UWM College of Letters and Science
College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 551
April 10, 2000


RECOMMENDATION OF THE L&S COURSE AND CURRICULUM COMMITTEE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY THAT THE UNIVERSITY APPROVE AN ENTITLEMENT TO PLAN A MAJOR IN BIOCHEMISTRY


Recommendation:

That the university approve an entitlement to plan a major in biochemistry
as outlined in the attached document.

Rationale:

See attached proposal for an entitlement to plan a major in Biochemistry.


Respectfully submitted,

1999-2000 L&S Course and Curriculum Committee
William Kean, Chair
Michael Allen
Bettina Arnold
Jay Beder
James Coggins
Michael Day
Connie Jo (ex officio)
Jeffrey Merrick
Jane Nardin
Charles Schuster (ex officio)
Roy Swanson


PRELIMINARY ENTITLEMENT TO PLAN A PROPOSAL FOR A MAJOR IN BIOCHEMISTRY

  1. PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION

      1.1. Title of Proposed Program: Major in Biochemistry
      1.2. Department or Functional Equivalent: Chemistry
      1.3. College, School, or Functional Equivalent: College of Letters and Science
      1.4. Timetable for Initiation: Spring 2000-2001

  2. CONTEXT

      2.1. History of Program: The UW-Milwaukee Department of Chemistry currently offers a major in chemistry and the American Chemical Society approved Course in Chemistry Degree Program. The former of these has two options: the standard chemistry major option and a biochemistry option developed to cater to students planning further study in biochemistry, molecular biology, or medicine. The biochemistry option differs from the standard chemistry option in that some of the chemistry courses required for the standard option are omitted and, in their place, courses in biochemistry and biology are required. The biochemistry option, however, retains the math, physics, and computer programming requirements of the standard option.

      2.2. Instructional Setting of Program: The proposed biochemistry major is intended to augment existing academic programs while fully utilizing the strength the Chemistry Department has in biochemistry (approximately 25% of Chemistry Department faculty members are biochemists). It also is designed to match more closely the requirements of biochemistry majors at other peer institutions.

      2.3. Relation to Mission Statement and Academic Plan: "With leading biomed/biotech companies such as Eli Lily, Upjohn, Procter & Gamble, Monsanto and others in the region, the Great Lakes states are poised to significantly improve their research and commercialization efforts in this area if a concerted, coordinated effort is made." Statement from the Council of Great Lakes Governors 1999

      A 1999 report commissioned by Forward Wisconsin Inc. (chaired by Governor Tommy Thompson) and prepared by Wadley Donavan Consultants, identified a surprising degree of biotech opportunity in Wisconsin.
      In response to these conclusions, the biochemistry major is proposed to allow UWM to produce graduates for this rapidly developing job sector in Wisconsin. Ultimately, the introduction of UWM biochemistry major graduates into this job market will strengthen ties to industry at the state and national levels by showcasing quality UW-Milwaukee graduates in a high-tech arena, an outcome in total congruence with the Milwaukee Idea

  3. NEED

      3.1. Comparable Programs in Wisconsin: Currently, UW-Madison is the only academic institution in the state that offers a comprehensive biochemistry major. The UW-Madison program is regarded as one of the premier biochemistry majors in the country and for this reason the structure of this proposed UW-Milwaukee biochemistry major has been based, in part, on the UW-Madison program. The majority of UW system campuses offer a standard chemistry major with the biochemistry option as is currently available at UW-Milwaukee. The only exceptions are UW-River Falls, which offers a major in biotechnology, UW-Eau Claire, which has a molecular biology major. Marquette University also offers a major in Molecular Biology.

      3.2. Comparable Program Outside Wisconsin: There are a number of opportunities to secure a biochemistry major outside Wisconsin. A list of the Biochemistry programs available in Wisconsin and neighboring states appears below (the name of the major offered appears in parentheses). Of these institutions, currently only the University of Minnesota offers reciprocity for University of Wisconsin students. It can be seen that Wisconsin residents have only one option to obtain a major in biochemistry within the state of Wisconsin. (Programs described as majors in biotechnology or molecular biology have been excluded from this list as they typically focus on biotechnology laboratory techniques and are comprised of only two to three biochemistry courses.)

      Wisconsin
      University of Wisconsin-Madison (biochemistry)

      Minnesota
      University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (biochemistry)
      The College of St. Scholastica (biochemistry)

      Illinois
      University of Illinois-Urbana-Campaign (biochemistry)
      The University of Chicago (biological chemistry)
      Rockford College (biochemistry)
      Illinois Institute of Technology (molecular biochemistry and biophysics)
      Knox College (biochemistry)

      Michigan
      University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (biochemistry)
      University of Detroit-Mercy (biochemistry)
      Oakland University (biochemistry)
      Northern Michigan University (biochemistry)
      Eastern Michigan University (biochemistry & prof. biochemistry)
      Andrews University (biochemistry)

      3.3. Regional, State and National Needs: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 35% increase in biochemical scientist positions in the next ten years. This rate of growth well exceeds the average rate of growth for all other professions. Thus, there is an ongoing need for universities to graduate students proficient in biological chemistry.

      3.4 Student Demand--Future Enrollment: In the past eight years, 42 of a total of 87 UW-Milwaukee chemistry major graduates have taken the biochemistry option and the available data indicates that 85 % of these are currently employed in a biological field. This serves as testament to the marketability of such skills in the workplace. The continuing sentiment from students who talk with the Biochemistry faculty members is that there is a strong demand for such a major in this institution. On the basis of the above data and anecdotal evidence it is expected that as many as 20 students will graduate with a major in biochemistry on a annual basis within two to three years of the program's inception.

  4. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION

      4.1 Objectives: There is little doubt that biotechnology has become one of the fastest growing areas of research in both industrial and academic settings. The primary reason for this growth has been the dramatic increase in (and marketability of) therapeutics in the last two decades. During this period, mortality from heart disease has dropped by 36 percent, death rates from stroke have decreased by 50 percent and improved treatments and detection methods have increased the relative 5-year survival rate for people with cancer to 60 percent. With an aging population, the development of new therapies is ongoing and highly profitable. Approximately 55 percent of biotechnology firms are health care related and this sector of the industry employs 70 percent of those in the biotech field. The growth in the biochemical research in academia has been equally remarkable. The National Institutes of Health budget has grown to more than $15.6 billion in 1999, 80% of which is directed toward basic research in the biological field.

      The proposed biochemistry major is intended to offer to UW-Milwaukee students comprehensive preparation for a career in biochemistry research in both industry and academia. The new major will bring the UW-Milwaukee biochemistry requirements further inline with those of other peer tertiary institutions by reducing the total chemistry (non-biochemical), physics, and math requirements while increasing the number of credit hours in biochemistry and biology. The proposed requirements closely match the recommendations of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and the American Society Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) for the academic content of biochemistry majors.

      4.2 Curriculum: Proposed Biochemistry Major

      General Chemistry, 10 cr.
        102 - General Chemistry: modern fundamental principles of chemistry with emphasis on non-metals; prereq: chem placement score 30 & math placement 30 [3 lc, 1 ds, 2 la; 5 cr]
        104 - General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis; prereq: C or better in Chem 102 [3 lc, 1 ds, 3 la; 5 cr]
      Organic Chemistry, 8 cr.
        343 - Organic Chemistry; prereq: C or better in Chem 104 [3 cr]
        344 - Organic Chemistry Lab; prereq: C or better in Chem 343; coreq: Chem 345 [6 la; 2 cr]
        345 - Organic Chemistry; prereq: C or better in Chem 343; coreq: Chem 344 [3 cr]
      Quantitative Analysis, 4 cr.
        223 - Elementary Quantitative Analysis; prereq: C or better in Chem 104; computer equivalent to CompSci 132 [2 lc, 6 la; 4 cr]
      Physical Chemistry, 3 cr.
        560 - Introductory Physical Chemistry; prereq: jr st; C or better in Chem 104; Math 211; 2 sem physics; coreq: Math 405 [3 cr]
      Biochemistry, 11 cr.
        501 - Introduction to Biochemistry: chemistry of biological systems; prereq: jr st; C or better in Chem 223 & Chem 345 [3 cr]
        603 - Introduction to Biochemistry Laboratory: experiments in biological preparations, gene cloning techniques, protein chromatography, and enzyme characterization; prereq: jr st; C or better in Chem 501, 601, or 602; C or better in Chem 223 [2 cr]
        601 - General Biochemistry: chemistry of living organisms, and synthesis of proteins protein structure/function, enzyme mechanisms; prereq: jr st; C or better in Chem 345 & Chem 560 [3 cr]
        602 - General Biochemistry: biosynthesis and metabolism of nucleic acids, structure and replication of DNA, control of gene expression, signal transduction; prereq: jr st; C or better in Chem 501 or 601 [3 vt]
        604 - General Biochemistry: glycolysis, photosynthesis, biosynthesis, metabolism; [3 cr]

      Research, 2 cr. min.
        399 - Special Chemical Problems; prereq: cons instr. or
        599 - Special Projects in Chemistry; prereq: jr st; cons instr.

      Biology, 14 cr. (BioSci 150, 260, plus minimum 7 cr from approved list required)
        150 - Foundations of Biological Sciences I: intro to cellular and animal biology; prereq: chem placement score 30 [3 lc, 3 la; 4 cr]
        260 - Genetics: principles of inheritance of living organisms; prereq: C or better in Chem 104 and Bio 150 [5 lc/ds; 3 cr]
        303 - General Microbiology: study of the nature and properties of microorganisms; molecular biology and genetics of bacteria and viruses; surveys major groups; ecological relationships; taxonomy; prereq: jr st; Chem 341; Bio 260 [3 lc, 4 la; 4 cr]
        401 - Immunology; prereq: jr st; Chem 341; Bio 260 [2 lc; 2 cr]
        402 - Immunology Lab; coreq: Bio 401 [6 la; 2 cr]
        405- General Virology; prereq: Bio 303 or 470; Chem 501 [3 cr]
        470 - Cell and Molecular Biology; prereq: Bio 150, 152, & 260; Chem 343 [3 lc, 4 la; 4 cr]
        536 - Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology; prereq: Bio 303 [2 lc; 2 cr]
        563 - Molecular Techniques for Evolution and Ecology; prereq: Bio 260; Chem 343 [3 cr]
        607 - Aquatic Microbiology; prereq: Bio 303 & 514 [2 cr]
        620 - Microbial Physiology; prereq: Bio 303 & Chem 501 [2 lc, 6 la; 4 cr]
        630 - Endocrinology; prereq: Bio 150 & 152; Chem 343 [3 cr]
        650 - Molecular Biology of Microorganisms; prereq: Bio 303 [2 lc, 1 ds; 3cr]
        660 - Eukaryotic Molecular Biology; prereq: Bio 303 [3 cr]
        663 - Lab Techniques in Molecular Biology; prereq: Bio 303 & 260; Bio 470, 650 or 660 [2 lc/ds, 6 la ; 4 cr]
        667 - Advanced Techniques in Microbial, Molecular and Cellular Biology: special topics; prereq: sr st; Bio 303 [1 ds, 6 la; 3 cr]
        676 - Cellular Evolution; prereq: sr st; Bio 260; Chem 344 & 345; Bio 303 or 470 or 660 or Chem 501 or 601 [3 cr]

      Physics, 10 cr.
        120 - General Physics I (non-calculus): mechanics, wave motion, heat and sound; prereq: math placement C [3 lc, 2 ds; 4 cr]
        121 - General Physics Lab I: coreq: Phys 120 [1 cr]
        122 - General Physics II (non-calculus): electricity, optics, modern physics; prereq: Phys 120 [3 lc, 2 ds; 4 cr]
        123 - General Physics Lab II; coreq: Phys 122 [1 cr]

      Mathematics, 10 cr.
        205- Introductory Finite Math: elements of math logic, sets, partitions and counting, probability theory, stochastic processes; prereq: math placement B, AB, or A [3 cr]
        211 - Survey of Calculus and Analytical Geometry: coordinate systems, equations of curves, limits, differentiation, integration, applications; prereq: math placement B, AB or A [4 cr]
        405 - Mathematical Models and Applications: construction and math models with applications to social sciences and life sciences, markov chains, linear programming, game theory, graph theory, growth processes; prereq:jr st; Math 205 and Math 211 or Math 234 [3 cr].

      Model Four-Year Program
      (numbers in parentheses = numbers of credits)

      Year I
      Chem 102 (5) Chem 104 (5)
      Math 205 (3) Math 211 (4)
      Bio 150 (4) Bio 260 (3)
      Freshman Seminar (3)     Elective (3)

      Year II
      Chem 343 (3) Chem 344 (2)
      Chem 223 (4) Chem 345 (3)
      Phys 120, 121 (5) Phys 122, 123 (5)
      Elective (3) Math 405 (3)
      Chem 399 (2) (research option)     Elective (3)

      Year III
      Chem 560 (3) Chem 501 (3) Bio xxx (4) Elective (3)

      Year III semester II & Year IV
      2 of Chem 601 (3), Chem 602 (3), Chem 604 (3) Chem 603 (2) Chem 599 (2) (research option) Bio xxx (3) Elective (X) Elective (X)

      Credit Totals
      Chemistry: 27, Biochemistry: 13, Biological Science: 14, Math: 10, Physics: 10, GER: 27
      Total: 101 of 120 for graduation

      4.3 Interrelationship with Other Curricula: Primary curriculum support for this degree is based in the Department of Biological Sciences. The biology faculty who teach the courses outlined in section 4.2 are listed in section 5.1. In addition, there are foundation math and physics requirements.

      4.4 Method of Assessment or Evaluation: Conducting exit interviews for graduating students is one of the best methods for assessing the success of the curriculum. Students will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire and express their opinion as to the value of the major. One of the primary purposes of this process will be to track the employment destinations of graduates.

      4.5 Accreditation Requirement: Neither FASEB or ASBMB offers curricular accreditation at this time for biochemistry majors. However, the proposed biochemistry major closely follows the guidelines of these organizations as to the content of the curriculum.

      4.6 Strengths or Unique Features: Typically students who undertake biochemistry majors in other institutions do not have the option to take courses in biochemistry until their senior year. One of the unique features of the proposed major is the opportunity for students to enroll in biochemistry courses early in the degree program (see curriculum above). This allows the major to encompass a greater number of biochemistry courses, and it provides a pedagogical advantage in that it allows greater opportunity for the reinforcement of foundation concepts in addition to allowing a greater range of topics to be presented.

      The math requirements of the major also are unique. The required math courses emphasize models and applications rather than calculus alone. Because this emphasis directs students to focus on the application of math to real world problems, it is expected to be of greater value to the graduate who engages in biochemical research.

      The research requirement is one of the strengths of the program. Students need an understanding of the nature and difficulty of basic research to fully appreciate the expectations of their future employers. This requirement will be a distinct advantage to graduates as it will give them access to equipment, facilities, and techniques generally not employed in basic laboratory classes.

      4.7 Career Advising: Each student undertaking a major in the Chemistry Department at UW-Milwaukee is assigned a faculty advisor. The advisor assists students enrolled in this program with the development of career goals. In particular, close contact with the student's advisor in designing the required research component of the degree will provide a valuable forum for career planning advice.

      4.8 Outreach: Students in the Chemistry Department have a number of opportunities to interact with the community. The department currently presents demonstrations at local schools upon request, participates in The National Chemistry Week proceedings, engages students in activities through Student Affiliates of The American Chemistry Society, and is represented at the annual UW-Milwaukee open house. Students are encouraged to participate in each of these functions to help relate the seemingly esoteric nature of chemistry to the community and to encourage future enrollment.

  5. PERSONNEL

      5.1 Faculty Participating Directly in the Program:
      David Petering; Professor (Inorganic Biochemistry)
      Kristene Surerus; Associate Professor (Bioinorganic Spectroscopy)
      Michael Reddy; Associate Professor (Viral Enzymology)
      Graham Moran; Assistant Professor (Bioinorganic Enzymology)

      Biology Faculty
      Gerald Bergtrom,; Professor (Cell and Molecular Biology)
      John D Buntin,; Professor (Behavioral Neuroendocrinology)
      Mary Lynne Perille Collins; Professor (Microbial Physiology)
      Steven Forst; Associate Professor (Molecular Microbiology)
      Mark McBride; Associate Professor (Microbiology and Molecular Biology)
      Daad A Saffarini,; Assistant Professor (Environmental and Molecular Microbiology)
      Cynthia Sommer; Associate Professor (Comparative Immunology)
      Peter Wejksnora; Associate Professor (Eukaryotic Molecular Biology)
      Charles Wimpee; Associate Professor (Molecular Evolution)

      5.2 Advisory Faculty:
      Benjamin Feinberg; Professor (Bio-Analytical Chemistry)
      Andy Pacheco; Assistant Professor (Bioinorganic Chemistry)

      5.3 Additional Faculty Requirements: None

      5.4 Academic Staff: None

      5.5 Classified Staff: None

  6. ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES

      6.1 Library Resources: The existing facilities of the Golda-Meir library are adequate for the proposed major. The selection of biochemical journals and monographs is sufficient for most biochemical topics to be researched thoroughly. The online services provided by the library are considerable; students who opt for this major will have access to biochemical literature search databases as well as online subscriptions to a number of biochemical journals, including the ACS publications. It is expected that copies of recent edition general biochemistry texts will be required as a resource for students.

      6.2 Additional Support Resources: Since the proposed biochemistry major does not involve the inception of new courses or staff hires, no additional resources are needed to launch the program. The Chemistry Department currently has a computer laboratory equipped with 40 IBM compatible and 6 Macintosh computers as well as a modest library housing chemical and biochemical journals and a number of texts. Students have access to photocopiers for teaching and personal use.

    7. FACILITIES - EQUIPMENT

      7.1 Capital Resources: The Chemistry Department at UW-Milwaukee has an extensive array of research facilities and capital equipment that is available to students conducting research. Equipment is either readily available departmental equipment or available collaboratively from the laboratories of the department's faculty members. Equipment includes three nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, a variety of mass spectrometers, super- and ultra-speed centrifuges, walk-in cold rooms, UV-visible spectrophotometers, a circular dichroism spectrophotometer, Mössbauer spectrophotometers, a stopped-flow spectrophotometer, a thermocycler, a laminar flow hood, atomic absorption spectrophotometers, incubators, shaking incubators, electrophoresis equipment, a high performance liquid chromatograph, and a liquid chromatograph.

      7.2 Capital Budget Needs: None

    8. FINANCE

      8.1 Operating Budget Requirements: There are no additional funding requirements specific to the proposed biochemistry major because the major proposal simply maps a new curriculum from existing courses and can be accommodated within the funds currently allocated to the Department of Chemistry. This is solely a consequence of the strength, in terms of faculty research, in biochemistry at UWM.

      8.2 Operating Budget--S&E Requirements: No additional funds required.

      8.3 Operating Budget Reallocation: No additional funds required.

      8.4 Extramural Research Support: A five year history of the extramural support for the faculty directly involved in the proposed biochemistry major is shown below. Biochemistry remains as one of the most highly funded branches of chemistry. The ongoing extramural funding contributes directly to the quality of the degree. Students enrolled in the major gain experience with state of the art instruments and current techniques through the required research component of the major. In addition, the biochemistry faculty members have grants specifically directed toward teacher enhancement in health education.

      David Petering
      1. "Cadmium, Zinc, Metallothionein and Kidney Toxicity" National Institutes of Health 1995 $850, 000
      2. "Metal Complexes of Known Antitumor Agents" National Institutes of Health 1997 $320,000
      3. "Cellular Requirements for Iron by Bleomycin and Adriamycin." American Cancer Society 1996 $248,000
      4. "A 500 Mhz Spectrometer for Biological Application" National Science Foundation 1997 $245,000
      5. "Cadmium, Zinc, Metallothionein and Kidney Toxicity" National Institutes of Health 2000 $1,400,000
      6. "Teacher Enhancement for Environmental Health Education" National Institutes of Health 2000 $432 000
      7. "Metal Complexes of Known Antitumor Agents" National Institutes of Health 2001 $475,000
      8. "Marine and Freshwater Biomedical and Sciences Center" National Institutes of Health 2003 $1,200,000
      9. "Acquisition of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer for Biogeochemistry" National Science Foundation 2002 $333,000

      Kristene Surerus
      1. "Mössbauer Studies of Site-Substituted Ferredoxin" National Science Foundation 1996 $18,000
      2. "NO and Aconitase: Mössbauer Spectroscopic Studies" National Institutes of Health 1998 $107,124
      3. "Anaerobic Fe(III) Reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens: Analysis of the Electron Transport Chain" 2003 $465,245 (pending)

      Micheal Reddy
      1. National Institutes of Health Area Award 2002 $145,000
      2. Shaw Scientist Award, The Milwaukee Foundation 1999 $135,000
      3. "Assembly of the Bacterophage T4 DNA Replication Sliding Clamp" National Science Foundation 2000 $370,000

      Graham Moran
      1. Shaw Scientist Award, The Milwaukee Foundation 2004 $200,000 (pending)
      2. "Oxygen Intermediates in FeII Dependent Non-Heme Oxygenases" Petroleum Research Fund 2002 $30,000


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