Biophysics (BS)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Brigham Young University Provo

Program Overview

The Brigham Young University Biophysics BS brings together biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics to explore the physical principles underlying living systems, making it particularly suited to students interested in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical research and advanced professional study. Students build from foundational science into physiology, biophysics, biochemistry and laboratory research, with the programme requiring a mentored research experience in an approved biophysics laboratory.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the quantitative and scientific foundation of the degree through courses such as Calculus 1, General College Chemistry 1+Lab Integr and Science of Biology. They also begin the physics sequence with Intro to Newtonian Mechanics, developing the mathematical, chemical, biological and physical understanding needed for interdisciplinary biophysics.

Year 2: Students move deeper into the chemistry and physics foundations with Organic Chemistry 1, Organic Chemistry 2, Intro to Waves, Optics, Thermo and Intro Electricity & Magnetism. Biology becomes more molecular through subjects such as Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, helping students connect physical principles with cellular and molecular processes.

Year 3: The programme becomes increasingly specialised through Biophysical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Advanced Physiology and Biophysics. Students also complete Advanced Physiology Lab and Cell Bio & Physiology Seminar, strengthening their ability to interpret scientific literature, analyse biological systems and communicate scientific findings.

Year 4: Students apply their knowledge through mentored research in an approved biophysics laboratory, using options such as Advanced Undergraduate Research and Advanced Senior Research. Electives can extend the degree toward areas such as Structural Biochemistry, Advanced Biochemical Methodology, Advanced Molecular Biology Lab, Cellular Neuroscience or Computational Physics Lab, allowing students to develop a more focused research profile.

Focus Areas

Biophysics, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, physical chemistry, experimental physics, biological systems, biomedical science, computational methods and laboratory research.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to apply biophysics principles when evaluating primary scientific literature, explain key concepts in physiology and biophysics, critically analyse scientific literature and hypotheses, write integrated scientific reports, and demonstrate competency in standard laboratory techniques.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

BYU is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), with its accreditation reaffirmed in 2022. BYU does not list a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biophysics BS on its official accreditation page, so no programme-specific accreditation should be inferred.

Reputation (Employability)

BYU's official Biophysics materials state that the degree prepares students for employment or advanced degrees in medical, biotechnical and pharmaceutical fields, and the programme tracks professional-school acceptance and job-placement data as part of its assessment process. BYU also identifies its research environment as providing opportunities for undergraduate students to work closely with faculty mentors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biophysics BS has a strong research component, with students required to complete at least four credit hours of mentored laboratory experience in an approved biophysics lab. BYU's biophysics research community gives undergraduates opportunities to work alongside faculty on projects involving protein engineering, molecular dynamics, biological separations, neurotransmitter transporters, AI in medicine and biological imaging, while the curriculum also develops hands-on laboratory competence through molecular, cellular, biochemical and experimental physics courses.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Mentored undergraduate research: Students complete approved biophysics research through courses such as Introductory Undergraduate Research, Advanced Undergraduate Research and Advanced Senior Research.
Protein engineering: BYU's Della Corte research group develops and applies AI methods for protein design, with undergraduate students able to participate; Python programming and structural-biology knowledge are listed as useful preparation.
AI and medical research: Undergraduate research opportunities include training AI models for medical applications, including automated prostate-cancer diagnosis.
Molecular and cellular research: Students can investigate the structure and function of neurotransmitter transporters and learn both wet-lab and computational techniques.
Biological separations: Undergraduate students can participate in research focused on capturing cells and molecules for detecting cancer and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Advanced laboratory training: The curriculum includes Molecular & Cellular Bio Lab, Advanced Physiology Lab, Intro to Experimental Physics, and optional Advanced Molecular Biology Lab and Computational Physics Lab.
Computational work: Students can pursue research involving molecular-dynamics simulations, force-field calculations, machine learning, data science, image analysis and computational biophysics.
Scientific communication: The programme's learning outcomes specifically require students to critically evaluate scientific literature and write reports that integrate data and hypotheses.
Research presentations and publications: BYU assesses undergraduate mentoring partly through professional-meeting presentations, abstracts and publications, giving students opportunities to develop a professional research record.
Research infrastructure: BYU's Physics and Astronomy department provides laboratory equipment checkout for research and maintains research groups spanning biological physics, protein engineering, computational physics and related areas.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biophysics BS is designed to prepare students either for direct employment in medical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries or for advanced professional and graduate study. BYU specifically identifies pathways into medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic and pharmacy, as well as health-related research, biotechnology and other graduate fields.

Typical job roles include Biophysics Research Assistant, Biomedical Research Assistant, Biotechnology Research Associate and Pharmaceutical Research Assistant.

Students can build their professional pathway through:

Faculty mentoring: The programme provides opportunities for students to work closely with at least one faculty mentor, while mentored laboratory experience is a formal degree requirement.
Research and professional preparation: BYU assesses professional/graduate-school placement and job placement as part of its Biophysics BS programme assessment, alongside professional-school admission data and alumni surveys.
Medical and biotechnology pathways: The department identifies medical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as direct employment areas and lists medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic and pharmacy among professional-study pathways.
Research-intensive opportunities: Students can work in areas including protein engineering, AI in medicine, biological separations, molecular biophysics and biological imaging, building experience relevant to research-driven industries and graduate programmes.
Government and research careers: Official BYU programme materials identify government agencies and research environments as potential destinations for biophysics graduates, including areas associated with national research and health science.
Professional accreditation: The degree is covered by BYU's institutional NWCCU accreditation. BYU does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biophysics BS.
Graduation outcomes: The programme monitors job placement, professional-school placement, graduate-school placement, alumni surveys, research presentations and publications as part of its formal assessment process.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate or professional education in fields such as biophysics, life sciences, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and related biomedical disciplines. BYU's Cell Biology and Physiology department offers MS and PhD programmes in Cell Biology and Physiology, while the broader BYU research environment also supports graduate-level work in biophysics and related physical and biological sciences.