Biochemistry Study Plans

The curricular plan for the degree in Biochemistry encompasses various areas including the fundamental subjects of chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics; the more specific subjects of molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, immunology and biotechnology; and the more advanced subjects of biochemical analysis from genomics to proteomics. The subjects are offered semestrally, allowing for the course to be offered semestrally throughout the expected four years of the degree’s term. In any of these subjects, the goal is the transmission of the most updated knowledge and methodologies in scientific research and development which is relevant to the course. The undergraduate degree provides comprehensive preparation in various areas which are usually restricted to the ramifications of specialisation in the latter years of the course. Alternatively and so as not to prematurely limit the possible areas of intervention for the future biochemist, a comprehensive and standardised education for all undergraduates was preferred, except for the internship, thereby leaving the choice of specialisation for a subsequent postgraduate degree.

Curricular Unit Scientific Area Type Hours per semester ECTS Obs.
Total T TP PL OT S E
1st year
Mathematics CME Semestral 126 26 26         4,5  
Fundamentals of General Chemistry CFQ Semestral 112 26   26       4  
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry CFQ Semestral 168 39   39       6  
Physical Chemistry I CFQ Semestral 140 26   39       5  
Inorganic Biochemistry CBq Semestral 140 26   39       5  
Experimental Methodologies and Tutorials I CFQ Semestral 168 26   15 15 9   6  
Applied Statistics CME Semestral 126 26 39         4,5  
Biological Physics CFQ Semestral 140 26 30 9       5  
Structural Biochemistry CBq Semestral 140 26 12 27       5  
Cellular Biology I CBiol Semestral 140 13 26 26       5  
Analytical Chemistry CFQ Semestral 112 26   26       4  
Experimental Methodologies and Tutorials II CBq Semestral 168     52 13     6  
2nd year
Physical Chemistry II CFQ Semestral 140 26 30 9       5  
Physiology I CBiol Semestral 140 26   26       5  
Cellular Biology II CBiol Semestral 140 13 26 26       5  
Microbiology I CBiol Semestral 112 26   26       4  
Metabolic Biochemistry I CBq Semestral 140 26 13 26       5  
Experimental Methodologies and Tutorials III CBq Semestral 168     52 13     6  
Physiology II CBiol Semestral 140 26   26       5  
Metabolic Biochemistry II CBq Semestral 140 26 15 24       5  
Molecular Biology I CBq Semestral 140 26 19,5 19,5       5  
Microbiology II CBiol Semestral 112 26   26       4  
Immunology CBiol Semestral 140 26 13 26       5  
Experimental Methodologies and Tutorials IV CBq Semestral 168     52 13     6  
3rd year
Genetics CBiol Semestral 140 26 26 13       5  
Biochemistry and Disease CBq Semestral 126 26 26         4,5  
Molecular Biology II CBq Semestral 140 26 19,5 19,5       5  
Functional Genomics CBq Semestral 140 26 39         5  
Biopathology CBiom Semestral 126 26 26         4,5  
Experimental Methodologies and Tutorials V CBq Semestral 168     52 13     6  
Computational Biochemistry CBq Semestral 112 13 39         4  
Clinical Biochemistry CBq Semestral 140 26   39       5  
Biosafety and Bioethics CSC Semestral 84 26 26         3  
Elective 1 opt Semestral 140 26   39       5  
Elective 2 opt Semestral 140 26   39       5  
Experimental Methodologies and Tutorials VI CBq Semestral 224     52 13     8  

Key: T: theoretical; T-P: theoretical-practical; PL: practical-lab; OT: tutorial orientation; S: seminar

List of available elective units

Group I of elective subjects:
Curricular units integrated in the curricular plan of other undergraduate or integrated master’s degrees at ISCS-N.

Group II of elective subjects:
Curricular units exclusive to the undergraduate degree in Biochemistry (availability contingent upon a minimum number of enrolled students).

Group I:

  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Bromatology
  • Hematology
  • Pathological Anatomy
  • Histology and Embriology
  • Food Microbiology
  • Environmental Biology
  • Quality Control and Sampling

Group II:

  • Industrial Biochemistry
  • Enzymology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Vegetable Physiology
  • Neurophysiology
  • Bioentrepreneurialism

Obtaining a Degree

To obtain an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, the following credits per scientific area must be satisfied:

Scientific Area Acronym Credits
Required Optional
Biochemical Sciences CBq 80,5  
Biological Sciences CBiol 38  
Physical and Chemical Sciences CFQ 35  
Biomedical Sciences CBiom 4,5  
Mathematical Sciences and Statistics CME 9  
Social and Behavioural Sciences CSC 3  
Elective Opt   10
Total 170 10

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