Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Biophysics, offered by the Department of Physics, explores the fundamental principles of biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics and how these fields work together to advance scientific discovery. Biophysics students are prepared to pursue professional degrees in medicine and pharmacy, or advanced degrees in biology, biophysics, molecular biology or neuroscience, as well as the combined MD/PhD degree in medical physics, health physics or nuclear medicine.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: ST-BIOP-BS
Distinction in Major
To graduate with distinction in this major, a student must satisfy the following criteria:
- achieve a minimum 3.5 major GPA and
- carry out an independent study or undergraduate thesis project.
Consult the undergraduate physics faculty advisor for more details.
Undergraduate Contact Information
Peter Riseborough, Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 444
215-204-5655
Zbigniew Dziembowski, Faculty Advisor
Science Education and Research Center, Room 412
215-204-7639
zbig.dziembowski@temple.edu
Angela Bricker, Faculty Advisor for Biology Majors - junior and senior
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248C
215-204-8578
abricker@temple.edu
Jay Lunden, Faculty Advisor for Biology Majors - first and second year
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248M
215-204-8524
jlunden@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Bachelor of Science Requirements
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
- University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
- Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
- All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours BIOL 2297 Research Techniques in Genetics 3 BIOL 3396 Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating 3 BIOL 4396 Advanced Study in Biology 3 CHEM 3398 Physical Chemistry Laboratory II 2 CHEM 4196 Instrumental Analysis 5 MATH 3098 Modern Algebra (F) 3 MATH 4096 Senior Problem Solving 3 PHYS 2796 Introduction to Modern Physics (S) 4 PHYS 4796 Experimental Physics 3 - Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
- See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
- Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
- Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
-
College Requirements
- A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
- Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
- A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
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Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (77-81 s.h.)
At least 10 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 3 Biology and 4 Physics courses must be completed at Temple.Course List Code Title Credit Hours Biology BIOL 2112 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology 4 or BIOL 2912 Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology BIOL 2207 Genetics 1 3 BIOL 2297 Research Techniques in Genetics 1 3 BIOL 3204 Cell Structure and Function (F) 4 Physics Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics I Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) General Physics I Honors General Physics I (F) Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics II Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) General Physics II Honors General Physics II (S) PHYS 2502 Mathematical Physics (S) 4 PHYS 2796 Introduction to Modern Physics (S) 4 PHYS 3301 Electricity and Magnetism (F) 4 PHYS 4101 Thermal Physics (F) 3 Chemistry Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory IHonors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory IIHonors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IOrganic Chemistry for Majors I
and Organic Majors Laboratory I (F)Organic Chemistry for Honors I
and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IIOrganic Chemistry for Majors II
and Organic Majors Laboratory II (S)Organic Chemistry for Honors II
and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S)Mathematics MATH 1041 Calculus I 4 or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I MATH 1042 Calculus II 4 or MATH 1942 Honors Calculus II MATH 2043 Calculus III 4 or MATH 2943 Honors Calculus III Biophysics Electives Four 2000+ Biophysics Electives chosen in consultation with the Physics faculty advisor. At least two of the electives must be Physics courses. 12-16 Total Credit Hours 77-81 Course List Code Title Credit Hours (F) - Fall only course (S) - Spring only course - 1
This course has a co-requisite of BIOL 2207.
The research and independent study courses shown below do not count as Biology electives, but they may count as free elective credits toward graduation. Most research courses can only be taken ONCE for a letter grade. Check individual course descriptions for details and/or exceptions.
Course List Code Title Credit Hours BIOL 2082 Independent Research I 1 to 4 BIOL 3082 Independent Research II 1 to 4 BIOL 3181 Cooperative Research in Biochemistry 3 BIOL 3681 Cooperative Studies 2 to 4 BIOL 3685 Externship Studies 3 BIOL 4291 Extradepartmental Research 1 to 4 BIOL 4391 Accelerated Research in Biology 1 to 4 BIOL 4483 Accelerated Research in Biochemistry 3 BIOL 4491 Research in Biochemistry 3 BIOL 4591 Research in Neuroscience 1 to 4
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Science in Biophysics
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science I and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F) | ||
| MATH 1041 or MATH 1941 | Calculus I or Honors Calculus I | 4 |
| SCTC 1001 | CST First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science II and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S) | ||
| MATH 1042 or MATH 1942 | Calculus II or Honors Calculus II | 4 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Elective | 5 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Majors I and Organic Majors Laboratory I (F) | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Honors I and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F) | ||
| MATH 2043 or MATH 2943 | Calculus III or Honors Calculus III | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| Honors General Physics I (F) | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Majors II and Organic Majors Laboratory II (S) | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Honors II and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| Honors General Physics II (S) | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 5-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 2112 or BIOL 2912 | Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology or Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| PHYS 3301 | Electricity and Magnetism (F) | 4 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-0 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 2502 | Mathematical Physics (S) | 4 |
| PHYS 2796 | Introduction to Modern Physics [WI] (S) | 4 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-0 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 3204 | Cell Structure and Function (F) | 4 |
| PHYS 4101 | Thermal Physics (F) | 3 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 2-1 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 2207 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 2297 | Research Techniques in Genetics [WI] | 3 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 4-3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| (F) - Fall only course | ||
| (S) - Spring only course | ||
- 1
Four electives must be chosen in consultation with the physics advisor. All courses must be 2000-level or above. At least two electives must be Physics courses. Choose courses in Physics, Biology (Neuroscience, Genetics, Cell Structure, Physiology), Chemistry (Physical Chemistry), Biochemistry and Biophysics. Recommended for graduate school in Physics: PHYS 2101, PHYS 3302, PHYS 3701 and PHYS 4796 and as much of the BS program in Physics as time allows. Students planning to go to medical school should complete BIOL 1111 Introduction to Organismal Biology.