About the Program

The program offerings as well as the faculty expertise reflect the combined chemical and biological basis for this field. Since it is such an experimental science, the program emphasizes laboratory skills, use of instruments and research skills to prepare students for employment or for study toward a variety of advanced degrees. In addition, an articulation agreement with the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers allows students the opportunity to earn an advanced degree in pharmacy combined with a baccalaureate degree from Stockton. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has accredited BCMB and graduating seniors have the opportunity to earn certification by this organization.

Program Features

Additional Information

Program Policies

• Graduation with program distinction

  Graduation with program distinction

  Those with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 in the BCMB major will be considered for graduation with distinction by the BCMB faculty members. Additional considerations include demonstrated excellence in research as well as completion of the national assessment test (currently, the ASBMB certification exam).
• National exam for BCMB graduates

  National exam for BCMB graduates

  All BCMB graduates are expected to take a national exam. Currently, the ASBMB (American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) certification exam is used. The exam is intended for seniors and for those who have completed Biochemistry and a course in Molecular Biology. The exam is offered once a year in the spring semester and requires pre-registration. Students graduating in spring should take the exam in the final semester while those finishing after the fall semester should take the exam in the previous spring semester.
  
  A BCMB faculty member, acting as an exam administrator, will contact eligible students via email at the start of the spring semester and will register students. Currently, the ASBMB Certification Exam is used. There is a cost for the ASBMB exam, which currently is paid by Stockton. The exam takes an hour and must be given within a prescribed timeframe (typically in March). Students who earn high enough scores can earn an accreditation from ASBMB. Since it is expected that all graduates take the exam, failure to do so, without a valid reason, is negatively considered for program distinction decisions. More information about the exam can be found on the ASBMB website. www.asbmb.org/accreditation/certificationexam/
• Senior Research Project Guidelines for BCMB Degree

  Senior Research Project Guidelines for BCMB Degree

  In order to ensure uniformity among the various research experiences available to BCMB students to satisfy the requirements for successful completion of BCMB 4800 (Research Senior Project), the following requirements need to be met:
  
  Expectations prior to beginning the research project
  The student should make an arrangement with a specific faculty mentor for their Research Senior Projects well in advance of their senior year. Research projects often require a multiple-semester commitment depending on the nature of the work. Projects (as described below) are usually conducted with BCMB, CHEM or BIOL faculty, or as a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at another institution. Individual faculty mentors may have additional requirements to those
  described herein.
  
  Expectations during the research project
  Students are expected to engage in laboratory research in disciplines such as Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry or the Biomedical Sciences. During the research project students are expected to gain a good understanding of the background and significance of their project, and to read the relevant scientific literature. Students should have an understanding of the hypothesis being tested and the interpretation of data collected. Students are expected to master the experimental
  techniques employed, and to be able to work effectively, independently, and safely in the laboratory. Students should obtain assistance from faculty mentors to achieve these goals. Students need to register for research every semester that they are in the lab. They need to earn a minimum of 2 credits for  research (BCMB 4800).
  
  Students must give an oral presentation of their work at the Senior Symposium held at the end of the Fall or Spring semesters. Student presentations are usually 15-20 minutes in length followed by a five-minute question and answer period. The format should follow that of a scientific presentation: A brief introduction, methods, results, and conclusions. Students are expected to be well-prepared and organized. The audience has broad interests and will appreciate the student's efforts to provide clear explanations.
  
  Prior the symposium, students will submit a 200-word abstract describing the highlights of the project (i.e. significance, a general statement on methodology, key findings, and conclusions). More specific  information is made available each semester, or students may contact the BCMB sub-coordinator. In addition to presenting their work, students must submit a written manuscript (report) in standard scientific format (Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, and References) describing their work. Students should submit a rough draft to their Stockton faculty sponsors to allow students to obtain feedback to improve the report. Copies of the draft and final report are submitted to the Stockton faculty research mentor. A project grade will be assigned by the
  Stockton research sponsor. Grades are assigned by the faculty sponsor based on the following general criteria (40% paper (15% rough draft, 25% final draft), 40% laboratory performance, 20% oral  presentation).
  
  Other considerations: REU, SIRE courses, and Internships may be appropriate to meet the research requirement at the discretion of the BCMB faculty. Students should arrange in advance for a Stockton faculty member to serve as the research sponsor for these projects.
• Waiver Procedure

  Waiver Procedure

  The courses required for graduation with a Biochemistry/Molecular Biology (BCMB) degree can be found in various places: the college bulletin, curriculum worksheet, and in DegreeWorks as well. It is the responsibility of the student to meet all the requirements for graduation. In addition, students should seek guidance from preceptors. In the rare event that a student anticipates not being able to meet the requirements for valid reasons, the student may request a waiver of the BCMB faculty members. Please note that waivers cannot be granted for removing any required class nor for resulting in less than 80  credits in the major.
  
  If a student needs to request a waiver, it must be done both prior to applying for graduation and to the completion of the class involved in the waiver request. The student should compose a written request to the sub coordinator for BCMB that describes why the waiver is needed as well as information about the class (syllabus and course description). It is fine to submit this request via e mail. The sub coordinator will then present the request to BCMB faculty who will vote on the waiver request and sub coordinator communicate the outcome to the student.

• Dual Degree Pharmacy Program

  Dual Degree Pharmacy Program

  Articulation agreement with Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

  For those students seeking to go to pharmacy school, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University and Stockton University have an articulation agreement. The program is intended for students in the senior year of high school who want to go to pharmacy school and meet various requirements. These students apply for admission to Stockton general application as well as as application for the articulation agreement and if accepted, come to Stockton to complete prerequisites. Students have the choice of majoring in Biology and taking 3 years to complete requirements and prerequisites or majoring in BCMB with a choice of 2 or 3 years. After four semesters at Rutgers, the students earn a B.S. from Stockton and after eight semesters at Rutgers earn the doctoral of pharmacy degree.

• Instrumentation

• Research

Program Overview & Alumni Highlights