Biochemistry, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Arizona State University Tempe

Program Overview

Arizona State University’s Biochemistry, BS explores how molecules, cells and chemical processes sustain life, combining physical, quantitative and life sciences with extensive laboratory learning and opportunities for faculty-guided research. It is well suited to students interested in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, health sciences or scientific research who want to develop strong analytical, experimental and problem-solving skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish a strong scientific foundation through courses such as CHM 117 General Chemistry for Majors I, CHM 118 General Chemistry for Majors II, MAT 251 Calculus for Life Sciences, BIO 181 General Biology I and BIO 182 General Biology II. Laboratory components and first-year composition courses also begin developing the practical communication and experimental skills needed for advanced biochemistry study.

Year 2: Students move deeper into molecular and chemical science through BCH 240 Quantitative Reasoning in Biochemistry, CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I, CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II and CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II. Physics courses and laboratories add another quantitative perspective, helping students connect chemical principles with biological systems.

Year 3: The curriculum advances into specialized biochemistry through BCH 341 Physical Chemistry with a Biological Focus, BCH 461 General Biochemistry I and BCH 462 General Biochemistry II. Students can also select advanced biology such as BIO 340 General Genetics, BIO 353 Cell Biology, BIO 440 Functional Genomics or BIO 451 Cell Biotechnology: Cell Culture, Immunocytochemistry and Bioimaging, depending on their interests.

Year 4: Students consolidate their expertise through BCH 463 Biophysical Chemistry, BCH 467 Analytical Biochemistry Laboratory and an upper-division BCH or CHM elective, alongside advanced biology and Science and Society coursework. Options such as BIO 446 Principles of Human Genetics, BIO 450 Advanced Developmental Biology, MBB 343 Genetic Engineering and Society and MIC 379 Medical Bacteriology allow students to tailor their final-stage studies toward research, biotechnology, health or related scientific fields.

Focus areas

Molecular and biological chemistry, quantitative biochemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, analytical biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, functional genomics, biotechnology, molecular research and laboratory science.

Learning outcomes

Students learn to predict molecular structure and reactivity in biological contexts using organic, inorganic, analytical, physical and biological chemistry; clearly communicate findings from chemical experiments; and analyze chemical data using common statistical methods.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Biochemistry, BS is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) as part of ASU’s institutional accreditation. ASU states that accreditation signals that academic programs meet established academic standards and undergo continuous improvement, supporting recognition by employers and graduate schools.

Reputation (employability rankings)

ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reports that ASU ranks No. 2 among U.S. public institutions for employability according to the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey. The College also identifies chemistry and biochemistry career outcomes including chemist, biochemist, crime scene investigator, pharmacist, medical doctor, materials scientist, soil scientist and climate change policy analyst.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biochemistry, BS at ASU gives students opportunities to move beyond classroom theory into laboratory research, internships and faculty-led scientific projects. Through the School of Molecular Sciences, biochemistry majors can volunteer in research laboratories, work as paid laboratory assistants or earn academic credit through research courses, gaining experience with modern equipment and scientific discovery. Students can also pursue internships in industry, government, research and health-related settings, while study-abroad opportunities can add international research and scientific experience.

The program’s practical opportunities include:

Undergraduate research: Biochemistry majors can take BCH 392 Introduction to Research, while eligible honors students can progress through BCH 492 Honors Directed Study and BCH 493 Honors Thesis. Research may involve faculty laboratories within the School of Molecular Sciences or relevant research groups elsewhere at ASU.
Research presentations and thesis work: Students undertaking honors research can develop a substantial research project, produce a scientific thesis and complete an oral defense; BCH 492/493 students also produce research-poster presentations.
Internships: BCH 484 can provide academic credit for qualifying internships, with opportunities spanning industry, nonprofit organizations, state agencies and research environments.
Clinical and research exposure: ASU highlights opportunities connected with organizations such as Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Barrow Neurological Institute and Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) for undergraduate research and internship exploration.
Advanced research equipment: The School of Molecular Sciences provides access to sophisticated facilities including the Magnetic Resonance Research Center, with NMR instrumentation used for protein, DNA, biomolecule and chemical-structure studies.
Bioimaging: The W. M. Keck Bioimaging Facility supports research using technologies such as laser-scanning confocal microscopy, live-cell imaging and multiphoton microscopy, with collaborations involving external research partners.
Study abroad: ASU’s Global Education opportunities allow biochemistry students to gain international experience while strengthening communication, critical-thinking and research-method skills.
Career preparation: Students are directed toward ASU Career and Professional Development Services, Handshake, pre-health internships and discipline-specific career resources to help translate laboratory experience into professional opportunities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry, BS prepares graduates for pathways across medicine and health, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, research, government laboratories, environmental and food science, teaching and other technical areas. ASU also specifically identifies the degree as preparation for competitive applications to medical, dental, pharmacy and other health-related graduate programs, as well as advanced research-oriented graduate study in biochemistry.

Typical career directions include Biochemist, Medical Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician and Pharmacist, with additional pathways into medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine and teaching. ASU's official career data lists example occupations with O*NET-derived median salaries, although ASU cautions that these figures are not necessarily entry-level salaries and may require advanced degrees, certification or licensure.

Students can build their professional profile through:

Career services: ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has a Futures Center, while the School of Molecular Sciences provides career resources, advising, internship guidance, Handshake access and pre-health advising.
Employment and salary information: ASU lists O*NET-based examples including Medical Scientists — $103,410 median salary, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians — $62,930, and Biochemists and Biophysicists — $127,410. These are occupation-level figures rather than ASU graduate salary outcomes and should not be interpreted as guaranteed starting salaries.
Industry and research connections: Students can explore research and internship opportunities involving organizations such as TGen, Mayo Clinic and Barrow Neurological Institute, while ASU’s broader bioscience ecosystem also includes collaborations with health and research organizations.
Research experience: Undergraduate research can lead to scientific presentations, publications and stronger preparation for graduate or professional school applications.
Professional accreditation value: The degree is covered by ASU’s institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, supporting recognition of the academic program by employers and graduate schools.
Graduate outcomes: ASU highlights alumni progression into research and professional careers; for example, a biochemistry graduate profiled by the School of Molecular Sciences progressed into a PhD pathway in biomedical sciences, while another biochemistry alum pursued clinical research and pharmacy.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into ASU’s accelerated bachelor's-plus-master's pathways, including Biochemistry (Medicinal Chemistry), MS; Biochemistry, MS; Chemistry, MS; and Computational Life Sciences, MS. ASU also states that the BS provides preparation for medical, dental, pharmacy and other health-professional schools, as well as advanced research-oriented graduate programs.