Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Case Western Reserve University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Case Western Reserve University combines chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics and biomedical science to explore how molecular processes influence human health and disease. Designed for students interested in biomedical research, medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and graduate study, the program combines rigorous scientific coursework with substantial faculty-mentored research experience in the School of Medicine and affiliated hospitals.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific foundation through BIOC 101: Frontiers in Biochemistry, BIOL 214/214L: Genes, Evolution and Ecology and CHEM 105/113: Principles of Chemistry I and Chemistry Lab, supported by Calculus I. The spring semester advances into Biology II, Chemistry II, Calculus II and PHYS 121: General Physics I – Mechanics, establishing the quantitative and experimental foundation needed for advanced biochemistry.

Year 2: Students move into organic chemistry with CHEM 223/233: Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory and CHEM 224/234: Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory, while also completing Physics II and statistics. The year also introduces computational skills through ENGR 131: Elementary Computer Programming or CSDS 132: Programming in Java, giving students a useful foundation for scientific data and computational work.

Year 3: The program becomes strongly biochemistry-focused through BIOC 307: Biochemistry I – Molecules and Pathways and BIOC 308: Biochemistry II – Molecular Biology. Students also begin BIOC 391: Capstone Research and choose approved technical or core coursework, including options such as BIOC 312: Proteins and Enzymes, BIOC 334: Structural and Computational Biology and BIOC 350: Molecular Basis of Cancer.

Year 4: Students bring their scientific and research training together through BIOC 373: Biochemistry Senior Seminar and additional advanced technical coursework. The program concludes with BIOC 393: Senior Capstone Communication, in which students communicate their research, while optional concentrations can allow students to focus their technical electives on areas such as Cancer Biology, Infectious Disease, Metabolism or Computational Health Science.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, molecular biology, biomedical science, proteins and enzymes, structural and computational biology, cancer biology, infectious disease, metabolism, computational health science, organic chemistry, genetics, cellular biology, scientific research and quantitative analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop an understanding of biochemical mechanisms important to human biology and medicine, the relationship between macromolecular structure and function, biological energy transformation, molecular information storage and cellular communication. They also learn to apply objective measurement, quantitative analysis, scientific communication and experiential research methods to biochemical problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official CWRU accredited-programs list does not identify the Biochemistry B.S. as having a separate professional program accreditation. The university does list Chemistry (BS, BA+) as accredited by the American Chemical Society, but this should not be represented as accreditation of the Biochemistry B.S.

Reputation (Employability & Outcomes)

Case Western Reserve University reports that it ranks 51st among 434 national universities in the Fall 2026 U.S. News undergraduate rankings and 44th for Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects. The university also reports that 95% of undergraduates are employed, in graduate school or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation, with a reported median starting salary range of $75,000–$79,000; these are university-wide figures rather than Biochemistry-specific outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Research is a defining feature of the Biochemistry B.S. at CWRU: students are expected to participate in biochemical research in faculty laboratories within the School of Medicine or affiliated hospitals. Students can begin volunteering in research laboratories as early as their first year and must complete BIOC 391: Capstone Research for at least one semester, with opportunities to continue research for multiple semesters, complete summer research and potentially contribute to scientific publications.

The research environment is particularly extensive, with access to more than 200 biomedical research laboratories and nearby institutions including Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and the VA Medical Center. Students can work with sophisticated biomedical research infrastructure spanning genomics, microscopy, proteomics, mass spectrometry, NMR, cryo-electron microscopy and biophysics.

Students can develop practical skills through:

BIOC 391: Capstone Research: Faculty-mentored research forms a required part of the Biochemistry major, allowing students to apply biochemical concepts to genuine biomedical research questions.
BIOC 393: Senior Capstone Communication: Students communicate their research findings as part of the culminating capstone experience.
200+ biomedical research laboratories: Students can explore research opportunities throughout the School of Medicine and affiliated hospitals and identify faculty mentors whose research interests match their goals.
Early research participation: Students can begin volunteering in laboratories from their freshman year, allowing them to build research experience over several semesters.
Hanson Summer Research Scholar Program: The Department of Biochemistry offers summer research opportunities with stipends for undergraduate students.
CWRU SOURCE and CanSUR: Students can pursue additional summer research through the university's SOURCE program and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center's CanSUR program.
Integrated Genomics: Research infrastructure supports genomic investigations relevant to biomedical science.
Cytometry and Microscopy: Students working in research can benefit from advanced cellular analysis and imaging capabilities.
Cryo-Electron Microscopy: CWRU's research facilities include cryo-EM resources for structural studies.
High Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: NMR infrastructure supports detailed investigation of molecular and biochemical structures.
Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry: Research facilities provide tools for studying proteins and other biological molecules.
Protein and Biophysics facilities: Students can participate in research involving protein characterization and biophysical analysis.
Computational training: The B.S. curriculum includes programming through ENGR 131: Elementary Computer Programming or CSDS 132: Programming in Java, while the Computational Health Science concentration includes PQHS 413: Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithms in Python, PQHS 414: Data Management and Statistical Programming or PQHS 416: AI in Medicine.
Research presentation and publication: Undergraduate research can lead to senior capstone presentations, and early research participation can provide opportunities for co-authorship on scientific publications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry B.S. gives graduates a pathway into biomedical research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and other scientific roles while also preparing them for advanced professional education. CWRU reports that Biochemistry graduates have progressed to MD, PhD and MD-PhD programs at institutions including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Duke, Columbia, University of Michigan and CWRU.

Typical career directions include biochemist, biomedical researcher, biotechnology scientist, pharmaceutical research scientist.

Students can strengthen their progression through:

Center for Career Success: CWRU provides career preparation and connects students with employers through career fairs, interviews, events, job postings and the Handshake career platform.
Research and mentoring: Biochemistry students receive department-based advising and can work with faculty mentors in more than 200 biomedical research laboratories.
Employment outcomes: CWRU reports that 95% of undergraduates are employed, in graduate school or pursuing other goals within six months, with a university-wide median starting salary range of $75,000–$79,000. These figures are not specific to Biochemistry.
Employment preparation: CWRU reports that 88% of employment-seeking undergraduates receive offers before graduation, while 73% of students complete at least one internship.
Industry connections: CWRU maintains relationships with local, national and international organizations and provides employer recruitment through career fairs, interviews, events and Handshake.
Healthcare and biomedical ecosystem: The Biochemistry department benefits from its location within the School of Medicine and proximity to Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and the VA Medical Center, creating access to a broad biomedical research environment.
Graduate and professional-school preparation: Departmental outcomes show graduates progressing into MD, PhD and MD-PhD programs, while the curriculum combines biomedical coursework with substantial research experience.
Departmental honors: Students who achieve at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and co-author a published or submitted biochemical research paper may graduate with Biochemistry department honors.
Hands-on preparation: CWRU reports that 85% of students participate in research and creative endeavors and 73% complete at least one internship, supporting the university's broader experiential-learning environment.
Graduation outcomes: Over the past decade, CWRU Biochemistry majors have entered more than 90 medical schools, alongside numerous PhD and MD-PhD programs.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into CWRU's M.S. or Ph.D. in Biochemistry, the M.S. in Biotechnology, or professional degrees such as MD, DO, DDS and PharmD. CWRU also offers accelerated bachelor's/master's pathways and interdisciplinary options, while students interested in research-intensive careers can progress toward doctoral study in biomedical sciences, biochemistry, biotechnology or related fields.