The goal of the CBI curriculum is to provide students with backgrounds in chemistry or biology with the training they need to carry out research in areas that entail significant, inseparable contributions from both the chemical and biological sciences. To fulfill that goal, CBI students are required to take at least one approved Biological Science elective and at least one approved Chemical Science elective, in addition to satisfying the requirements of their home department.
In addition, the CBI program has developed courses to help facilitate interaction among traditionally chemical and biological emphases. These courses, including Chalk Talk, Ethics, Drug Design, Student Seminar, Biology and Chemistry Electives, OPD Events, and Lab Modules have been created to provide CBI students with both a forum to exchange ideas, and a foundation in the scientific community. CBI students are also strongly encouraged to attend relevant external departmental seminars.
CBI brings the synthetic, mechanistic and analytical powers of chemistry to bear on new and exciting areas of biology. This is achieved through the summarized curricular requirements to the right.
CBI Curriculum Summary
| Training | Requirements | Time Table |
| Chalk Talk | 4 x 1 credit | Years 1 – 5 |
| Ethics | 1 credit | Year 1 or 2 – May workshop or Spring semester |
| Drug Design | 3 credits | Year 1 or 2 – Spring |
| Student Seminar | 2 x 1 credit | Year 2 – Spring Year 4 or 5 – Spring |
| Biological Science Elective | 3 credits | Year 1 or 2 |
| Chemical Science Elective | 3 credits | Year 1 or 2 |
| Data Science for the Life Sciences | 3 credits | Future new course requirement Year 3 |
| OPD Event | 1 per semester | ongoing |
| Lab Module | 4 total | Years 2-5 |
Biological Science Electives
| Course | Class |
| AnimlSci 572 | Infection and Immunity |
| AnimlSci 581/697C | Cancer Biology/Carcinogenesis |
| AnimlSci 697K | Advanced Immunology |
| AnimlSci 672 | Molecular Medicine |
| Biochem 523 | General Biochem I |
| Biochem 524 | General Biochem II |
| Biochem 623 | Advanced Gen Biochm |
| Biochem/MolclBio 642 | Advanced Molcl Biology |
| Biology 572 | Neurobiology |
| Biology 580 | Developmental Biology |
| Biology 583 | Advanced Genetics |
| Biology 597GE | Evolutionary Genetics |
| Chem 423 | Biochemistry for Chemists |
| Chem 797T | Frontiers in Biotechnology |
| MolclBio 641 | Advanced Cell Biology |
| MolclBio 680 | Advanced Microbial Physiology |
| MolcBio 685 | Concepts in Molecular Genetics |
| MicroBio 565 | Lab in Molecular Genetics |
| NeuroS&B 617 | Molcl, Cellular, and Dev Neurobio |
Chemical Science Electives
| Course | Class |
| Chem 471 | Elementary Physical Chemistry |
| Chem 551 | Advanced Organic Chemistry |
| Chem/Molclbio 590CB | Chemical Biology |
| Chem 650 | Metals in Biology |
| Chem 728 | Physical Biochemistry |
| Chem 777 | Biomolecular NMR |
| Chem 791L | Bioanalytical Chemistry |
| Chem 627 | Biomolecular Structure |
| Chem 791J | Biological Mass Spectrometry |
| Chem 891G | Grad Core |
| ChemEng 592B | Intro Biochemical Eng |
| ChemEng 621 | Thermodynamics I |
| Polymer 607 | Intro Synthetic Polymer Chem |
| Polymer 608 | Physical Chem Polymer I |
| Polymer 760 | Organic Polymerization Rctn |