DEN102 Chemistry and Biochemistry I
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2026
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Dental Medicine
Irma Mahmuljin
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the principles of general and organic chemistry, providing the essential chemical background necessary for the study of biomolecules and basic biochemical processes. Students will learn the fundamentals of chemical bonding, reactions, functional groups, and biomolecular structures, with emphasis on amino acids, proteins, and enzyme catalysis.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Principles of Biochemistry, Moran-Horton-Scrimgeour-Perry, 2012 Pearson, 5th edition; Voet&Voet: Biochemistry, 2011, 4th edition
Additional Literature
Scientific publicationsTeaching Methods
Interactive Lectures
Case-Based Learning
Short Video Demonstrations or Animations
Peer Teaching
Integration with Laboratory Content
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Chemistry in our lives, measurements, lab safety | |
| 2 đź“Ť | Matter and energy; atoms and elements; periodic table | |
| 3 | Ionic and molecular compounds; chemical bonding | |
| 4 | Chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermochemistry QUIZ 1 | |
| 5 | Acids, bases, pH, water and its properties, the importance of hydrogen bond, buffers | |
| 6 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry; hydrocarbons and functional groups | |
| 7 | Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes; isomerism and reactivity | |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Carboxylic acids, esters, amines, amides | |
| 10 | Amino acids: structure, classification, and properties | |
| 11 | Protein structure: levels of organization | |
| 12 | Protein folding, stability, and structure determination QUIZ 2 | |
| 13 | Enzyme classification, cofactors, and coenzymes | |
| 14 | Enzyme catalysis: kinetics and mechanisms | |
| 15 | Review and final exam preparation |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN102.1 | Course | Monday 12:00 - 14:50 | A F1.11 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 14:00 - 15:30 | A G.6 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quizes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Attendance and Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
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
đź“š Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Laboratory
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Midterm exam
32 hours ⏳ (8 week × 4 h)
Final exam
40 hours ⏳ (10 week × 4 h)
Quiz
8 hours ⏳ (4 week × 2 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 [DEN102] 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 Oct 10, 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 | |||||||||
| DEN102 | Chemistry and Biochemistry I | 3 | 1 | 6 | Monday 12.00-14:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Irma Mahmuljin | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Thursday: 14:00-15:30 |
|||||||
| imahmuljin@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces students to the principles of general and organic chemistry, providing the essential chemical background necessary for the study of biomolecules and basic biochemical processes. Students will learn the fundamentals of chemical bonding, reactions, functional groups, and biomolecular structures, with emphasis on amino acids, proteins, and enzyme catalysis. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Principles of Biochemistry, Moran-Horton-Scrimgeour-Perry, 2012 Pearson, 5th edition; Voet&Voet: Biochemistry, 2011, 4th edition | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Interactive Lectures, Case-Based Learning, Short Video Demonstrations or Animations, Peer Teaching, Integration with Laboratory Content | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction: Chemistry in our lives, measurements, lab safety | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Matter and energy; atoms and elements; periodic table | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Ionic and molecular compounds; chemical bonding | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermochemistry QUIZ 1 | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Acids, bases, pH, water and its properties, the importance of hydrogen bond, buffers | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Introduction to Organic Chemistry; hydrocarbons and functional groups | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes; isomerism and reactivity | |||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Carboxylic acids, esters, amines, amides | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Amino acids: structure, classification, and properties | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Protein structure: levels of organization | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Protein folding, stability, and structure determination QUIZ 2 | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Enzyme classification, cofactors, and coenzymes | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Enzyme catalysis: kinetics and mechanisms | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and final exam preparation | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizes | 2 | 20 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance and Participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| ***    ECTS Credit Calculation    *** | |||||
| Â Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture | 3 | 14 | 42 | Laboratory | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Midterm exam | 4 | 8 | 32 | Final exam | 4 | 10 | 40 | |||
| Quiz | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 | ||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 08/10/2026 | |||||||||