Biochemistry

Made primarily for the pre-medical student, the department of Biochemical Sciences offers an well-rounded education in the physical and biological sciences. Since the Board of Tutors is chosen from the Harvard Medical School and its research units as well as from the College faculty, the scope of the advice given is not limited to the problems being investigated in Cambridge. General examinations are required at the end of the senior year for all concentrators and honors candidates, in addition, must write a thesis.

Two and one-half courses in chemistry are required for every one in the department. Besides the basic courses in chemistry, these courses commonly include Chemistry 20 (organic) and, for honors candidates, Chemistry 60 (physical). One course in physics, as high as Physics 11, unless Physics 1 is passed with a grade of C or higher, one course in Biology, plus Math 1 are ordinarily required for all concentrators. Non-honors candidates must take two additional courses from the fields of Physics, Biology, Chemistry, or Mathematics. Honors men must have a total of 7 1/2 courses in the previously mentioned fields.

Biochemical Sciences 99, the department's research course for honors candidates, offers very valuable tutorial sessions and an opportunity to write a thesis on almost any topic current in biochemical investigations. The candidates this year did their thesis work at such laboratories of the Huntington Memorial Laboratories of the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital, as well as at the Harvard Medical School. Each candidate received an hour of personal tutorial every two weeks.

The general examinations do not require specific course preparation as much as a general knowledge of scientific methods and problems. There is a broad enough choice of questions so that anyone fulfilling the department's requirements should not find it necessary to take extra courses merely to prepare for these examinations.

Since it was designed primarily for the pre-medical student, the Biochemical Sciences Department collects all the current literature on medical school requirements and how to fulfill them. Inasmuch as the department gives credit for all the pre-medical requirement subjects, the student can easily find room on his program for non-science courses. In general, the pre-medical student will find Biochemical Sciences well-adapted to his needs.