Curriculum

Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer modeling to understand the structures and processes that support life.

The Biophysics major offers a flexible curriculum. Students take courses in areas such as:

Physics
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Mathematics
Computer modeling
Biophysics

Students also complete specially designed Biophysics courses that connect these areas of study.

Biophysics Major Tracks

Students in the Biophysics major choose one of two tracks:

Biological Physics Track
Structural Biology Track

Each track allows students to focus on different areas of biophysics based on their academic interests and career goals.

Academic Requirements

For official degree requirements, course lists, and academic policies, review the LSA Bulletin Academic Requirements for Biophysics.

Biological Physics Track

Prerequisites to Concentration:

Math 115 and 116
Math 215 and 216; or Chem 262
Chem 210/211 and 215
Physics 135/136 and 235/236 or Physics 139/239 or Physics 140/141 and 240/241 or Biophysics/Physics 150/151 and 250/251 or Physics 160/161 and 260/261
Bio 172 or 174 or 191 or 192 or 195

Core:

Biophysics 370 (Physical and Chemical Principles behind Biology and Medicine)
Biophysics 417 (Dynamical Processes in Biophysics)
Biophysics 450 (Biophysics Laboratory)
Biophysics 495 (Senior Seminar in Biophysics)

Outside Core:

Chemistry 351 (Fundamentals of Biochemistry) or MCDB 310 (Introductory Biochemistry) or Biological Chemistry 415 (Introductory Biochemistry)

Electives:

Three of the following:

Biophysics 420 (Structural Bio: The Architecture of Life)
Biophysics 421 (Structural Bio: Biophys. Controversies)
Biophysics 422 (Exp Methods in Struct. Bio)
Biophysics 430 (Medical Physics)
Biophysics 433 (Biocomplexity)
Biophysics 435 (Biophysical Modeling)
Biophysics 440 (Biophysics of Diseases)
Biophysics 454 (Macromolecular Structure & Dynamics)
Biophysics 463 (Mathematical Modeling in Biology)
Biophysics 520 (Biophysical Chem I: Methods & Techniques)
Biophysics 521 (Biophysical Chem II: 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)
Chemistry 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

Research:

At least two credits of Biophysics 399. Students wishing to conduct research in a laboratory outside of the Program must identify a Biophysics co-sponsor.

Structural Biology Track

Prerequisites to Concentration:

Core:

Biophysics 370 (Physical and Chemical Principles behind Biology and Medicine)
Biophysics 420 (Structural Biology: The Architecture of Life)
Biophysics 421 (Structural Biology: Biophysical Controversies)
Biophysics 450 (Biophysics Laboratory)
Biophysics 495 (Senior Seminar in Biophysics)

Outside Core:

Chemistry 351 (Fundamentals of Biochemistry) or
MCDB 310 (Introductory Biochemistry) or
Biological Chemistry 415 (Introductory Biochemistry)

Electives:

One of the following:

Biophysics 417 (Dynamical Processes in Biophys)
Biophysics 422 (Exp Methods in Struct. Bio)
Biophysics 430 (Medical Physics)
Biophysics 435 (Biophysical Modeling)
Biophysics 440 (Biophysics of Diseases)
Biophysics 454 (Macromolecular Structure & Dynamics)
Biophysics 463 (Mathematical Modeling in Biology)
Biophysics 520 (Biophysical Chemistry I: Methods & Techniques))
Biophysics 521 (Biophysical Chemistry II: Theories)
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair

Cognate:

One of the following:

Chemistry 451 (Biochemistry I)
MCDB 427 (Molecular Biology)
MCDB 428 (Cell Biology)
Biological Chemistry 530 (Protein Protein or Protein-Ligand Interactions by NMR)
Biological Chemistry 550 (Macromolecular Structure and Function)
Note: Other 400-level Physics, Chemistry, or Biology courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair

Research:

At least two credits of Biophysics 399. Students wishing to conduct research in a laboratory outside of the Program must identify a Biophysics co-sponsor.

Biophysics Minor

Physics 340 (Heat and Waves) or Chem 210 (Organic Chemistry)*
-and-
Bio 305 (Genetics) or MCDB 310 (Biochemistry) or CHEM 351
-and-
Biophysics 290 (Physics of the Body & Mind) or
Biophysics 430 (Medical Physics) or
Biophysics 440 (Biophysics of Diseases)
-and-
Biophysics 370 (Phys and Chem Principles Behind Biology and Medicine) or
Biophysics 417 (Dynamic Processes in Biophysics)
-and-
Biophysics 450 (Lab Techniques in Biophysics)

Standard LSA double-counting rules apply (only ONE COURSE is allowed). The minimum total number of credits students must take for the Biophysics minor are 15 (including the double-counted course). For more information about double-counting rules, please refer to the LSA website or speak with an advisor.

Honors Concentration

Honors Concentration:

In addition to completing all the Biophysics concentration requirements (in either track), a concentration GPA of at least 3.4 and the completion of an honors thesis (Biophysics 499) and an additional Biophysics elective are required. Approved honors electives are all Biophysics and cognate electives listed above, plus Chemistry 453, MCDB 422, Physics 402 and Physics 453. Other courses may be accepted, per approval of the Undergraduate Chair.

The honors thesis should be at least 25 pages long and formatted as follows:

Cover Page
Abstract (no more than 1 page)
Chapters
Introduction
Data Analysis/Methodology
Discussion/Results
References/Bibliography

For more details about how to write a strong thesis, please consult Sweetland's thesis writing guide.

Students may opt to make their thesis work permanently available to the academic community by uploading it to UM's Deep Blue electronic archive. Click here for more information. Please contact the Biophysics student services office if you have any questions.

Biophysics Major Requirements

Introductory Courses

Not required, but highly recommended

Biophysics 131 - Python Programming for the Sciences

Biophysics 120 - The Biophysics of Life (First Yr Seminar; Fall Only)

Prerequisites

❖ Math: MATH 115 (or 120) & 116 (or 121); Either MATH 215 & 216; or CHEM 262

❖ Chemistry: CHEM 210/211 & 215

❖ Physics: PHYSICS options:➢ 139/239➢ 140/141 & 240/241➢ 150/151 & 250/251➢ 160/161 & 260/261

❖ Biology: BIO 172, 174, 191, 192, or 195

NOTE: Students with Math AP credit are advised to take the MATH 215, 216 sequence.

Core Major Requirements

Biological Physics Track

BIOPHYS 370 - Phys and Chemical Principles

ORCHEM 260 - Chemical Principles

BIOPHYS 399 - Research in Biophysics

BIOPHYS 417 - Dynamical Processes in Biophysics

BIOPHYS 450 - Lab Techniques in Biophysics

BIOPHYS 495 - Senior Seminar in Biophysics

Outside Core: CHEM 351 or MCDB 310 or BIOLCHEM 415

Structural Biology Track

BIOPHYS 370 - Phys and Chemical Principles

ORCHEM 260 - Chemical Principles

BIOPHYS 399 - Research in Biophysics

BIOPHYS 420 - Struc Biology: The Architecture of Life

BIOPHYS 421 - Struc Biology: Biophys Controversies

BIOPHYS 450 - Lab Techniques in Biophysics

BIOPHYS 495 - Senior Seminar in Biophysics

Outside Core: CHEM 351 or MCDB 310 or BIOLCHEM 415

Research

At least two credits of BIOPHYS 399. Majors may choose to research in a laboratory outside the program, but must identify a co-sponsor affiliated with the program. The project must be biophysics-related.

Students are encouraged to contact faculty early for research placements (we recommend seeking a lab placement at least 1 term prior to the proposed term of enrollment).

Please email all advising questions to: biophys-sso@umich.edu.

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Curriculum

Biological Physics Track

Structural Biology Track

Biophysics Minor

Honors Concentration

Honors Concentration:

Biophysics Major Requirements