Biophysics (B.S.) (Major)
Effective Fall 2024 Exclusions:Students who elect a major in Biophysics may not elect the following major: Biomolecular Science.
Advising
The Program in Biophysics currently offers a B.S. degree in Biophysics and a minor in Biophysics. Students interested in either option are strongly encouraged to schedule an advising appointment by contacting Student Services at biophysics@umich.edu.
Grade Policies
The Biophysics department strongly recommends that a student earn a grade of at least C– in all BIOPHYS courses and mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology courses that are prerequisite for subsequent elections. A major program grade point average of at least 2.0 is required; this includes biophysics courses, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology prerequisites, and advanced electives that are part of a major plan.
Prerequisites
See specific prerequisites listed under Biological Physics Track or Structural Biology Track.
Requirements
The Biophysics Major consists of two tracks:
Honors
In addition to completing all the Biophysics requirements for the major, a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and the completion of an Honors thesis (BIOPHYS 499) with a grade of B or better, and a second Biophysics elective are required.
Approved Honors electives are all biophysics and cognate electives above, and BIOPHYS 440 or CHEM 440, CHEM 453, MCDB 422, MCDB 428, PHYSICS 402, and PHYSICS 453.Students double majoring in Biophysics and any major in the Department of Physics cannot use PHYSICS 402, 406, or 453 to satisfy the Biophysics cognate or Honors elective requirement.
Biological Physics Track (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2021
Prerequisites
- MATH 115 and 116
- MATH 215 and 216; or CHEM 262
- CHEM 210/211 and 215
- PHYSICS 150/151 and 250/251 or 140/141 and 240/241 or 160/161 and 260/261 or 139/239 (or 135/136 and 235/236)
- BIOLOGY 172, 174, 191, 192, or 195
NOTE: students with Math AP credit are advised to take the MATH 215, 216 sequence
Requirements
Core:
- BIOPHYS / CHEM / PHYSICS 370: Physical and Chemical Principles behind Biology and Medicine
- BIOPHYS / CHEM / PHYSICS 417: Dynamical Processes in Biophysics
- BIOPHYS / PHYSICS 450: Biophysics Laboratory
- BIOPHYS 495: Senior Seminar in Biophysics
Outside Core:
- CHEM / BIOLCHEM 351: Fundamentals of Biochemistry or MCDB 310 (Introductory Biochemistry) or BIOLCHEM 415 (Introductory Biochemistry)
Electives:
Three of the following:
- BIOPHYS / MCDB 420: Structural Biology: The Architecture of Life
- BIOPHYS 421: Structural Biology: Biophysical Controversies
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 422: Exp Methods in Structural BIology
- BIOPHYS / PHYSICS 430: Medical Physics
- BIOPHYS / PHYSICS 433: Biocomplexity
- BIOPHYS 435: Biophysical Modeling
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 440: Biophysics of Diseases
- BIOPHYS / CMPLXSYS / PHYSICS 445: Introduction to Information Theory for the Natural Sciences (only if taken FA20 or later)
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 454: Macromolecular Structure & Dynamics
- BIOPHYS / MATH / BIOINF 463: Mathematical Modeling in Biology
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 520: Biophysical Chemistry: Methods & Techniques
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 521: Biophysical Chemistry: Theories
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair
Cognate:
One of the following:
- MATH 404: Intermediate Differential Equations
- MATH 471: Intro to Numerical Methods
- PHYSICS 406: Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- PHYSICS 453: Quantum Mechanics
- CHEM / BIOLCHEM 451: Biochemistry I
- MCDB 427: Molecular Biology
- MCDB 428: Cell Biology
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair.
Students double majoring in Biophysics and any major in the Department of Physics cannot use PHYSICS 402, 406, or 453 to satisfy the Biophysics cognate or Honors elective requirement.
Research:
At least two credits of BIOPHYS 399. Students wishing to conduct research in a laboratory outside of the Program must identify a Biophysics co-sponsor.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the BIOPHYS subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
Honors
In addition to completing all the Biophysics requirements for the major, a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and the completion of an Honors thesis (BIOPHYS 499) with a grade of B or better, and a third Biophysics elective are required. Approved Honors electives are all Biophysics and cognate electives above, plus CHEM 453, MCDB 422, PHYSICS 402 and PHYSICS 453. Other courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair.
Biological Physics Track (Sub-Major) (Winter 2020 - Summer 2021)
Biophysics (B.S.) (Major)
Effective Fall 2024 Exclusions:Students who elect a major in Biophysics may not elect the following major: Biomolecular Science.
Advising
The Program in Biophysics currently offers a B.S. degree in Biophysics and a minor in Biophysics. Students interested in either option are strongly encouraged to schedule an advising appointment by contacting Student Services at biophysics@umich.edu.
Grade Policies
The Biophysics department strongly recommends that a student earn a grade of at least C– in all BIOPHYS courses and mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology courses that are prerequisite for subsequent elections. A major program grade point average of at least 2.0 is required; this includes biophysics courses, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology prerequisites, and advanced electives that are part of a major plan.
Prerequisites
See specific prerequisites listed under Biological Physics Track or Structural Biology Track.
Requirements
The Biophysics Major consists of two tracks:
Honors
In addition to completing all the Biophysics requirements for the major, a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and the completion of an Honors thesis (BIOPHYS 499) with a grade of B or better, and a second Biophysics elective are required.
Approved Honors electives are all biophysics and cognate electives above, and BIOPHYS 440 or CHEM 440, CHEM 453, MCDB 422, MCDB 428, PHYSICS 402, and PHYSICS 453.Students double majoring in Biophysics and any major in the Department of Physics cannot use PHYSICS 402, 406, or 453 to satisfy the Biophysics cognate or Honors elective requirement.
Biological Physics Track (Sub-Major)
Effective Winter 2020
Prerequisites
- Math 115 and 116
- Math 215 and 216; or Chem 262
- Chem 210/211 and 215
- Physics 135/136 and 235/236 or 140/141 and 240/241
- Bio 172, 174, 191, 192, or 195
NOTE: students with Math AP credit are advised to take the Math 215, 216 sequence
Requirements
Core:
- BIOPHYS / PHYSICS 290: Physics of the Body & Mind
- BIOPHYS / CHEM / PHYSICS 370: Physical and Chemical Principles behind Biology and Medicine
- BIOPHYS / CHEM / PHYSICS 417: Dynamical Processes in Biophysics
- BIOPHYS / PHYSICS 450: Biophysics Laboratory
- BIOPHYS 495: Senior Seminar in Biophysics
Outside Core:
- CHEM / BIOLCHEM 351: Fundamentals of Biochemistry
Electives:
Two of the following:
- BIOPHYS / MCDB 420: Structural Biology: The Architecture of Life
- BIOPHYS 421: Structural Biology: Biophysical Controversies
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 422: Exp Methods in Structural BIology
- BIOPHYS / PHYSICS 430: Medical Physics
- BIOPHYS / PHYSICS 433: Biocomplexity
- BIOPHYS 435: Biophysical Modeling
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 440: Biophysics of Diseases
- BIOPHYS / CMPLXSYS / PHYSICS 445: Introduction to Information Theory for the Natural Sciences (only if taken FA20 or later)
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 454: Macromolecular Structure & Dynamics
- BIOPHYS / MATH / BIOINF 463: Mathematical Modeling in Biology
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 520: Biophysical Chemistry: Methods & Techniques
- BIOPHYS / CHEM 521: Biophysical Chemistry: Theories
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair
Cognate:
One of the following:
- MATH 404: Intermediate Differential Equations
- MATH 471: Intro to Numerical Methods
- PHYSICS 406: Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- PHYSICS 453: Quantum Mechanics
- CHEM / BIOLCHEM 451: Biochemistry I
- MCDB 427: Molecular Biology
- MCDB 428: Cell Biology
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair.
Students double majoring in Biophysics and any major in the Department of Physics cannot use PHYSICS 402, 406, or 453 to satisfy the Biophysics cognate or Honors elective requirement.
Research:
At least two credits of BIOPHYS 399. Students wishing to conduct research in a laboratory outside of the Program must identify a Biophysics co-sponsor.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the BIOPHYS subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.Honors
In addition to completing all the Biophysics requirements for the major, a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and the completion of an Honors thesis (BIOPHYS 499) with a grade of B or better, and a third Biophysics elective are required. Approved Honors electives are all Biophysics and cognate electives above, plus CHEM 453, MCDB 422, PHYSICS 402 and PHYSICS 453. Other courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair.
Biological Physics Track (Sub-Major) (Fall 2016 - Fall 2019)
Biophysics (B.S.) (Major)
Effective Fall 2024 Exclusions:Students who elect a major in Biophysics may not elect the following major: Biomolecular Science.
Advising
The Program in Biophysics currently offers a B.S. degree in Biophysics and a minor in Biophysics. Students interested in either option are strongly encouraged to schedule an advising appointment by contacting Student Services at biophysics@umich.edu.
Grade Policies
The Biophysics department strongly recommends that a student earn a grade of at least C– in all BIOPHYS courses and mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology courses that are prerequisite for subsequent elections. A major program grade point average of at least 2.0 is required; this includes biophysics courses, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology prerequisites, and advanced electives that are part of a major plan.
Prerequisites
See specific prerequisites listed under Biological Physics Track or Structural Biology Track.
Requirements
The Biophysics Major consists of two tracks:
Honors
In addition to completing all the Biophysics requirements for the major, a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and the completion of an Honors thesis (BIOPHYS 499) with a grade of B or better, and a second Biophysics elective are required.
Approved Honors electives are all biophysics and cognate electives above, and BIOPHYS 440 or CHEM 440, CHEM 453, MCDB 422, MCDB 428, PHYSICS 402, and PHYSICS 453.Students double majoring in Biophysics and any major in the Department of Physics cannot use PHYSICS 402, 406, or 453 to satisfy the Biophysics cognate or Honors elective requirement.
Biological Physics Track (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2016
Prerequisites
- Math 115 and 116
- Math 215 and 216; or Chem 262
- Chem 210/211 and 215
- Physics 135/136 and 235/236 or 140/141 and 240/241
- Bio 171, 172, 174 or 195
NOTE: students with Math AP credit are advised to take the Math 215, 216 sequence
Requirements
Core:
- BIOPHYS 290: Physics of the Body & Mind
- BIOPHYS 370: Physical and Chemical Principles behind Biology and Medicine
- BIOPHYS 417: Dynamical Processes in Biophysics
- BIOPHYS 454: Macromolecular Structure and Function
- BIOPHYS 450: Biophysics Laboratory
- BIOPHYS 495: Senior Seminar in Biophysics
Outside Core:
- CHEM 351: Fundamentals of Biochemistry
- BIOLOGY 305: Genetics
Electives:
One of the following:
- BIOPHYS 430: Medical Physics
- BIOPHYS 433: Biocomplexity
- BIOPHYS 435: Biophysical Modeling
- BIOPHYS 440: Biophysics of Diseases
- BIOPHYS 463: Mathematical Modeling in Biology
- MCDB 411: Protein Structure and Function
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair
Cognate:
One of the following:
- MATH 404: Intermediate Differential Equations
- MATH 471: Intro to Numerical Methods
- PHYSICS 406: Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- PHYSICS 453: Quantum Mechanics
- CHEM 451: Biochemistry I
- MCDB 427: Molecular Biology
- MCDB 428: Cell Biology
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair.
Students double majoring in Biophysics and any major in the Department of Physics cannot use PHYSICS 402, 406, or 453 to satisfy the Biophysics cognate or Honors elective requirement.
Research:
At least two credits of BIOPHYS 399. Students wishing to conduct research in a laboratory outside of the Program must identify a Biophysics co-sponsor.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the BIOPHYS subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.Honors
In addition to completing all the Biophysics requirements for the major, a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and the completion of an Honors thesis (BIOPHYS 499) with a grade of B or better, and a second Biophysics elective are required. Approved Honors electives are all Biophysics and cognate electives above, and BIOPHYS 440 or CHEM 440, CHEM 453, MCDB 422, MCDB 428, PHYSICS 402 and PHYSICS 453.
