B.S. in Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary area that stands at the cutting edge of new developments in the sciences. Such a broad and diverse field is difficult to categorize, but one possible breakdown would be into the areas of molecular structures, biophysical techniques, and biophysical mechanisms. According to the Biophysical Society, biophysics offers career opportunities at medical centers, research institutes, and government labs, in research and development at pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and other biologically-oriented high-tech companies, and in regulation and public policy at agencies of state and federal governments, and at private organizations. (http://www.biophysics.org/education/biophyscareers.htm)
With rigorous training in several scientific areas and mathematics, students graduating with this major will be very well prepared to go into many different fields, such as biomedical engineering, nano-science, bio-technology, pre-health professions or graduate studies in biophysics. By taking a few additional courses in physics or biology, they will also be able to go into graduate programs in biology or physics.
Loyola is one of the handful of universities in the nation that offer this major at the undergraduate level.
Structure
The B.S. in Biophysics requires 26 credit hours of physics and 17 credit hours of biology and 3 credit hours biophysics elective to be chosen in consultation with an academic advisor in physics or biology departments. The program also requires a capstone experience that would be a 1-credit hour course designed to provide a survey of various branches of biophysics, their interconnection and applications.
In addition, students also take ancillary courses in chemistry, mathematics and 36 credit hours of core courses, all within the total of 128 credit hours.
A suggested curriculum for this major has been attached which has strong support from both the Biology and Physics Departments. Please note that students who choose this option would have an academic advisor in the Physics department and/or in the Biology department, and would be monitored closely.
Career Opportunities for BS in Biophysics
While many of our students are expected to go on to an affiliated engineering school in pursuit of a dual-degree, career opportunities are plentiful for biophysics graduates who choose to go into medical labs, hospitals, clinics, medical industry, government agencies, business, industry and research labs. Furthermore, many opportunities are available for graduates to pursue research and graduate education. About 80% of biophysics graduates go on to graduate and/or professional school and about 20% of biophysics graduates go on to find related employment. They may be employed as an anatomist, aquatic biologist, biochemist, biophysicist, environmental scientist, geneticist, health physicist, industrial health engineer, lab assistant, medical illustrator, medical physicist, medical or pharmaceutical sales, nuclear scientist, pharmacologist/toxicologist, physicist, or psychology engineer.
A suggested sequence of courses by semester and year
BS Degree in Biophysics
| Fall Semester Course # | Course Descpription | Credits | Spring Semester Course # | Course Description | Credits |
FRESMAN YEAR |
|||||
PHYS 125 |
General Physics I |
4 |
PHYS 126 |
General Physics II |
4 |
PHYS 136 |
General Phys. Lab |
1 |
PHYS 137 |
General Phys. Lab I |
1 |
MATH 161 |
Calculus I |
4 |
MATH 162 |
Calculus II |
4 |
CHEM 101 |
General Chem. A |
3 |
CHEM 102 |
General Chem. B |
3 |
|
General Chem. Lab |
1 |
CHEM 112 |
General Chem. Lab |
1 |
Writing Seminar |
3 |
History Core |
3 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS |
16 |
16 | |||
SOPHOMORE YEAR |
|||||
PHYS 235 |
Modern Physics I |
3 |
MATH 264 |
Ordinary Diff. Eq. |
3 |
PHYS 237 |
Modern Phys. Lab I |
1 |
PHYS 301 |
Math Methods |
3 |
MATH 263 |
Multivar. Calc. |
5 |
BIO 102,112 |
General Bio II +Lab |
4 |
BIO 101, 111 |
General Bio I +Lab |
4 |
CHEM 222 |
Org. Chem. II +Lab |
4 |
CHEM 221 |
Org. Chem. I +Lab |
4 |
Philosophy Core |
3 | |
TOTAL CREDITS |
17 |
17 | |||
JUNIOR YEAR |
|||||
PHYS 314 |
Theo. Mechanics |
3 |
BIO 282 |
Genetics |
3 |
BIO 251 |
Cell Biology |
3 |
History Core |
3 | |
Philosophy Core |
3 |
Theology Core |
3 | ||
Theology Core |
3 |
Social Science Core |
3 | ||
Literature Core |
3 |
Foreign Lang or Elect |
3 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS |
15 |
15 | |||
SENIOR YEAR |
|||||
PHYS 328 |
Thermodynamics |
3 |
PHYS 351 |
Elec. & Magnetism |
3 |
Literature Core |
3 |
BIO 366 |
Biochemistry |
3 | |
Social Science Core |
3 |
Fine Arts |
3 | ||
Biophys. Elective* |
3 |
Elective |
7 | ||
Foreign Lang or Elect |
3 |
Capstone |
Senior Seminar |
1 | |
TOTAL CREDITS |
15 |
17 |
We strongly advise students to see their departmental advisors and the advisor in the Sullivan center in selecting the elective courses.
*In consultation with departmental advisor, students would choose one from the following list or any other course in biophysics deemed appropriate and approved by departments of biology and physics. BIOL 387 (Bioinformatics), BIOL 388 (Genomics) or CHEM 460 (Biophysical Chemistry).
