BIO420 Biophysics
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Genetics and Bioengineering
Mohamed Ibrahim
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is destined to provide biologists with the principals of biophysics and biophysical methods, in particular concerning theoretical bases and their usage in modern molecular biology (e. g. Structural and Molecular Biology) along with other biophysical techniques that are used for the characterization of macromolecules and their functioning in the state-of-the-art laboratories. Thus the course aims at allowing biology students to understand advanced structural biology and biophysical methods well enough to critically evaluate research in these areas, plan own experiments, and fully profit from available resources (for example the PDB, BMRB and other data bases and professional servers). For students in the field of bioscience, this course should also provide a solid basis for their own experimental research. The main focus of the course is to expose students to study about fundamental and advanced molecular biophysics topics and allow them to present the topics in a form of seminar.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Biophysics - N. Gautham, V. Pattabhi (Kluwer, 2002) ISBN: 1-4020-0218-1
Additional Literature
Introductory Biophysics. P. Narayanan (1999). New Age Publishing Co., Mumbai, India. Biochemistry.D.Voet and G.J. Voet (1990). John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, USA.Biophysical Chemistry, Vol. I, II and III. C.R. Cantor and P. Schimmel (1985). W.H. Freeman andCompany, New York, USA. Biophysics. W. Hoppe, W. Lohman, H. Markl and H Ziegler (eds) (1983). Springer Verlag, New York,USA. Physical Biochemistry. D. Freifelder (1982). W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, USA.Aspects of Biophysics. W. Hughes (1979) John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, USA.Biophysical Science. E. Ackerman, L.B.M. Ellis and L.E. Williams (1979). Prentice-Hall Inc., NewJersey, USA.An Introduction to Biophysics. C. Sybesma (1977). Academic Press, New York, USA.Molecular Biophysics. M.V. Volkenstein (1977). Academic Press, New York, USA.OrganicSpectroscopy: Principles and Applications. Jag Mohan (2000). Narosa Publishing House,New Delhi, India.Teaching Methods
Class presentations and discussions with examples will be held in campus/online through Microsoft TEAMS
Active tutorial sessions for engaged learning
Team assignments
Team projects that involve real data, computer analysis, summary, interpretation and reporting
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laws of Physics and Chemistry | Book Chapter 1 |
| 2 | Separation Techniques | Book Chapter 2 |
| 3 | Physico-Chemical Techniques to Study Biomolecules | Book Chapter 3 |
| 4 | Spectroscopy | Book Chapter 4 |
| 5 | Light Microscopy | Book Chapter 5 |
| 6 | Electron Microscopy | Book Chapter 6 |
| 7 | X-ray Crystallography | Book Chapter 7 |
| 8 | NMR Spectroscopy | Book Chapter 8 |
| 9 | Molecular Modelling | Book Chapter 9 |
| 10 | Macromolecular Structure | Book Chapter 10 |
| 11 | Energy Pathways in Biology | Book Chapter 11 |
| 12 | Biomechanics | Book Chapter 12 |
| 13 | Neurobiophysics | Book Chapter 13 |
| 14 | Origin and Evolution ofLife | Book Chapter 14 |
| 15 | Revision |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 15:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 12:00 | A F1.14 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
In-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quiz (2 assignments)
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Homework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home study
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
In-term exam study
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Final exam study
18 hours ⏳ (1 week × 18 h)
quiz
20 hours ⏳ (4 week × 5 h)
Presentation
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [BIO420] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| BIO420 | Biophysics | 3 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Senior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mohamed Ibrahim | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-15:00 Tuesday: 10:00-12:00 Wednesday: 10:00-12:00 Thursday: 10:00-12:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| mragab@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is destined to provide biologists with the principals of biophysics and biophysical methods, in particular concerning theoretical bases and their usage in modern molecular biology (e. g. Structural and Molecular Biology) along with other biophysical techniques that are used for the characterization of macromolecules and their functioning in the state-of-the-art laboratories. Thus the course aims at allowing biology students to understand advanced structural biology and biophysical methods well enough to critically evaluate research in these areas, plan own experiments, and fully profit from available resources (for example the PDB, BMRB and other data bases and professional servers). For students in the field of bioscience, this course should also provide a solid basis for their own experimental research. The main focus of the course is to expose students to study about fundamental and advanced molecular biophysics topics and allow them to present the topics in a form of seminar. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Biophysics - N. Gautham, V. Pattabhi (Kluwer, 2002) ISBN: 1-4020-0218-1 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Class presentations and discussions with examples will be held in campus/online through Microsoft TEAMS. Active tutorial sessions for engaged learning. Team assignments. Team projects that involve real data, computer analysis, summary, interpretation and reporting. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Laws of Physics and Chemistry | Book Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Separation Techniques | Book Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Physico-Chemical Techniques to Study Biomolecules | Book Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Spectroscopy | Book Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Light Microscopy | Book Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Electron Microscopy | Book Chapter 6 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | X-ray Crystallography | Book Chapter 7 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | NMR Spectroscopy | Book Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Molecular Modelling | Book Chapter 9 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Macromolecular Structure | Book Chapter 10 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Energy Pathways in Biology | Book Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Biomechanics | Book Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Neurobiophysics | Book Chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Origin and Evolution ofLife | Book Chapter 14 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Revision | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In-term exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz (2 assignments) | 2 | 20 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Homework | 5 | 5 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home study | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||
| In-term exam study | 10 | 1 | 10 | Final exam study | 18 | 1 | 18 | |||
| quiz | 5 | 4 | 20 | Presentation | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||