BS in Biophysics

 

2 physics students writing on personal tablets

 

Understanding life processes can be approached through a quantitative study of protein networks and the interactions between individual molecules. The Bachelor of Science in Biophysics emphasizes the connections between physics and biology and gives students the tools they need to understand life processes from a new perspective. Coursework covers a wide range of topics in math and science, from biosynthesis and DNA structure to radiation biology and computer programming.

In the biophysics curriculum, students take a capstone course and complete a required three-credit undergraduate research course.

 

 

Declare a Major

All students should visit the undergraduate program director or another physics advisor before submitting the Declaration of Major/Minor Form. Current advisors are listed on the faculty directory.

 

 

Capstone Course

Students majoring in biophysics complete a required capstone course. Learning objectives for the capstone include:

  • Working in a mentored learning environment to design and conduct physics research in an ethical manner
  • Exploring and preparing for various careers
  • Practicing how to share research findings with different audiences

 

Course Requirements 

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

Program-specific curriculum:

Required introductory courses (48 credits):
APSC 3115Engineering Analysis III
or STAT 1127 Statistics for the Biological Sciences
BISC 1111Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules
or BISC 1115
& BISC 1125		 Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules
and Introduction to Cells and Molecules Laboratory
BISC 1112Introductory Biology: The Biology of Organisms
or BISC 1116
& BISC 1126		 Introductory Biology: The Biology of Organisms
and Introduction to Organisms Laboratory
CHEM 1111General Chemistry I
CHEM 1112General Chemistry II
CSCI 1111Introduction to Software Development
or CSCI 1041 Introduction to FORTRAN Programming
or CSCI 1121 Introduction to C Programming
or CSCI 1131 Introduction to Programming with C
MATH 1231Single-Variable Calculus I
MATH 1232Single-Variable Calculus II
MATH 2184Linear Algebra I
MATH 2233Multivariable Calculus
MATH 3342Ordinary Differential Equations
PHYS 1025University Physics I with Biological Applications
or PHYS 1021 University Physics I
PHYS 1026University Physics II with Biological Applications
or PHYS 1022 University Physics II
PHYS 2023Modern Physics
Other required (9 credits):
BISC 3209Molecular Biology
or BISC 3261 Introductory Medical Biochemistry
or CHEM 3165 Biochemistry I
CHEM 2151Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2152Organic Chemistry II
Advanced required (25 credits):
PHYS 2151Intermediate Laboratory I: Techniques and Methods
or PHYS 2151W Intermediate Laboratory I: Techniques and Methods
PHYS 3127Biophysics: Macroscopic Physics in the Life Sciences
PHYS 3128Biophysics: Microscopic Physics in the Life Sciences
PHYS 3161Mechanics
PHYS 3164Thermal and Statistical Physics
PHYS 3165Electromagnetic Theory I
PHYS 4195Physics Capstone
or PHYS 4195W Physics Capstone
One course (3 credits) from the following:
PHYS 4196Undergraduate Research in Biophysics (One 3000 or higher biology or medical sciences (3 hrs))
or PHYS 4197 Undergraduate Research in Nuclear Physics
or ASTR 4195 Undergraduate Research in Astrophysics
PHYS 4200Physics Symposium

*Honors Program students and those who have been invited to join the Scholars in Quantitative and Natural Sciences (SQNS) Program take BISC 1120 instead of BISC 1125 for the lab component.