Biophysics, B.S.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Biophysics.
The Bachelor of Science in Biophysics fulfills all medical and pharmacy school requirements. Biophysics students interested in research careers can pursue a graduate degree in biophysics, biology, molecular biology or neuroscience, as well as the combined MD/PhD degree in medical physics, health physics or nuclear medicine.
Undergraduate Contact Information:
Dr. Bernd Surrow, Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 406
215-204-7736
Dr. Adrienn Ruzsinszky, Vice Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 420
215-204-8479
Dr. Zbigniew Dziembowski, Faculty Advisor
Science Education and Research Center, Room 412
215-204-7639
zbig.dziembowski@temple.edu
Dr. Angela Bricker, Faculty Advisor
Biology Majors - junior and senior
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248C
215-204-8578
abricker@temple.edu
Dr. Jay Lunden, Faculty Advisor
Biology Majors - first and second year
Biology-Life Sciences Building, Room 248M
215-204-8524
jlunden@temple.edu
Bachelor of Science
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
- University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
- Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
- All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours BIOL 2296 Genetics (S) 4 BIOL 3096 Cell Structure and Function (F) 4 BIOL 3396 Scientific Writing for Biology: The Art of Communicating 3 CHEM 4196 Techniques of Chemical Measurement II 5 CHEM 3397
& CHEM 3398Physical Chemistry Laboratory I
and Physical Chemistry Laboratory II4 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.
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College Requirements
- 45 Upper Level (2000+) credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- 90 credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- All students in the College of Science and Technology are required to take a one credit first year seminar. SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar is the appropriate course option for every entering first year CST major. Transfer students should use SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar to fulfill this requirement. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CST College Requirements page.
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Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (75-79 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 2296 Genetics (S) 4 BIOL 3096 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 75-79 Course List Code Title Credit Hours (F) - Fall only course (S) - Spring only course Note: Most research and Independent Study courses are not available for major credit, such as:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours BIOL 2082 Independent Research I 1 to 4 BIOL 3082 Independent Research II 1 to 4 BIOL 3091 Research Methods 3 BIOL 3681 Cooperative Studies 2 to 4 BIOL 3685 Externship Studies 3 BIOL 4291 Extradepartmental Research 1 to 4 BIOL 4483 Accelerated Research in Biochemistry 3 BIOL 4491 Research in Biochemistry 3 BIOL 4591 Research in Neuroscience 1 to 4
Calculation of Major GPA
Courses listed under the major requirements for the degree will be included in the calculation of the major GPA. Courses that could not apply toward the major as an elective or required course would not be counted in the calculation of the major GPA. This would include BIOL 1011, for example.
Distinction in Major
A student who wishes to graduate with Distinction in the Major must complete all courses required for the biophysics major with a GPA of 3.5 or better, and carry out an independent study or undergraduate thesis project. Consult the undergraduate physics advisor for more details.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Science in Biophysics
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science I (F) | ||
| MATH 1041 or 1941 | Calculus I | 4 |
| SCTC 1001 | CST First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science II (S) | ||
| MATH 1042 or 1942 | Calculus II | 4 |
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Elective | 5 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Majors I (F) | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Honors I (F) | ||
| MATH 2043 or 2943 | 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 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Majors II (S) | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Honors 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 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 2112 or 2912 | Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| PHYS 3301 | Electricity and Magnetism (F) | 4 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-0 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 2502 | Mathematical Physics (S) | 4 |
| PHYS 2796 | Introduction to Modern Physics [WI] (S) | 4 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-0 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 3096 | Cell Structure and Function [WI] (F) | 4 |
| PHYS 4101 | Thermal Physics (F) | 3 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 2-1 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 2296 | Genetics [WI] (S) | 4 |
| 2000+ Biophysics Elective1 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 6-5 | |
| Term 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 (Neurobiology, 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 B.S. program in Physics as time allows. Students planning to go to medical school should complete BIOL 1111 Introduction to Organismal Biology. |