By Martin Cast
ro (The Cascade) – Email
UFV is currently in the process of establishing a biochemistry major as an option for science students.
Biology professor Ron Wilen “started the process some years ago,” says Jason Thomas, an assistant professor with UFV’s chemistry department. “Myself and a few others from chemistry and biochemistry joined the committee [that worked on the degree proposal] and I turned out to be the chair … that was about a year ago.”
The proposed biochemistry major, an interdisciplinary bachelor of science option that would be housed within the chemistry program, was approved by Senate at a meeting earlier this month. It is now “in process” of attaining Ministry of Advanced Education approval.
“I don’t imagine they’ll reject it,” says Thomas. “But we don’t know how long that’ll take.”
The proposal joins eight others that currently are waiting for approval, including two that date back to 2014.
The new major wouldn’t add a new department, but plans to draw from staff, faculty, and labs that already exist for biology and chemistry.
“Eight lab technicians and two administrative support staff across both departments will support the program,” the proposal reads. “As no new resources are required, implementation can proceed following approval of the proposal.”
“A lot of universities have biochemistry programs,” Thomas says. “[Biochemistry] is a mature discipline and it is interdisciplinary. It’s biology and chemistry, but it is a discipline unto itself at most other [universities].”
A biochemistry program at UFV would serve as a step up for science students looking to further their studies.
“[The program] offers another option for science students, especially if you’re interested in the molecular basis of life,” Thomas says. “It’s a good option if you want to go to professional school or med school.”
The major, which also received external approval from desk reviews by professors at UBC and UVic, is “very much in line with the standard biochemistry [programs at other universities],” according to Thomas.
The major wouldn’t require many new classes to be offered at UFV.
“One doesn’t specialize in biochemistry until third year, some places second year,” Thomas explains. “And we do already have some basic biochemistry courses at the third-year level … biologists, for example, have to take those already.”
Several biochemistry courses will exist as cross-listings with the biology and chemistry departments — new, specialized biochemistry courses will be added, but incrementally.
