Physical Science (4 units) Either life science or physical science must include a laboratory
THEME V SENIOR SEMINAR UNST 404N Religion, Values, and Social Responsibility (4)
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UNIVERSITY STUDIES SERVICE-LEARNING (3 courses)
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*A maximum of 4 units from the Major, and 8 units of Cognates required by the Major, may apply to University Studies General Studies requirements (2015-2016 Undegraduate Academic Bulletin p. 71).
NOTES: A course with quarters marked by [brackets] indicate the quarters in which that course is usually offered. Should a student’s general education and major degree program not meet the minimum 190 units (60 upper
division) required for graduation, the student must complete elective units to make up the defiency.
BIOPHYSICS
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Bachelor of Science
Fostering the growth of intellectual curiosity that will extend through postcollege years and building an appreciation of the role of physics in everyday
living constitute the general objectives of the Department of Physics. For the
Biophysics major there are the additional objectives of adequate preparation for
entrance to one of the professional curriculums, for graduate study in physics, or
for employment under the Civil Service classification of junior scientist-physicist
or in a similar grade in private industry.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS: Biophysicists are
interested in the physics of living systems and organisms. Frequently a member
of an interdisciplinary research team, the biophysicist may be found in hospitals,
graduate schools, government research laboratories, and private industrial
research and development. A very promising specialty is radiological health
physics.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: In order to specialize, graduate work is
essential. One with a bachelor’s degree usually starts out as a technician
and will advance to independent research and leadership with experience,
competence in the field, and advanced education. Some may become science
teachers in middle schools and high schools, which requires licensure. For more
information, contact the School of Education.
A Ph.D. in physics, astronomy, or a related field is needed for most jobs,
especially jobs that do basic research or for independent research positions in
industry. Those with a master’s degree in physics may qualify for jobs in applied
research and development for manufacturing and healthcare companies.
JOB OUTLOOK: Employment of biophysicists is projected to increase by 31
percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.
SALARY: The median annual wage for biophysicists was $81,480 in May 2012.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,430, and the top 10 percent earned
more than $147,350.
Websites
La Sierra University
www.lasierra.edu
Department
www.lasierra.edu/physics
Faculty
Chair
Ivan Rouse, Ph.D.
Advisors
Gary Case, Ph.D.
Elvis Geneston, Ph.D.
Ivan Rouse, Ph.D.
Contact Information
San Fernando Hall 207
(951) 785-2136
Professional Organizations
Biophysical Society
11400 Rockville Pike, Suite 800
Rockville, Maryland 20852
society@biophysics.org
www.biophysics.org
American Association of
Physicists in Medicine
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
www.aapm.org
In May 2012, the median annual wages for biochemists and biophysicists in the
top five industries in which these scientists worked were as follows:
Drugs and druggists’ sundries merchant wholesalers
Research and development in the physical, engineering,
and life sciences
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
Testing laboratories
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state,
local, and private
$103,390
$86,530
$82,490
$74,230
$52,990
Career information adapted from
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014). Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh.
Academic program information adapted from
La SIerra University. (2015-2016). Undergraduate Academic Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.lasierra.edu/
bulletin.
Academic Advising
Center for Student Academic Success
Sierra Vista Hall, Room 114
(951) 785-2452
advising@lasierra.edu
www.lasierra.edu/advising