uwloo

CHEM 237Introductory Biochemistry

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Chemistry

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 6 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introduction to the chemistry of amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Structure and properties of proteins and enzymes.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • CHEM262 - Organic Chemistry for Engineering (0.50)
    • CHEM264 - Organic Chemistry 1 (0.50)
    • CHEM266 - Basic Organic Chemistry 1 (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
      • CHEM233 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry (0.50)
    • Not completed any of the following:

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001872571 / 100MWF 09:30–10:20
TUT 101872671 / 100F 14:30–15:20

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00166550 / 446TTh 13:00–14:20
LEC 7012488464 / 9999Online or by arrangement
TUT 10169700 / 446F 15:30–16:20
TST 20176700 / 446Feb 9 17:30–18:50

Reviewed on UW Flow

52% liked it32% easy75% useful

From 172 ratings and 39 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Had it with Tanner. Not as bad as everyone says. if you go to office hours and take notes, 90+ is very possible, and she'll prob give a 2% bonus too for making protein tertiary structure using paper. Got 78 on the midterm, 100 on the exam and ended with a 99.

    Apr 2024 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • It is a lot of memorization, but I actually think the content is fun once you memorize what you need to. Professor is unparalleled in her ineptitude and horribleness though.

    Jan 2023 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Honestly not a terrible course in terms of content but the class slides are some of the most poorly structured chem slides. If you had Laura before be thankful. Tests were pretty tough with 2 midterms and 1 exam and 5 quizzes. Quizzes are super easy and you get 2 attempts. Not insanely hard but definitely requires you to attend all lectures and almost annotate every word spoken. Tutorials help alot and are similar to questions you see on the test but not mandatory

    Mar 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • biochem is a hard course, so its a given, taken in w24. iclicker 5%, peer grading 5% (do some questions, give paper to friend to mark, this is in tutorials), learn quizzes 10%, midterm 25% but can be dropped, 55% exam but had cheat sheet. also 2% bonus for making a protein structure out of paper.

    Aug 2024 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Interesting topics, lots of memorization but it can be done if you work on it as the course progresses. Dr. Tanner gave us a cheat sheet for the final exam, and offered a bonus project. Not hard to succeed in this course.

    Jun 2024 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

176 posts and comments in 153 threads mention CHEM 237, October 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Winter 2024

CHEM 267 3 points, 2 comments

“Hey everyone! I am currently taking CHEM 267, and it's been a while since I took CHEM 266 so I am struggling a bit. Any tips on how to do well in the class and thoroughly understand all concepts.”

u/B0b-loblaww: “I’m in a different but similar boat (taking chem 237 a couple years after doing orgo). …”

View on RedditRemove this

Online NSE for engineering 1 point, 1 comment

“I have to take an NSE during coop in W24 to grad on time, but my coop not in Waterloo. Does anybody know any fully online NSEs? I don’t mind the difficulty since it’s not included in my average.”

u/1000Ditto: “… offering): sci 238 \[fall\] psych 207 psych 261 earth 121 \[fall, spring\] chem 123 \[w,s\] chem 237 \[w,s\] (requires orgo) chem 266 \[f\] (it's orgo) che 102 \[fws\] (1a chem vibes) biol 239 (genetics, W, S, onlineF) biol 240 (Offered F, online w, s)”

View on RedditRemove this

Fall 2023

Spring 2023

first year elective/course to help with MCAT 1 point, 2 comments

“hey there! i’m starting health science coop and i only have 1 elective i can pick first year, my end goal is to take the MCAT what should i pick for my one elective/course? …”

u/sedobelai: “… would cover everything entirely Biochem: I think u have human biochem as a requirement but CHEM237 if you don’t wanna self study Biology: I think the required ones will probably cover everything here (BIOL130/273/373/239) Psych/Soc: you can probably use that famous doc idr what …”

View on RedditRemove this

Winter 2023

Free tutoring 19 points, 21 comments

“Hello everyone so studying for an exam and honestly best way to study for it is teaching/ tutoring someone. …”

u/MelanieMFalcon: “Would you do chem 237? I would love to connect if so :D”

View on RedditRemove this

Fall 2022

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar