New MajorProposal Form
This form is to be filled out for all new majors and minors. The phrase “new major (minor)” means any departmental or interdisciplinary major (minor) to be added to the Georgetown College Catalog. This proposal must be presented to the Academic Council by midterm of the Fall semester proceeding the first academic year in which the proposed major or minor will be listed in the catalog. Academic Council will make a recommendation to the Curriculum Committee, which will review it and then if approved bring it to the faculty for a vote.
This form is for a new X Major Minor
DESCRIPTION
1)Title: Biochemistry Major
2)Is this offering Departmental or X Interdisciplinary
3)New Catalog description – as you would like it shown in the catalog
A major description should include the degree to which the major leads, a bulleted list of student learning outcomes expected within the major, the total number of semester hours required, a list of required courses, a list of allied courses, and, if applicable, a menu of area requirements, e.g., “nine semester hours of allied courses must be selected from both Group I and Group II: (followed by a listing of groups I and II).”
In addition to the 4 Student Learning Outcomes expected within the Chemistry Major, graduates of the Biochemistry major will:
Understand the major concepts and developments at the interface of Chemistry and Biology
Develop laboratory skills and the ability to utilize and select instrumentationspecific to biochemical investigations
Biochemistry Interdisciplinary Major
(B.S. Degree) Sixty hours required. Thirty-three hours of Chemistry, which must include CHE111, CHE112, CHE113, CHE201, CHE202, CHE309, CHE310, CHE331, CHE341, CHE342, CHE343, CHE450, and CHE451. Additionally, two courses must be chosen from CHE332, CHE400, CHE305, and CHE315, plus one lab chosen from CHE333 or CHE325 if needed to reach a total of 33 hours. Sixteen hours of Biology, which must include BIO111, BIO212, BIO335, and BIO337. The required allied courses are MAT125, MAT225, and PHY211. Students may also take any upper-level course, including labs, in either Chemistry or Biology to reach the 60 hour total.
A minor description should include the total number of semester hours required, a list of required courses, a list of allied courses, and, if applicable, a menu of area requirements.
A Biochemistry minor is not offered.
4)What is the rationale for including these particular courses in this major? (List information from professional organizations, from similar programs at other schools, etc.)
We have examined similar programs at over 60 liberal arts colleges (with less than 2200 students) which havebeen Approved by the American Chemical Society. This set of courses is representative of what we see in those programs. We also consulted the recommended curriculum from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the American Chemical Society guidelines.
- RELATION OF THE NEW OFFERING TO THE PRESENT CURRICULUM
5)What is the relation of this new offering to the majors and minors in the current Georgetown College Catalog?
Does thisoffering replace another offering in the catalog? YesX No
New course numbers have been reviewed by the Registrar. XYes No
6)Does this offering contain any new courses? (The phrase "new course" means any course to be added to the Georgetown College Catalog and all reorganizations of, or major changes in, courses listed in the catalog.)
If so, list here the titles, departments and course numbers of the new courses and complete a New Course Proposal Form for each one.
Lipid Biochemistry, CHE343
7)Why should Georgetown College add this offering?
Georgetown College should offer a Biochemistry major for 3 key reasons:
- This is one of the fastest growing, broadest based interdisciplinaryareas of scientific research.
- It would be a positive marketing point for the College because most liberal arts colleges now offer a Biochemistry or similar degree.
- It would be appropriate for high achieving students who plan to go to health professional programs (such as medical, dental, veterinary, or pharmacy school) or to graduate studies in Biochemistry.
The Chemistry Department at Georgetown College recently obtained Approval status from the American Chemical Society. We should offer this major because it is very popular with prospective students who are interested in health-care related fields and who want to major in Chemistry but also want an emphasis in Biochemistry. We must remain competitive with other local schools with similar programs in that we hope to be able to recruit more students who desire this college track to come to GC.
- FACULTY AND STUDENTS FOR THE NEW OFFERING
8)Are any of the courses which are required, allied, or elective for this offering offered less frequently than once an academic year? X Yes No
If so, list the courses and how frequently they are offered.
CHE342 (Biochemistry Lab - Even Springs), CHE343 (Lipid Biochemistry - Odd Springs), CHE305 (Analytical Chemistry - Odd Falls), CHE315 (Spectroscopy - Even Falls), CHE332 (Physical Chemistry-II - Odd Springs), CHE333 (P.Chem-II Lab - Odd Springs), CHE400 (Advanced Inorganic Chemistry - Even Falls), CHE325 (Advanced Inorganic Lab - Even Springs), and BIO337 (Cell Biology - Even Springs).
9)Given the frequency with which courses required, allied, or elective for this offering are offered, could a student take the courses for this offering:
In two academic years? Yes X No In three academic years? XYes No
10)What is the expected student interest in this offering?
We have already had considerable interest in this major both from current Chemistry students and from prospective students that we have met at visitation days on campus.
How many graduating seniors, on average, do you expect to declare this offering?
4-7 per year
- SEQUENCE OF ACTION ON PROPOSAL
Request prepared by: Todd M. Hamilton Date Oct. 29, 2012
Approved by
Chemistry Dept. Chair: Todd M. HamiltonDate Oct. 29, 2012
Biology Dept. Chair: Mark Johnson Date Oct. 29, 2012
Academic Council –Provost: Date
Curriculum Committee Chair:Date
Faculty Chair: Date
New Major/Minor FormPage 1 of 3