Biochemistry-Health Professions Track BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Duquesne University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biochemistry – Health Professions Track at Duquesne University is designed for students who want to understand the chemistry of life while preparing for medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, or other health-profession programs. Across four years and 123 credits, students combine chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, biochemistry, psychology and health-focused coursework with laboratory and research experiences that build a strong foundation for advanced professional study.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with CHEM 151 – Atomic & Molecular Principles, BIOL 111/111L – Biology I/Lab, and MATH 115 – Calculus I, developing the core scientific and quantitative skills needed for later biochemistry and health-profession coursework. CHEM 151L – Intro to Chemistry Lab and CHEM 152L – Quantitative Analysis Lab introduce students to experimental work, while courses such as BRDG 101 – Writing and Analysis and BRDG 100 – Research & Info Skills strengthen communication and research skills.

Second Year: Students progress into organic chemistry and molecular biology through CHEM 228 – Structure, Mechanism & Reactivity, CHEM 229 – Reactions, Syntheses & Spectroscopy, and BIOL 212 – Cell Molecular Biology. Laboratory courses including CHEM 228L – Organic Structures & Properties Lab and CHEM 229L – Organic Synthesis Lab, together with PHYS 211/212 – General Analytical Physics, give students practical and quantitative preparation for advanced health-science study.

Third Year: The program moves into advanced biochemical and analytical concepts through CHEM 340 – Instrumental Analysis, CHEM 419 – Advanced Biochemistry I, and CHEM 436 – Advanced Biochemistry II. Students also study CHEM 537 – Biomedical Applications in Biochemistry, CHEM 329 – Thermodynamics, and MATH 225 – Introduction to Biostatistics, directly connecting molecular science with biomedical applications and quantitative interpretation.

Fourth Year: Students complete their advanced laboratory and professional preparation with CHEM 426L/R – Advanced Experimental Techniques/Application, supported by an approved biochemistry or chemistry elective and broader academic requirements. Advanced electives can allow students to explore areas such as CHEM 508 – Biomolecular Structure and Function, CHEM 541 – Structural Proteomics, BIOL 419 – Bioinformatics, BIOL 424 – Immunology, BIOL 468 – Human Genetics, or BIOL 475 – Neurobiology.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, molecular biology, biomedical applications, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, biostatistics, genetics, bioinformatics, immunology, health professions preparation.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop a strong theoretical foundation across organic, biochemistry, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry; practical laboratory skills in experimental design, data analysis and safe laboratory practice; the ability to apply the scientific method and ethical principles; scientific communication skills; and the ability to use chemical knowledge to address original research problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Duquesne does not identify a separate professional accreditation for the B.S. in Biochemistry – Health Professions Track on its official program or catalog pages. Instead, the track is specifically structured to cover coursework required for admission to many health-related postgraduate programs, including medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and biotechnology.

Reputation (Employability / Official Outcomes)

Duquesne's official Pre-Medical and Health Professions Program (PMHPP) reports combined undergraduate and post-baccalaureate placement outcomes for students enrolled in PMHPP. For the 2015–2025 placement cycle, the university reports 83.38% acceptance to MD/DO programs, 77.09% to dental medicine, 76.38% to physician assistant programs and 85.7% to veterinary medicine; these are PMHPP outcomes rather than employment rates for the Biochemistry degree itself.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Duquesne's Biochemistry–Health Professions Track combines laboratory-based learning with faculty-guided research and health-profession preparation. Students work with advanced instrumentation and techniques beyond standard laboratory courses, while the department's research environment spans biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, computational modeling, analytical chemistry and drug-development-related research. By senior year, students can apply this experience to advanced experimental work and original research problems with faculty mentorship.

The practical learning opportunities include:

Advanced laboratory training: CHEM 426L/R – Advanced Experimental Techniques/Application provides senior-level experimental experience, building on the laboratory skills developed throughout the chemistry and biochemistry sequence.
Undergraduate research: Research is strongly encouraged, and students can work with faculty on projects spanning biochemistry, organic, physical, materials, inorganic, analytical, forensic and biophysical chemistry.
Advanced instrumentation: The department provides undergraduate researchers with access to advanced instrumentation and techniques; Duquesne specifically highlights undergraduate operation of its Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) instrumentation.
20,000-square-foot research facility: Chemistry and Biochemistry research is conducted within a state-of-the-art 20,000-square-foot research facility equipped with advanced instrumentation.
Undergraduate Research Program: The School of Science and Engineering's undergraduate research program includes opportunities in biochemistry, biology, chemistry and other scientific disciplines, with the current program offering a $4,500 stipend, free on-campus housing and a meal plan when needed.
Research publications and presentations: Duquesne reports that many undergraduate researchers coauthor peer-reviewed publications and present their findings at local, national and international conferences.
Health-profession preparation: Through the Pre-Medical and Health Professions Program (PMHPP), students receive individualized advising, professional-school application guidance and specialized coursework covering interprofessional education, evidence-based medicine, cultural competency, anatomy, pathophysiology, medical terminology and basic clinical skills.
Early Assurance Pathway: Students who select both this Biochemistry Health Professions Track and PMHPP when applying to Duquesne may be eligible to apply for the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine Early Assurance Program, subject to its separate requirements and competitive selection process.
STEM community: The department's student organizations include its award-winning ACS Student Organization, giving students opportunities to participate in activities, build professional relationships and develop leadership skills.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry–Health Professions Track is designed to prepare students for advanced education in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine and other health-related fields, while also developing laboratory and research skills applicable to scientific careers. The curriculum's combination of biochemistry, biomedical applications, laboratory training and PMHPP support gives students a structured route toward professional-school prerequisites and advanced scientific study.

Typical career and professional directions include: Physician, Dentist, Pharmacist, Veterinarian.

Students can build their next step through these university-supported opportunities:

Pre-Medical and Health Professions Program: PMHPP provides individualized advising, guidance on prerequisites and admissions processes, preparation for exams such as the MCAT and DAT, and specialized pre-medical coursework.
Professional-school outcomes: For the 2015–2025 placement cycle, Duquesne reports PMHPP acceptance rates of 83.38% for medicine (MD/DO), 77.09% for dental medicine, 76.38% for physician assistant programs and 85.7% for veterinary medicine. The university states these figures combine undergraduate and post-baccalaureate PMHPP students, so they should not be treated as outcomes for this B.S. program alone.
Additional health-profession pathways: Duquesne's PMHPP supports students interested in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant programs, physical therapy, genetic counseling, veterinary medicine, optometry, chiropractic, podiatry, nursing, perfusion technology, prosthetics and orthotics.
Linkage and Early Assurance: Duquesne currently lists affiliation agreements with the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine at Duquesne University, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs have their own admission requirements and competitive selection processes.
Research preparation: Students can undertake undergraduate research with faculty, gain experience with advanced instrumentation, present at conferences and potentially contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
Professional development: The Chemistry and Biochemistry department provides opportunities for internship experience, undergraduate research, skill development and preparation for careers or graduate school.
Research and industry environment: Duquesne's School of Science and Engineering reports partnerships in Pittsburgh and internationally, alongside research centers and extensive undergraduate research opportunities.
Graduation preparation: The program's advanced curriculum and laboratory training are designed to prepare students for postgraduate health-profession programs, while the PMHPP certificate can document completion of the university's pre-medical and health-professions preparation requirements for eligible students.
Salary figures: Duquesne does not publish a current program-specific salary figure for graduates of the Biochemistry–Health Professions Track on the official program page, so no salary estimate is substituted here.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can apply to medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, optometry, physician assistant, physical therapy and other professional programs, depending on the prerequisites and admission requirements of the destination institution. Students interested in scientific research can also continue into graduate-level study; Duquesne's Chemistry and Biochemistry department offers an M.S. in Chemistry and Ph.D. in Chemistry, with research areas including biochemistry, analytical, inorganic, organic, polymer and physical chemistry.