University of Iowa
Department of Biochemistry
4-403 BSB
Iowa City, IA 52242-1109 USA phone: 877-846-8569
or 319-335-7932
fax: (319) 335-9570
biochem@uiowa.edu

Department of Biochemistry

Graduate Program

Summary of Course Requirements

Students have a choice of three curricula to satisfy the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry: a standard curriculum, a biophysical emphasis curriculum, and a molecular emphasis curriculum. Details of the three possible sets of course requirements are listed below.

Course Number	Title	Standard Curriculum	Biophysical Emphasis	Molecular Emphasis
099:241	Biophysical Chemistry I	3 s.h	3 s.h	3 s.h. of 099:241 or 099:242
099:242	Biophysical Chemistry II	3 s.h	3 s.h	3 s.h. of 099:241 or 099:242
156:201	Principles in Molecular and Cellular Biology	4 s.h.	4 s.h.	4 s.h.
142:215	Molecular Biology of Gene Expression	3 s.h	--	3 s.h
099:261	Research Techniques	8 s.h.	8 s.h.	8 s.h.
099:282	Seminar	3 s.h.	3 s.h.	3 s.h.
	Electives	6 s.h.	9 s.h.	9 s.h.
XXX:XXX	Special Topics	1 s.h.	1 s.h.	1 s.h.

The First Year
Fall Semester:	Semester hours
099:241 Biophysical Chemistry I, or Elective	3
156:201 Principles in Molecular and Cell Biology	4
099:261 Research Techniques (laboratory rotations)	4
099:282 Seminar	1
total	12

Spring Semester:	Semester hours
099:242 Biophysical Chemistry II, or Elective	3
142:215 Molecular Biology of Gene Expression, or Elective	3
099:261 Research Techniques (Laboratory Rotations)	5
099:282 Seminar	1
total	12

During the summer students are expected to register for 3 s.h. of graduate research (099:292).

All of the listed courses are taught at the graduate level. It is unlikely that a beginning student will have mastered this material. All of these courses are graded except 099:292 and the third seminar of 099:282, which are S/U. Note that graduate students in Ph.D. programs at The University of Iowa must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on all courses taken.

Description of First Year Courses

099:241 Biophysical Chemistry I (3 s.h.) and 099:242 Biophysical Chemistry II (3 s.h.). These courses will cover chemical principles and their application to the solution of illustrative research problems from the contemporary literature. This material will be given in two consecutive semesters by a small number of faculty. A course in physical chemistry is recommended as a prerequisite. 099:242 is complementary to but independent of 099:241.
099:261 Research Techniques (8 s.h.). Various research techniques are learned in the context of a research project during rotations in four faculty laboratories. This course is taken in both semesters of the first year.
099:282 Seminar (1 s.h.)M. Three registrations are required for a total of 3 s.h. Two courses are offered for first-year students. The goal of these courses is to introduce students to techniques of seminar presentation and to foster critical reading of the literature. The third seminar course is for students in their fifth semester who have passed the Comprehensive Examination.
142:215 Molecular Biology of Gene Expression (3 s.h.). The structure and function of eukaryotic genes and chromosomes will be stressed. Topics will include DNA-associated proteins and enzymes, the mechanisms of replication and transcription, RNA processing, protein synthesis and regulation. Special topics will include the structures and functions of oncogenes, mitochondrial genes, and immunoglobulin genes.
156:201 Principles in Molecular and Cell Biology (4 s.h.). The fundamentals of protein, DNA and RNA structure; replication and recombination; transcription and translation; membranes, protein sorting and transport; signal transduction; cytoskeleton; cell cycle and communication. Prerequisites are introductory courses in biochemistry and/or genetics or consent of the instructor.
650:270 Responsible Conduct of Research (1 s.h.). Required of all students. Ethics, scientific misconduct, good research practices.

Other Training

It is expected that students will continue to develop their speaking skills by participating in laboratory group meetings, the Tuesday noon workshop seminars, and in journal clubs. In addition, students are expected to attend formal departmental seminars (Thursday, 10:30 a.m.) throughout their graduate career. These programs are an important aspect of a student's training; furthermore, they can be very useful for developing proposals for the Comprehensive Examination.

Laboratory Rotations and Assignment to a Research Laboratory

Graduate students rotate through four different laboratories during their first academic year, unless they have satisfied this requirement in part by previous equivalent research experience. 099:261 Research Techniques is the name of the course for the laboratory rotations. A student will work in two laboratories in the first semester and two laboratories in the second semester of the first year. The laboratory rotations are approximately eight weeks each. They are intended to help the student learn how to do research, to learn a wide range of experimental methods and techniques and to explore different areas of biochemical research.

The Second Year

This is a typical schedule for second-year courses:

Fall Semester (12 s.h. total)

XXX:XXX Special Topics (varies from year to year), 1 s.h. Check departmental/program offerings for special topics courses.
Graduate Elective. This may be an appropriate course in another department, or it may be 142:220 Cell Biology I, or 3 s.h. of biochemistry special topics courses.
050:270 Responsible Conduct of Research (1 s.h.)
099:292 Research Biochemistry (thesis research), to make a total of 12 s.h.

Spring Semester (12 s.h. total)

XXX:XXX Special Topics (if not taken in the Fall), 1 s.h. Check departmental/program offerings for special topics courses.
Graduate Elective. 142:225 Cell Biology II, or 3 s.h. of Biochemistry special topics courses, or a graduate elective in another science department.
099:292 Research Biochemistry (thesis research), to make a total of 12 s.h.

NOTE: The Comprehensive Examination must be taken before June 30 of the second year.

Description of Second-Year Courses

Elective Courses. Students generally satisfy this requirement by taking 6 s.h. of elective courses in departments or programs outside the department; however, 3 s.h. of advanced biochemistry special topics may be used to partially satisfy this requirement (see below). Typical examples of elective courses are:

142:220 Cell Biology I (organelles), 3 s.h.
142:225 Cell Biology II (regulation), 3 s.h.
004:171 Advanced Analytical Chemistry, 3 s.h.
004:205 Bioinorganic Chemistry, 3 s.h.
046:137 Enzymatic Basis of Drug Metabolism, 2 s.h.
046:223 Reaction Mechanisms of Biological Molecules, 3 s.h.
052:108 Introduction to Biochemical Engineering, 3 s.h.
061:268 Biology and Pathogenesis of Viruses, 2 s.h.
061:147 Survey of Immunology, 3 s.h.

Three semester hours of the elective requirement may be satisfied with biochemistry special topics courses that have a biophysical or chemical emphasis. These should be taken in the second year of study.

099:292 Research Biochemistry. As indicated above in the outline of second-year courses, students should devote about half of their effort during this period to their thesis research. At least 20 hours per week should be spent in the laboratory during the second year. 099:292 is graded “S” or “U.”