BA/BS in Biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

De Paul University

Program Overview

DePaul University’s Biochemistry B.A. gives students a strong foundation in chemistry and biology while developing practical skills through scientific investigation, laboratory work, and research with faculty. It is well suited to students interested in biochemical research, healthcare, environmental and pharmaceutical fields, or professional and graduate education, with the flexibility to pursue either the Standard or Accelerated 3+ Pre-Podiatric Medicine concentration.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the scientific foundations required for advanced biochemistry, taking General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, and General Chemistry III with their associated laboratory courses, alongside General Biology I–III for Science Majors and the beginning of their calculus sequence. The department recommends starting both General Chemistry and General Biology in the freshman year when students have the necessary mathematics preparation.

Year 2: The second year develops stronger analytical and molecular foundations through Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry I, and Organic Chemistry II, including their laboratory components. Students also progress through calculus and begin the required physics sequence, building the quantitative and experimental background needed for advanced biochemical study.

Year 3: Students move into the heart of the discipline with Biochemistry I and Experimental Biochemistry I, while completing Instrumental Analysis and progressing through general physics. This stage brings chemistry, biology, quantitative reasoning, and laboratory techniques together and provides opportunities for experiential learning and research.

Year 4: Students complete advanced study through Biochemistry II and Experimental Biochemistry II, together with upper-level chemistry courses selected according to their interests and concentration. The final stage also includes DePaul’s Senior Capstone in the Physical Sciences, helping students integrate their scientific knowledge and communicate their findings effectively.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, instrumental analysis, molecular and cellular biology, computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, laboratory science, biochemical research

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to perform biochemical experiments using discipline-specific techniques, follow appropriate laboratory safety procedures, collect and analyze scientific data responsibly, and explain core biochemical principles in writing and in relation to experimental results and scientific problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

DePaul’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry that is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS); DePaul’s official accreditation information specifically identifies ACS accreditation for the department’s B.S. degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. The university does not state that the Biochemistry B.A. itself carries ACS certification, so the B.A. should not be represented as ACS-certified.

Reputation (Employability / Official Statistics)

DePaul identifies career areas for Biochemistry graduates including biochemical analysis and testing, education, environmental remediation, industrial health and safety administration, pharmaceutical sales, research, and medical school. DePaul’s Career Success platform provides three-year graduate-outcome data confirmed six months after graduation, although the current page notes insufficient program-specific responses for some programs, so a current Biochemistry-specific employment percentage or salary should not be inferred from another major.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

DePaul gives Biochemistry students practical experience through laboratory-intensive coursework and opportunities to work directly with faculty on research projects. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is housed in the Andrew J. McGowan Building for Environmental Science and Chemistry, which contains teaching laboratories and research facilities, while students in advanced courses gain experience with modern chemical instrumentation such as NMR spectrometers, UV-visible spectrometers, chromatographs, and potentiometers.

The curriculum also includes a required experiential-learning component, and students can participate in faculty research spanning areas such as biochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and organic synthesis. These opportunities allow students to connect classroom theory with real scientific investigation and research practice:

Experimental Biochemistry: CHE 341 and CHE 343 provide dedicated laboratory experience alongside Biochemistry I and II.
Instrumental Analysis: CHE 261 combines lecture and laboratory work and introduces students to chemical instrumentation.
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory: CHE 205 provides hands-on analytical chemistry experience.
Organic Chemistry Laboratories: CHE 231, CHE 233, and CHE 235 accompany the three-course Organic Chemistry sequence.
NMR spectroscopy: Students have access to a 300 MHz NMR spectrometer as part of the department's instrumentation facilities.
UV-visible spectroscopy: Department instrumentation includes Varian Cary 50 and Beckman Coulter DU 730 UV-Vis spectrometers and Thermo Fisher NanoDrop systems.
Chromatography: Facilities include gas chromatography, HPLC/UPLC, preparative HPLC, and mass-spectrometry-linked GC systems.
PCR and molecular research equipment: Department instrumentation includes an Eppendorf Mastercycler Pro S PCR system.
Research laboratories: Students involved in research can access research-grade instrumentation within faculty research laboratories.
Faculty research: Students can work with professors on research projects across biochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biophysics, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and other areas.
Senior Capstone: CHE 330, Senior Capstone in the Physical Sciences, provides a final opportunity to integrate scientific knowledge and communicate findings.

Progression & Future Opportunities

DePaul’s Biochemistry B.A. provides preparation for scientific employment as well as further study in healthcare and graduate fields. The university specifically identifies biochemical analysis and testing, environmental remediation, industrial health and safety, pharmaceutical sales, research, education, and medical school among the pathways associated with the program.

Typical Job Roles: Biochemical Analyst, Laboratory Scientist, Research Assistant, Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Students can build their career and academic progression through these DePaul opportunities:

Career services: DePaul’s Career Success resources connect students with career planning, employment preparation, and the Handshake platform. DePaul reported more than 280,000 full-time jobs and more than 74,000 internship opportunities posted on Handshake during 2025–26.
Employment statistics: DePaul's Career Success system reports outcomes using a three-year average of graduates whose status is confirmed six months after graduation. The current university page indicates insufficient responses for some program-specific results, so no current Biochemistry-specific employment rate or salary is stated here.
Research opportunities: Students can work with faculty on active research programs covering biochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, biophysics, computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, and related areas.
Industry-relevant experience: The department provides access to modern research-grade instrumentation, including spectroscopy, chromatography, PCR, and mass spectrometry equipment, helping students develop skills relevant to laboratory and scientific workplaces.
Professional preparation: The B.A. curriculum includes chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, laboratory work, and experiential learning, providing a foundation for healthcare and graduate pathways.
STEM designation: DePaul identifies Biochemistry as a STEM-designated program for international students, which can make eligible graduates potentially able to extend their post-graduation stay in the United States under applicable regulations.
Combined-degree opportunities: DePaul offers combined bachelor's-plus-master's options, allowing eligible students to continue directly into graduate-level study.
Accreditation value: ACS certification is specifically associated with DePaul's Biochemistry B.S., not the B.A.; therefore, students pursuing the B.A. should distinguish the two when considering professional accreditation.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the Biochemistry B.A., students can continue into graduate programs in biochemistry, chemistry, biological sciences, biomedical sciences, and related fields, or pursue professional education such as medical and other healthcare programs. The B.A. also includes an Accelerated 3+ Pre-Podiatric Medicine concentration for eligible Pathways Honors students, providing a specific accelerated professional-school pathway.