BIOC 339s

Introduction to Biochemistry

Course Description

BIOC 339 is a 4 credit, on line introductory biochemistry course suitable as a first biochemistry course for undergraduate students. It is strongly biased towards the study of the biochemistry of higher animals and is especially suited to students intending to progress further in the Health Sciences (Medical, Dental, Pharmacy and related students). Material covered in this course includes structures, properties and functions of biomolecules, including sugars, fats, amino acids, nucleotides, proteins, biomembranes and nucleic acids. Topics also include enzyme kinetics and mechanisms, metabolic pathways, and mechanisms regulating metabolism and gene expression. The course consists of 48 power point lectures over 2 months. The power point presentations are supplemented with instructor notes, interactive homework problems and review questions. Four exams will be administered during the first 9 weeks, and a comprehensive final exam will be administered in the 10th week. For WVU Exercise Physiology students to receive credit for this course, they must take the same exams on site or in the presence of a proctor approved by the course director. The course director will work with students who require proctored exams and who cannot travel to Morgantown to arrange an appropriate proctored environment for all exams. Students must have successfully completed Organic Chemistry and Biology to enroll for this course – to receive a waiver from these prerequisites, permission must be obtained from the course coordinator, Michael Gunther, Ph.D.

For more information about this course and how to register, Please contact the Course Director:

Michael Gunther, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Course Director
PO Box 9142
Morgantown, WV 26506-9142
Phone: 304-293-0714
Email: mgunther@hsc.wvu.edu

Course Schedule and Syllabus Links

Syllabus • Schedule

Sample Course Material

Below are examples of Power Point lectures and a link to interactive homework problems, as well as instructions you may need to follow if you are not using Power Point 2010 or 2007. If you experience difficulties with this material contact the webmaster at: dmcdonnell@hsc.wvu.edu


Sample (pptx)
Sample (video)
Sample (pptx)
Sample (video)

Note: When clicking on any of the sample files you will be prompted by your browser to either download it to your hard drive, or open the file.

We created these Powerpoint files using MS Office version 2007 or 2010. The created files are .pptx format which allows embedding of video and audio. If by chance you are running another version of Powerpoint (97-2003), you have a couple options.

  1. Download and install the Compatibility Pack from Microsoft to be able to view the newer .pptx files in your older version of Powerpoint.
  2. Download the free Powerpoint Viewer from Microsoft, using the download links provided below.

Office for the MAC 2008 users, may also find it necessary to save the pptx files and the included audio and video files to view them. We suggest trying the embedded video and audio clips first, and if you experience problems, you will be able to download them as a backup method. As always, we are here to assist you if there are problems, email your instructor and report the issue to them for assistance.

Download the Compatibility Pack to view Powerpont 2007-2010 (pptx) files in PowerPoint 97-2003
Download the FREE Powerpoint 2010 Viewer from Microsoft's website

Register for BIOC 339

Contact Extended Learning to Register For Course

West Virginia University Extended Learning
P.O. Box 6800, 150 Clay Street, Morgantown, WV 26506
Website: http://summer.wvu.edu
The CRN is 52203, BIOC 339, Section 7D1

New Process for 2013 and Beyond.

Go to: http://courses.wvu.edu
Click on the Follow this link for the New Schedule of Classes Search
Choose the term (Summer Session 2013) from the dropdown and submit
Select the subject (Biochemistry)
Under Schedule type select web based
At the bottom select Class Search.