Mission Statement

The mission of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Program at the University of Rio Grande is to provide a stimulating and positive environment for the discovery, integration, and communication of chemistry and biology. Whether a career in the chemical or biochemical sciences is desired or the pursuit of graduate or professional studies is preferred, students are prepared for future endeavors by rigorous intellectual stimulation, the development of practical laboratory skills, and the provision of opportunities for scholarly research. This environment of intellectual inquiry and professional growth is supported by the faculty’s commitment to teaching, research, and service, and is underscored by following the guidelines of the American Chemical Society as well as the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Also this program complements the mission of the University, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Natural & Social Sciences by contributing to the scientific and technological literacy, critical thinking skills and informed decision-making abilities of students from all fields and from all walks of life.

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Science – Biochemistry
• Associate of Science – Chemistry

Learning Outcomes

The successful student is able to:​

• Demonstrate problem-solving skills to provide solutions to theoretical and experimental problems in biochemistry.
• Apply the fundamental concepts of the foundational concepts of biochemistry: energy & matter transformation, macromolecular structure & function, and biological information.
• Utilize various measuring techniques in the laboratory to perform accurate and precise quantitative measurements.
• Effectively interpret and communicate experimental results.
• Utilize computers to support the learning and practice of biochemistry (data acquisition and analysis, access to information, preparation of reports, and molecular modeling and bioinformatics).
• Explain the relevance of chemistry and biochemistry to other fields and society.
• Demonstrate scientific literacy and professional ethics.

Facilities

The Kidd Math/Science Center opened in 1985. With an award-winning masonry design, the center’s front doors open to a glass atrium with live plants & a trickling pond. A spacious lobby follows with comfortable studying facilities. The center houses three large chemistry labs, three biology labs, one physics lab, one computer lab, lecture rooms, faculty offices and a large bent glass greenhouse that enhances the view of campus. McKenzie Hall opened in 1997, and it provides math/science students, along with the nursing students, two large lecture halls, a variety of lecture rooms, an anatomy lab, three computer labs, faculty offices and a conference room with a beautiful view of campus and the surrounding landscape.

Degree Requirements