Program Director: Michael Joesten Advances in biology, particularly at the cellular and molecular level, are changing the world that we live in. The basic knowledge of the way nature functions to create and sustain life on earth is increasingly applied to the health care industry, to feeding an expanding world population, to producing cheap energy from renewable sources, to cleaning up the environment. Biology is the enabling science of the 21st century and will create numerous opportunities in the job market in the years to come. The BS in biomolecular science lies at the interface between biology and chemistry and is designed to build upon the understanding of biology at the molecular level. The curriculum also provides a strong foundation in both mathematics and physics. This broadly based science education is a prerequisite for successful careers in industry and governmental laboratories, and for professional or graduate studies in the biological sciences, medicine and other health-related fields. The BS in biomolecular science has three options to meet the diverse needs of our students. The option in biomedical science is designed to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed for employment in the rapidly changing bio-related industries or to pursue advanced professional or graduate degrees. The curriculum is highly innovative, spans the boundaries between biology and chemistry and involves considerable exposure to research. The option in biotechnology is oriented towards the need of students who plan to work for the fast-growing biotechnology industry. The nature of the industry has dramatically changed in the last decade, with technologies based on human gene therapy taking their place alongside the production of antibiotics, vaccines, hormones in technologies based on genetic engineering. This option provides a large choice of elective courses that would meet both the specific needs and interests of individual students. The option in chemistry inherits the rich traditions of Polytechnic in providing excellent education in chemistry, now combined with a fundamental knowledge of biology, to prepare students for employment in pharmaceutical and related companies. Graduates will also be prepared for positions at educational and/or research institutions and governmental laboratories. The research opportunities provided by this option will prepare students for pursuing graduate de- grees in chemistry as well as degrees that border on biology. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The goal of the BS in biomolecular science is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to advance to work in the rapidly changing bio-related industries or to pursue advanced professional or graduate degrees. This is accomplished through an innovative curriculum that spans the boundaries between biology and chemistry and through exposure to research. In this way, the program is designed to attract and train students who are adaptable and active learners. The BS in biomolecular science, option in chemistry, with an appropriate selection of electives, is certified by the American Chemistry Society (ACS) to be a rigorous academic program, which is valued by both potential employers and graduate schools. ACS-certified graduates are immediately eligible for society membership. BS/MS ACCELERATED HONORS OPTION The BS/MS Accelerated Honors Option leads to the simultaneous awarding of bachelor s and master s degres. Depending on the student s preparation and objective, the two degrees may be completed in as few as four years of study. Each program is individually designed in cooperation with the departmental BS/MS adviser to allow varied transfer and AP credits, professional summer jobs, and other goals consistent with the honors option. Possible BS/MS combinations include a BS in biomolecular science with an MS in chemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology or biomedical engineering. Incoming freshman with superior admissions qualifications are invited to participate in the Accelerated Honors Program. Later admission may be considered after students complete no more than one year at Polytechnic. Students must complete to 20 credits each semester, maintain a 3.5 GPA average, and display a record free of course repetitions. The required courses for the two degrees include all courses required for individual BS and MS degrees, except for Senior Research Project II (either BMS 4924 or CM 4924), and all curriculum footnotes apply. Required credits are the sum of the credits for the two degrees minus the 4 credits for Senior Research Project II. Students in this program must complete a Master s Thesis. (No Bachelor s Thesis is required.) Acceleration may be achieved through summer course work, extra course loads, careful sequencing or credit by examination. Students may also achieve acceleration through advanced placement credit in such courses as biology, calculus, chemistry, computer science or physics. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MEDICAL SCHOOL EARLY ASSURANCE GUARANTEED ADMISSIONS PROGRAM Polytechnic and SUNY Downstate Medical Center have created the Medical School Early Assurance Guaranteed Admissions Program. Through the program, five slots are reserved in the first-year medical school class for graduating Polytechnic students. Students majoring in biomolecular science who satisfy certain requirements are eligible for this program. Contact the department of Chemical and Biological Sciences Department for further information. OPTION Biomedical Bio- Subject Science technology Chemistry Chemistry 33cr 33cr 36cr Biology 26 18 8 Research* 8 8 8 Chemical & Biological 0 0 4 Engineering Computer Science 4 4 4 Humanities/ Social Sciences 26 26 28 Mathematics 8 8 12 Physics 8 8 8 Technical electives 15 23 20 Total 128 128 128 A minimum of 128 credits is required for the BS in Biomolecular Science. *Students registering for research are required to submit a written report prior to graduation. Students may elect to write an undergraduate thesis. UNDERGRADUATE COURSES BMS 1004 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology 3:3:0:4 Fundamentals of biology. Physical, chemical and biochemical bases of life on various organizational levels, cellular morphology, complementarity of form and function, including reproduction, development and genetics. 113
BMS 2004 Introduction to Physiology 3:3:0:4 Fundamentals of biology, continued. Emphasis on evolutionary theory, phylogeny and comparative physiology including homeostasis, regulation, integration and coordination of organisms at the systems level. Prerequisite: BMS 1004 or instructor s permission. BMS 2512 Biostatistics 2:0:0:2 Concise introduction to statistical methods used in biology, including probability, statistical distributions, regression, correlation and tests. BMS 3114 Genetics 3:3:0:4 The genetics of bacteria, viruses and high organisms. Emphasis is placed on both the genetic and biochemical analyses of gene replication, heredity, mutation, recombination and gene expression. Comparisons of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genetics and regulation. Laboratory techniques used in the study of genetic phenomena in prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses. Emphasis placed on modern approaches to genetic research. Lab fee required. Prerequisite: BMS 1004. Corequisite: CM 2214. BMS 3214 Microbiology 3:3:0:4 Study of microbial organisms, especially bacteria and viruses. Microbial relationship to disease, infections and immunological processes. Mutation, transformation, transduction, induction and bioenergetic processes. Laboratory work includes experimental analysis of microbial structure and physiology by biochemical and cytochemical means. Influence of environment on nutrition, enzymes and metabolism of representative microbial species. Lab fee required. Prerequisites: BMS 2004 and CM 1014 or instructor s permission. BMS 3314 Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology I 3:3:0:4 This course is designed as the first semester of a year-long course in which the molecular basis of cell function and current trends in molecular biology are explored. The lab component consists of a year-long project to locate, characterize, clone and express a gene. Lab fee required. Prerequisites: CM 3314 and CM 2224 (see BMS 4324 for second semester). BMS 4011 Senior Seminar 1:0:0:1 Students present seminars based on current literature. BMS 4314 Advanced Cell Physiology 3:3:0:4 Analysis of chemical and physical mechanisms of cellular function. Molecular constituents of biological systems, enzymes and reaction rates, energetic and regulation of metabolic processes, membrane transport, contractility and irritability. Laboratory studies include examination of cellular components in terms of their functional activities (enzymes, oxidative-phosphorylation, photosynthesis), kinetics of soluble and membrane-bound enzymes and membrane transport. Lab fee required. Prerequisites: BMS 2004 and CM 2614. BMS 4414 Biophysics 4:0:0:4 Molecular basis of complex biochemical functions, membrane transport, intercellular and extracellular signaling, metabolism and energy transduction, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and control, macromolecular assemblies, special topics in biochemistry. BMS 4324 Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology II 3:3:0:4 This course is for the second semester of a year-long course in which the molecular basis of cell function and current trends in molecular biology are explored. The lab component consists of a year-long project to locate, characterize, clone and express a gene. Lab fee required. Prerequisite: BMS 3314. BMS 4814/4824/4834/4844 Topics in Biology 4 credits each as arranged BMS 4914/4924 Undergraduate Research in Biomolecular Science 4 credits each Investigations of problems in biology under supervision of faculty members. Library research, experimental studies and written reports required. Lab fee required. Prerequisites: senior status or adviser s approval, CM 5010, CM 5040. BMS 4934 Life Science Internship 4 credits Supervised projects carried out in hospital, community or industrial settings. Evaluated on basis of written and oral reports presented to faculty and outside project co-sponsors. Faculty conferences and visits required. Open to senior students on approval of departmental adviser. Pre-planned experiences provide students with significant exposure to relationships between theoretical information and practical applications. Prerequisite: senior status or adviser s approval. 114
Typical Course of Study for the Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Science Option in Biomedical Science FRESHMAN YEAR MA 1054 Calculus I with Precalculus I 4 0 0 4 CM 1014 General Chemistry I 3 2 1 4 BMS 1004 Biology I (Intro Cell & Molecular Bio) 3 3 0 4 EN 1014 Writing & Humanities I 2 4 0 0 4 SL 1010 Freshman Seminar 1 0 0 0 SOPHOMORE YEAR CM 2214 Organic Chemistry I 3 3 0 4 PH 1004 Introductory Physics I 4 1 1 2 1 4 CS 2113 Programming with VBA/Excel 3 0 0 3 HU 2104 Modern World History 4 0 0 4 15 JUNIOR YEAR BMS 3114 Genetics 3 3 0 4 CM 3314 Biochemistry I 4 0 0 4 Elective 4 0 0 4 SENIOR YEAR BMS 4324 Adv Cell & Molecular Bio II 3 3 0 4 BMS 4914 Senior Project Research 0 12 0 4 Elective 4 4 0 0 4 MA 1154 Calculus II with Precalculus 4 0 0 4 BMS 2004 Biology II (Intro Physiology) 3 3 0 4 CM 1024 General Chemistry II 3 2 1 4 EN 1204 Writing & Humanities 4 0 0 4 CM 2224 Organic Chemistry II 3 3 0 4 PL 2072 Bioethics 2 0 0 2 BMS 2512 Biostatistics 2 0 0 2 CM 2614 Physical Chemistry I 4 0 0 4 PH 2004 Introductory Physics II 4 1 1 2 1 4 BMS 4924 Senior Project Research 0 12 0 4 BMS 48xx Topics in Biology 4 0 0 4 Elective 4 4 0 0 4 BMS 3314 Adv Cell & Molecular Bio I 3 3 0 4 CM 3324 Biochemistry II 4 0 0 4 CM 3514 Analytical Chemistry 3 3 0 4 CM 5011 Information Sources 1 0 0 1 Elective 4 4 0 0 4 17 Total credits required for graduation: 128 See page 118 for footnotes. 115
Typical Course of Study for the Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Science Option in Biotechnology FRESHMAN YEAR MA 1054 Calculus I with Pre-calculus I 4 0 0 4 CM 1014 General Chemistry I 3 2 1 4 BMS 1004 Biology I (Intro Cell & Molecular Bio) 3 3 0 4 EN 1014 Writing & Humanities I 2 4 0 0 4 SL 1010 Freshman Seminar 1 0 0 0 SOPHOMORE YEAR CM 2214 Organic Chemistry I 3 3 0 4 PH 1004 Introductory Physics I 4 1 1 2 1 4 CS 2113 Programming with VBA/Excel 3 0 0 3 HU 2104 Modern World History 4 0 0 4 CM 5040 Laboratory Safety 1 0 0 0 15 JUNIOR YEAR BMS 3114 Genetics 3 3 0 4 CM 3314 Biochemistry I 4 0 0 4 SENIOR YEAR BMS 4914 Senior Project Research 0 12 0 4 MA 1154 Calculus II with Pre-calculus 4 0 0 4 BMS 2004 Biology II (Intro Physiology) 3 3 0 4 CM 1024 General Chemistry II 3 2 1 4 EN 1204 Writing & Humanities 4 0 0 4 CM 2224 Organic Chemistry II 3 3 0 4 PL 2072 Bioethics 2 0 0 2 BMS 2512 Biostatistics 2 0 0 2 CM 2614 Physical Chemistry I 4 0 0 4 PH 2004 Introductory Physics II 4 1 1 2 1 4 BMS 3314 Advanced Cell & Molecular Biology I 3 3 0 4 CM 3324 Biochemistry II 4 0 0 4 CM 3514 Analytical Chemistry 3 3 0 4 CM 5011 Information Sources 1 0 0 1 17 BMS 4924 Senior Project Research 0 12 0 4 Total credits required for graduation: 128 See page 118 for footnotes. 1
Typical Course of Study for the Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Science Option in Chemistry FRESHMAN YEAR MA 1024 Calculus I 1 2 0 0 4 CM 1014 General Chemistry I 3 2 1 4 BMS1004 Biology I (Intro Cell & Molecular Bio) 3 3 0 4 EN 1014 Writing & Humanities I 2 4 0 0 4 SL 1010 Freshman Seminar 1 0 0 0 SOPHOMORE YEAR CM 2214 Organic Chemistry I 3 3 0 4 PH 1004 Introductory Physics I 4 11 2 1 4 CS 1114 Intro Progr & Problem Solving 3 3 0 4 HU 2104 Modern World History 4 0 0 4 CM 5040 Laboratory Safety 1 0 0 0 JUNIOR YEAR CM 3314 Biochemistry I 4 0 0 4 CM 4413 Polymer Science 3 0 0 3 CBE 2124 Chemical & Biological Processes 4 0 0 4 15 SENIOR YEAR CM 4914 Senior Project Research 0 12 0 4 MA 1124 Calculus II 2 0 0 4 BMS 2004 Biology II (Intro Physiology) 3 3 0 4 CM 1024 General Chemistry II 3 2 1 4 EN 1204 Writing & Humanities 4 0 0 4 CM 2224 Organic Chemistry II 3 3 0 4 MA 2012 Linear Algebra I ( 1 2 semester) 4 0 0 2 MA 2132 Ordinary Differential Equations ( 1 2 semester) 4 0 0 2 CM 2614 Physical Chemistry I 4 0 0 4 PH 2004 Introductory Physics II 4 1 1 2 1 4 CM 3324 Biochemistry II 4 0 0 4 CM 3514 Analytical Chemistry 3 3 0 4 CM 5011 Information Sources 1 0 0 1 17 CM 4924 Senior Project Research 0 12 0 4 Total credits required for graduation: 128 See page 118 for footnotes. 117
Footnotes for Typical Course of Studies for the Bachelor of Science in Biomolecular Science Options in Biomedical Science, Biotechnology and Chemistry 1. Students who are placed by examination or by an adviser into MA 914 must defer registration for MA 1054 or MA 1024. 2. Students who are placed by examination or by an adviser into EN 1080 must subsequently register for EN 1034, rather than EN 1014. 3. Approved HU/SS electives are courses with the following prefixes: AH, AN, EC, EN, HI, MU, PL and PS. Two courses must be from Level II Elective courses in different disciplines, and one from Level III Advanced Elective courses. 4. Electives for the Option in Biomedical Sciences: Two courses must be chosen from the following list or must be approved by an adviser, subject to the courses being offered in a given semester. Graduate courses may only be taken by students with junior standing and a C+ average or better, unless otherwise approved by the adviser. The remaining courses are free electives. CBE 2124 Chemical & Biological Processes 4 cr BMS 2314 Physiology 4 cr BMS 3214 Microbiology 4 cr BMS 4414 Bio-physics 4 cr BMS 48XX Topics in Biology 4 cr CM 9443 Tissue Engineering 3 cr BE 6603 Drug Delivery 3 cr BE 6703 Materials in Medicine 3 cr 5. Electives for the Option in Biotechnology: Three courses must be chosen from the following list or must be approved by an adviser, subject to the courses being offered in a given semester. Graduate courses may only be taken by students with junior standing and a C+ average or better, unless otherwise approved by the adviser. The remaining courses are free electives. CBE 2124 Chemical & Biological Processes 4 cr BMS 4324 Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology II 4 cr BMS 48XX Topics in Biology 4 cr CM 4314 Biomaterials 4 cr CM 4413 Polymer Science 3 cr CM 9463 Recombinant DNA Technology 3 cr CM 6253 Biosensors 3 cr CM 9053 Enzyme Catalysis in Organic Synthesis 3 cr BI 7513 Chemical Foundations of Bioinformatics 3 cr BI 7533 Bioinformatics I: Sequence Analysis 3 cr BI 7543 Bioinformatics II: Protein Structure 3 cr 6. Electives for the Option in Chemistry: Two courses must be advanced undergraduate CM, BMS or CBE courses, or graduate CM courses, or must be approved by an adviser, subject to the courses being offered in a given semester. Graduate courses may only be taken by students with junior standing and a C+ average or better, unless otherwise approved by the adviser. The remaining courses are free electives. NOTES: All laboratory courses in chemistry require a breakage deposit. The department does not usually grant transfer credits to students who, while registered at Polytechnic, take biology or chemistry courses at other schools. 118