<p>I'm an incoming freshman majoring in biology. My passion is set both on bio and chem. The reason I didn't go for chem major is that I'm scared of the amount of physics, and pchem. But I just found out that biochem major also has to take pchem :( So I guess, I can't avoid pchem anyway.</p>
<p>I have a few questions: what is the difference between chem major with a concentration in biochem and biochem major (in the school of biological sciences)? What will be tougher on GPA? And, are "130A-B-C: Physical and Biophysical Chemistry" harder than "131A-B-C: Physical Chemistry."</p>
<p>Or, would anyone recommend me to avoid pchem at all cost and consider choosing another bio major?</p>
<p>I haven’t taken 130/131 but I do know that 130 is more biology oriented, the other more chemistry. So if you are worried about the chem, 130 in the biochem major would be more your style. The major differences are biochem major you will need to take more biology classes less straight chem/physics and vice versa. If you are that afraid of pchem you can major as biology and take all biochem classes for electives/labs.</p>
<p>I would suggest not worrying right now as a bio major you can’t switch into biochem untill after 2nd year, and you need to make it there first before fretting over pchem.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure you don’t have to take physical chemistry if you want to major in biochemistry/molecular biology (there’s no biochemistry only major at UCI). Pchem is just one of the options you can take to fulfill the upper-division requirement. Anyways they probably even won’t let many biochem majors enroll in pchem as it has the Physics 7 series and Math 2D as prerequisites while only the Physics 3 series is required and Math 2D is optional for the biochem/mol bio major (though you can take those classes instead if you want). </p>
<p>If you’re going to take pchem, then you won’t have a choice as to which pchem series to take. The 130 series isn’t offered anymore, so anyone that wants to take pchem will have to take the 131 series (though it’s possible this could change by the time you get to choose).</p>
<p>The main difference between the two major choices in your first post is that since the former major is in chemistry department you have to take all the core chemistry major classes (so you’ll have to take Chem 5 (class on mathematica; it’s easy), Chem M3LC (analytical chemistry lab), pchem, another ochem lab (so 3 ochem labs instead of just 2) and Chem 107 + the lab (inorganic chemistry). Also, Math 2D (1st part of multivariable calculus) is required, while for the biochem/mol bio major it’s just optional. All the Physics 7 classes (it’s the harder and more calculus-based series) are required; the Physics 3 series won’t fulfill the requirement. You don’t have to take any of these classes I just mentioned if you just major in biochem. However if you’re going to do the chemistry major with a concentration in biochem you might as well just double major in biological sciences and chemistry like I’m doing as you only need something like 3 more biology classes to get the degree.</p>
<p>Thank you so much. You guys have brightened up my day a lot. I know things could change in two years and I could change, too.</p>
<p>I guess that I have read it wrong. According to
[School</a> of Biological Sciences - Undergraduate Programs](<a href=“UCI General Catalogue Archives”>UCI General Catalogue Archives), I could follow the pharmaceutical sciences path instead of chem 130/131 or other biology class (right?)</p>
<p>aldfig0, how do you feel about doubling major in chem and bio so far? Is there any particular thing/classes that you hate/love about doubling major in chem and bio? Thank you.</p>
<p>As for me, I like it. It’s a lot of work if you want to graduate on time (I took organic chemistry over the summer last year. You don’t have to do this but if you do then you’ll probably only have time to take general education classes in your third or fourth year). If you want to do it you have to choose your classes carefully try to pick classes that count for both majors. I’m only going into my third year so I haven’t taken pchem or inorganic yet but I’ve taken the others and they’re not that bad (the labs are a lot of work, though).</p>
<p>Take whichever is easier. Screw passion you, can learn it on the side. Grad schools and employers have a nasty habit of measuring people by their GPA rather than their ability(it’s easier to evaluate a single number).</p>
<p>Major doesn’t matter if it’s “close enough”.</p>
<p>Well if you have less than a 3.0 in bio (the bottom half of ~2000 students getting C’s and B-'s), you probably should be a different major anyways. Can’t really speak for chem. C’s get degrees but A’s is where it’s At.</p>
![http://s14.postimg.org/ubfl3sgk1/biochem_requirements.png[/url]](http://s14.postimg.org/ubfl3sgk1/biochem_requirements.png%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
