Implementing the recommended curriculum in a biochemistry and molecular biology degree program in a biochemistry and molecular biology department - The Mississippi State experience

Biochemistry and molecular biology are relatively new disciplines that have evolved from chemistry and biology. Undergraduate programs in these areas are also new, and their structures may reflect their evolutionary path. Some programs will be dominated by chemistry, others by biology. The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has provided a recommended curriculum that attempts to address the diverse needs of students in these areas. Mississippi State University is a research-intensive university and has a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The departmental curriculum provides a broad core of courses that meet the suggested ASBMB standards. In addition, use of appropriate electives allows students to design flexible programs unique to their specific career goals. This report is the second in a series illustrating how different departments are implementing the new ASBMB-recommended curriculum in biochemistry and molecular biology.