Biochemistry, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Pittsburgh

Program Overview

The Biochemistry, BS at the University of Pittsburgh explores how molecules in living organisms work and interact at chemical and physical levels, combining biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics to prepare students for careers and further study in biotechnology, molecular biology, medicine, and related fields. The program is well suited to students interested in understanding biological processes at the molecular level, with coursework spanning genetics, macromolecular structure, metabolic pathways, molecular biology, biophysical chemistry, and laboratory research.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their scientific foundation through BIOSC 0150 Foundations of Biology 1, BIOSC 0160 Foundations of Biology 2, and CHEM 0110/0120 General Chemistry 1 and 2, alongside the associated biology research laboratories. This stage develops core knowledge in biological systems and chemical principles while introducing students to practical research-based laboratory work.

Second Year: Students progress into CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry 1, CHEM 0320 Organic Chemistry 2, and the associated Organic Laboratory, while continuing their mathematics and physics co-requisites. The combination strengthens students’ understanding of molecular structure, chemical reactions, and the quantitative scientific principles needed for advanced biochemistry.

Third Year: Students move into specialized biological sciences with BIOSC 0350 Genetics, BIOSC 1810 Macromolecular Structure and Function, and BIOSC 1820 Metabolic Pathways and Regulation. These courses examine genetic information, the structure and function of biological macromolecules, and the biochemical pathways that regulate cellular processes.

Fourth Year: Students consolidate their advanced training through BIOSC 1940 Molecular Biology, BIOSC 1830 Biochemistry Laboratory, and BIOSC 1580 Biochemistry Seminar, while completing selected biochemistry electives and a writing-intensive course. Elective choices can extend into areas such as Genomics, Cell Biology, Computational Biology, Immunology, Virology, Microbiology, Human Physiology, and Synthetic Biology, allowing students to connect biochemistry with a specific scientific interest.

Focus Areas: Macromolecular structure and function, metabolic pathways and regulation, genetics, molecular biology, biophysical chemistry, genomics, cell biology, computational biology, immunology, virology, microbiology, human physiology, synthetic biology

Learning Outcomes: Biochemical principles, molecular structure and function, metabolic regulation, genetics, molecular biology, experimental laboratory techniques, biophysical chemistry, scientific writing, research skills, quantitative analysis, interdisciplinary scientific problem-solving

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The Biochemistry, BS is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), and students may elect to take the ASBMB degree certification examination.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The University of Pittsburgh was ranked No. 86 worldwide and No. 42 nationally in the 2026 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), with the ranking based on outcome data across education, employability, faculty, and research. This is a university-level ranking rather than a ranking specifically for the Biochemistry, BS.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Pittsburgh’s Biochemistry, BS integrates authentic laboratory research directly into the curriculum. Students develop practical skills through BIOSC 1823 – Biochemistry Laboratory for Biochemistry Majors, a research-based course in which the hypothesis-driven project forms part of an investigation conducted by a Biological Sciences research laboratory; students learn experimental planning, biochemical techniques, troubleshooting, data interpretation, scientific record keeping, and communication of results.

Students gain this practical experience through:

Research-based biochemistry laboratory: BIOSC 1823 gives Biochemistry majors experience with authentic research projects and teaches them to plan experiments, test scientific ideas, analyze results, troubleshoot procedures, and communicate scientific findings.
Biochemistry laboratory techniques: The program's laboratory training includes techniques such as spectrophotometry, ion-exchange chromatography, gel-permeation chromatography, gel electrophoresis, enzyme isolation, and nucleic-acid purification.
Team-based research: BIOSC 0267 – Intermediate Biology Research Laboratory engages students in authentic research projects where they collaborate in teams, develop hypotheses, advance a research project, analyze scientific literature, and present their findings.
Foundations of Biology Research Labs: Students can undertake BIOSC 0157 – Foundations of Biology Research Labs 1 & 2, giving early exposure to research-oriented laboratory work as part of the Biochemistry BS curriculum.
Advanced laboratory choices: The degree allows students to select additional laboratory experiences such as Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Genomics Laboratory, Cell Biology Laboratory, Developmental Biology Laboratory, Microbiology Laboratory, and Microbial Genetics Laboratory.
Computational experience: Students can select BIOSC 1540 – Computational Biology or CHEM 1460 – Introduction to Modern Computational Science, while CMPINF 0401 – Intermediate Programming or CS 0011 – Introduction to Computing for Scientists can satisfy a STEM co-requisite option.
Undergraduate research: Pitt's Department of Biological Sciences encourages students to pursue undergraduate research, while the Chemistry Department reports that an average of 42 undergraduates per academic term participate in faculty-mentored research involving areas such as synthesis, methods development, trace detection, and high-resolution spectroscopy.
Research fellowships: Chemistry undergraduate researchers can pursue summer research through departmental fellowships including the Wass and McKeever fellowships, providing an additional route into faculty-mentored research.
Scientific communication: Students develop communication skills through the program's Biochemistry Seminar and either Biochemistry Writing Practicum or Biochemistry Laboratory Writing Practicum, alongside research-based laboratory presentations and reporting.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry, BS at the University of Pittsburgh provides preparation for science careers and for professional or graduate study in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, medicine, dentistry, and other health professions. Pitt specifically identifies opportunities for graduates at the BS, MS, and PhD levels across biotechnology companies, universities, medical schools, hospitals, government laboratories, research institutes, and public health institutions.

Typical career roles: Biochemist, Biotechnology Researcher, Laboratory Researcher, Public Health Scientist.

Career development and progression are supported through:

Pitt Career Center: Students receive access to career consulting, job and internship searching, career fairs, employer networking, interview preparation, and graduate-school guidance through Pitt Career Central.
Handshake: Pitt's career-management platform provides job and internship listings, employer events, career fairs, and networking opportunities; students can filter opportunities by major, industry, location, year of study, and whether positions accept OPT/CPT.
International career support: Interstride is available through Pitt Career Central as a career platform designed to support international students with career exploration and job searching.
Career preparation: Students can use Big Interview for virtual mock interviews and Pitt Commons to build networking and mentoring relationships with Pitt students, alumni, faculty, and other members of the Pitt community.
Employment outcomes: Pitt's Class of 2024 bachelor's graduates reported a 96.3% successful career outcomes rate, covering graduates who were working, continuing education, serving in the military, or volunteering; the reported knowledge rate was 83.6%. This is a university-wide bachelor's outcome and is not specific to Biochemistry.
Salary figures: Pitt's official undergraduate outcome information does not state a current Biochemistry BS-specific salary figure in the sources reviewed, so no program-specific salary number is provided.
Employer connections: Pitt's Career Center connects students with employers through career fairs, networking events, information sessions, interviews, and partnerships. Current Career Center partners listed by Pitt include Williams, Norfolk Southern, Bayer, Hitachi Energy, and LANXESS; these are Career Center partners and are not presented by Pitt as exclusive Biochemistry employers.
Professional accreditation: The Biochemistry, BS is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), and students may elect to take the ASBMB degree certification examination. This provides an externally recognized academic standard for the program and can complement preparation for further study or biochemistry-related careers.
Research and long-term progression: The curriculum is designed to meet requirements for admission to graduate programs in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and related disciplines, while also incorporating preparation relevant to medical and dental school.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biochemistry, BS, students can progress to graduate programs in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and related disciplines, including master's and doctoral study, or pursue professional education such as medical or dental school. The program is explicitly structured to incorporate requirements relevant to these professional and graduate-school pathways.