Biochemistry Course Listing | The Department of Life Sciences

Major in Biochemistry

Elective courses are subject to prerequisite, and can be taken from Level II.

Level I
Students must complete at least 24 Level I credits which must include:
*Semester 1*	*Biochemistry Major*		*Credits*
BIOL 1262 Living Organisms I	Core		3	(Cape Biology Units I and II) or (BIOL 0061 & BIOL 0062) or GCE A-Level Biology
BIOL 1263 Living Organisms II	Core		3	(Cape Biology Units I and II) or (BIOL 0061 & BIOL 0062) or GCE A-Level Biology
CHEM 1066 Introduction to Chemistry I	Core		3	CHEM 0060 & CHEM 0061 or CAPE Chemistry or Equivalent
MATH 1115* Fundamental Mathematics for the General Sciences I	Core		3	None
*Semester 2*
BIOL 1362 Biochemistry I	Core		3	(Cape Biology Units I and II) or (BIOL 0061 & BIOL 0062) or GCE A-Level Biology
BIOL 1364 Genetics I	Core		3	(Cape Biology Units I and II) or (BIOL 0061 & BIOL 0062) or GCE A-Level Biology
CHEM 1067 Introduction to Chemistry II	Core		3	CHEM 0060 & CHEM 0061 or CAPE Chemistry or Equivalent
PLUS three (3) additional level I credits from any faculty/department
*MATH 1115 should be taken by students who do not have a pass in Pure Mathematics at CAPE Units I & II or GCE A ‘Level or equivalent.
Level II
Students pursuing the major in Biochemistry are required to complete all 24 credits of core courses, typically over the 2nd and 3rd years of the degree programme
*Semester 1*	*Biochemistry Major*		*Credits*
BIOC 2061 Bioenergetics	Core		3	(BIOL 1362 or BIOL 1061) and either (CHEM 1066 and CHEM 1067) or CHEM 1060
BIOC 2069 Practical Skills in Biochemistry I	Core		1.5	(BIOL 1362 or BIOL 1061) and either (CHEM 1066 and CHEM 1067) or CHEM 1060
BIOC 2161 Primary Metabolism	Core		3	(BIOL 1362, CHEM 1066 and CHEM 1067)
BIOC 3062 Cellular and Molecular Defence Systems	Core		3	(BIOC 2161 and BIOC 2262)
BIOC 3162 Experimental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Core		3	(BIOC 2262, BIOC 2069 and BIOC 2169)
*Semester 2*
BIOC 2162 Circulatory and Secretory Systems	Core		3	(BIOL 1362 or BIOL 1061) and either (CHEM 1066 and CHEM 1067) or CHEM 1060
BIOC 2169 Practical Skills in Biochemistry II	Core		1.5	(BIOL 1362 or BIOL 1061) and either (CHEM 1066 and CHEM 1067) or CHEM 1060
BIOC 2262 Gene Expression	Core		3	BIOL 1362, BIOL 1364, CHEM 1066 and CHEM 1067
BIOC 3364 Biochemical Basis of Disease	Core		3	(BIOC 2161 and BIOC 2262)
PLUS two (2) electives from the following courses:
Biochemistry Electives
*Semester 1*
BIOC 3069 Biochemistry Research Project		Elective	3	BIOC 2061, BIOC 2161, BIOC 2262, BIOC 2162, BIOC 2069 & BIOC 2169 and have a GPA of ≥ 3 or permission of The Head of Department
CHEM 2470 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry		Elective	3	Student should meet criteria I or II I: CHEM 1065 OR CHEM 1070 and at least ONE of CHEM 1066, CHEM 1067, CHEM 1068 (or CHEM 1060 and CHEM 1061) or II: ESST 1002
*Semester 2*
BIOC 3069 Biochemistry Research Project		Elective	3	BIOC 2061, BIOC 2161, BIOC 2262, BIOC 2162, BIOC 2069 & BIOC 2169 and have a GPA of ≥ 3 or permission of The Head of Department
BIOC 3262 Medical Biochemistry		Elective	3	BIOC 2161
BIOC 3500 Molecular Virology		Elective	3	(BIOC 2262, BIOC 3162 and BIOC 3062) or (BIOL 2265, BIOL 2164 and BIOL 2165)
BIOL 3162 Principles of Microbial Biotechnology		Elective	3	Student should meet criteria I OR II I. BIOL 2265, BIOL 2164 AND BIOL 2165 or II: BIOC 2262 AND BIOC 3162
PLUS: An additonal 30 advance level credits are required for completion of the BSc Biochemistry Major

All courses are three (3) credits, unless otherwise specified
Core courses are compulsory for completion of programme
Elective courses are optional