Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Colorado School of Mines

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Colorado School of Mines combines chemistry, biology, mathematics, computation, and laboratory science to explore biological systems at the molecular level. The program suits students interested in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, environmental science, advanced materials, research, or further study in medical and graduate professions.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific and quantitative foundation through courses such as Calculus for Scientists and Engineers I and II, Fundamentals of Biology I, Principles of Chemistry I and II, Physics I – Mechanics, and Computer Science for STEM. This first year establishes the mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, and computing skills used throughout the degree.

Year 2: Students progress into more specialized chemistry and biological science while continuing to develop their laboratory and analytical abilities. Coursework includes areas such as organic chemistry, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, thermodynamics, and metabolism, providing the foundation for advanced biochemical applications.

Year 3: The curriculum moves deeper into biochemical systems and modern molecular techniques, with students developing skills in analytical chemistry, molecular biology, metabolism, and laboratory methods. Students can also explore emerging areas such as CRISPR gene editing, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and protein engineering.

Year 4: Students consolidate their knowledge through advanced biochemical applications, interdisciplinary electives, laboratory-intensive work, and opportunities for research or industry experience. The curriculum emphasizes quantitative analysis, instrumentation, experimental design, scientific communication, and biochemical research, preparing students for professional or postgraduate pathways.

Focus areas

Molecular biology, enzymology, metabolism, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, CRISPR gene editing, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, protein engineering, computational biology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical science, environmental biochemistry

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply chemistry fundamentals to open-ended problems, use modern chemical analysis and synthesis tools, locate and evaluate chemical literature, and interpret experimental data to advance understanding of chemical and biochemical systems.

Professional alignment

The program is designed to prepare students for professional careers as well as graduate and health-profession education. The BS Biochemistry is a separate non-ACS degree, while Mines' BS Chemistry is the program identified as ACS-approved; therefore, the Biochemistry degree should not be described as ACS-accredited.

Reputation (employability outcomes)

Mines reports that 45% of Biochemistry graduates from 2024 were employed one year after graduation, 45% continued into further education, and 9% were seeking employment. Across all Mines bachelor's graduates in 2024–25, the university reports 87% positive outcomes, while 75% of bachelor's students graduate with technical work experience.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Biochemistry at Colorado School of Mines gives students opportunities to take their molecular science knowledge into laboratory research, interdisciplinary projects, and industry-connected experiences. Students can gain hands-on experience with techniques such as protein purification, gel electrophoresis, chromatography, spectrophotometry, PCR, enzyme assays, and cell culture, while research facilities support work in structural biology, molecular analysis, and computational approaches.

Students can build practical experience through:

Undergraduate research: Students can participate in faculty-led research and independent research for academic credit, working on use-inspired projects that connect classroom learning with real-world scientific problems.
Summer research: The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF@Mines) provides opportunities for full-time summer research, with awards of up to $4,000 for participating students.
Laboratory techniques: Students can develop practical skills in protein purification, gel electrophoresis, chromatography, spectrophotometry, PCR, enzyme assays, and cell culture.
Structural biology: Research facilities support areas including X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, NMR, and computational structural analysis.
Industry and technical experience: Mines provides internship and technical-experience opportunities through its Career Center, with 75% of 2024–25 undergraduate graduates reporting internships or technical experiences.
Interdisciplinary learning: Biochemistry students can work across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental science, bioenergy, advanced materials, biomaterials, drug delivery, molecular diagnostics, and computational biology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biochemistry prepares students for opportunities across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, environmental science, bioenergy, advanced materials, clinical laboratories, and computational biology, while also providing a foundation for graduate and health-profession education. Mines reports that among its 2024 Biochemistry graduates, 45% were employed, 45% continued into further education, and 9% were seeking employment one year after graduation.

Typical career directions include research scientist, pharmaceutical scientist, biotechnology research associate, clinical laboratory professional, environmental analyst, biomedical scientist, analytical chemist, toxicologist, clinical research associate, and forensic scientist.

Students can further develop their career pathway through:

Career services: Mines Career Center provides career exploration, resume and application reviews, interview preparation, employer connections, career fairs, networking events, internship and job-search support, and graduate-school planning. Students can also use DiggerNet to search for jobs and internships, connect with career advisors, and access employer resources.
Industry connections: Mines reports 651 organizations partnering with the university for internships and technical-experience opportunities, while more than 1,250 employers actively recruit from Mines annually.
Employment outcomes: For Mines bachelor's graduates in 2024–25, the university reports 87% positive outcomes, while 75% of bachelor's students graduated with technical work experience.
Biochemistry-specific outcomes: For the 2024 Biochemistry graduating class, Mines reports 45% employed and 45% pursuing further education one year after graduation.
Further academic pathways: The program is designed to support continued study in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and related health professions, as well as research areas such as protein engineering, synthetic biology, computational biology, environmental biochemistry, and pharmaceutical science.
4+1 opportunities: Mines' Biochemistry experiential menu identifies commonly pursued 4+1 pathways including Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Hydrologic Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering, Hydrology, Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Petroleum Engineering, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, and Physics.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's or doctoral study in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, quantitative biosciences, and related research fields, or pursue professional education in medicine, veterinary science, pharmacy, dentistry, and other health professions. Mines also provides 4+1 options that can allow students to progress directly toward selected master's-level fields.