Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with Artificial Intelligence

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with Artificial Intelligence at Illinois Institute of Technology combines biochemistry, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and artificial intelligence, preparing students to examine biological systems while using computational and AI-based approaches. The 120-credit curriculum is designed for students interested in biotechnology, biomedical research, pharmaceuticals, computational biology, health professions and data-driven life sciences, with options to specialize in Pre-Health, Chemistry, Computation or Biophysics.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the foundations of the degree through General Biology Lectures, General Biology Laboratory, Principles of Chemistry I, General Chemistry Laboratory, and Calculus I and II. They also begin the AI component through AI for Computational Mathematics and Coding (MATH 123), creating an early connection between quantitative mathematics, biological science and computation.

Year 2: The curriculum develops students' understanding of genetics, organic chemistry, physics and computing through Genetics, Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, General Physics I: Mechanics, and General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism. Students simultaneously study Introduction to Data Science, Artificial Intelligence Foundations, and AI, Data, and Communications, giving the traditional biochemical sciences a stronger computational dimension.

Year 3: Students move into advanced biochemical and AI-oriented study with Introductory Biochemistry, Metabolic Biochemistry, Biochemistry Laboratory, Computational Biochemistry and Drug Design, and Artificial Intelligence, Philosophy and Ethics. Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) also form part of the curriculum, giving students opportunities to work on multidisciplinary projects while applying their scientific and computational knowledge.

Year 4: Students deepen their expertise through Structural and Mechanistic Biochemistry, Physical Biochemistry or Molecular Biophysics, Cell Biology, and Biology Colloquium, alongside Artificial Intelligence in Business and an upper-division laboratory. Depending on their selected specialization, students can further develop expertise in areas such as Data Mining, Introduction to Machine Learning, Data Structures and Algorithms, Molecular Biophysics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, or advanced analytical chemistry.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, metabolic biochemistry, structural and mechanistic biochemistry, computational biochemistry, drug design, molecular biophysics, cell biology, genetics, artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, chemistry, physics and quantitative analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of biochemical systems together with laboratory, quantitative, computational and AI skills, enabling them to analyze biological problems using experimental and computational approaches. The curriculum also develops project collaboration, scientific communication, data analysis and responsible-AI awareness through IPRO, AI coursework and advanced laboratory experiences.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Illinois Tech identifies the Biochemistry with Artificial Intelligence degree as a STEM-eligible program. The university's catalog currently marks it with an asterisk as an Incubator Program, meaning it is being offered under Illinois Tech's incubator-program framework rather than being presented as a separately accredited professional program.

Reputation / Employability

Illinois Tech describes itself as a research-intensive institution and emphasizes hands-on learning, research, internships and industry-connected experiences. Its current Elevate initiative reports an 86.1% career outcomes rate and $74,840 median starting salary from the university's most recent First Destination Survey; these figures are university-wide rather than specific to Biochemistry with Artificial Intelligence.

A program-specific QS or Guardian employability ranking is not published on the official program page, so no such ranking has been attributed to this degree.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The program is strongly connected to hands-on laboratory work, computational science and interdisciplinary projects. Students complete Biochemistry Laboratory, can select advanced laboratory or research courses such as Biology Research Project and Undergraduate Research, and complete six credits of Interprofessional Projects (IPRO), while the university-wide Elevate initiative provides structured access to internships, research, competitions, study-away experiences and mentorship.

Students can develop practical experience through:

Biochemistry Laboratory (BIOL 404): Provides dedicated laboratory experience as part of the required biochemistry curriculum.
Computational Biochemistry and Drug Design (CHEM 456): Connects biochemical science with computational approaches to biological molecules and drug-design problems.
AI and data tools: Students study AI for Computational Mathematics and Coding, Introduction to Data Science, Artificial Intelligence Foundations, and can select Data Mining or Introduction to Machine Learning as technical/specialization coursework.
Interprofessional Projects (IPRO): Six credits of IPRO provide multidisciplinary project experience, with students working in real-world-style teams to address complex problems.
Undergraduate research: The curriculum permits BIOL 491 Biology Research Project, CHEM 491 Undergraduate Research, and FDSN 494 Special Projects as upper-division laboratory/research options.
Advanced laboratory options: Students can choose from Cell Biology Laboratory, Instrumental Analysis, Advanced Chemistry Laboratory, Spectroscopic Methods in Identification and Analysis, Bioanalytical Chemistry Laboratory, Analytical Method Development Laboratory, or Instrumentation Laboratory, depending on their academic pathway.
Specialization-based practical work: The Chemistry specialization can include instrumental analysis or spectroscopy, while the Computation specialization includes Data Structures and Algorithms, Data Mining or Introduction to Machine Learning. The Biophysics specialization includes Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics and Molecular Biophysics.
Elevate internships and research: Illinois Tech guarantees participating undergraduates access to at least two Elevate experiences, including options such as internships, research, study away and competitions, subject to program requirements.
Career mentorship: Elevate provides students with career advisers, academic mentors and personalized guidance for connecting coursework with professional experiences and networking opportunities.
Digital credentials: Elevate experiences can produce verified digital credentials that document competencies for employers.
Argonne National Laboratory connection: Illinois Tech's broader molecular biochemistry and biophysics research environment includes faculty work associated with Argonne National Laboratory, including research involving proteins, molecular structures and drug interactions, providing an important research ecosystem for students interested in computational and molecular science.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The combination of biochemical science and AI gives graduates a foundation for work across biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, biomedical science, computational biology and laboratory research, while the program's pre-health and advanced-science options can also support further professional or graduate education. Illinois Tech's related biochemistry program specifically identifies pathways into biotechnology, health care, pharmaceutical industries, laboratory research and continued education, while this AI-enhanced degree adds computational and data-oriented preparation.

Typical career directions include: Biochemist, Biophysicist, Computational Biologist, Pharmaceutical Researcher

Career Development & Employment Opportunities

Elevate career support: Illinois Tech's Elevate initiative combines internships, research, competitions and study-away experiences with career advisers, academic mentors and personalized career planning.
Internships and employer opportunities: Illinois Tech's official career platform, Handshake, connects students and alumni with full-time positions, internships, co-ops and employer events, including opportunities categorized under Life & Health Sciences and Software Engineering & Information Technology.
Research opportunities: Illinois Tech encourages undergraduate research as a way for students to develop research skills and determine whether they want to pursue an advanced degree or research career.
Employment outcomes: Illinois Tech's latest university-wide First Destination Survey reports an 86.1% career outcomes rate and $74,840 median starting salary. These figures apply to the university overall and are not specific to the Biochemistry with Artificial Intelligence program.
Industry experience: The university's Elevate initiative is designed around real-world experiences, including internships, research, competitions and innovation challenges, with students expected to complete at least two qualifying experiences.
Interdisciplinary preparation: IPRO projects allow students to collaborate across disciplines, while AI coursework adds data, computational and responsible-AI capabilities to the biochemical foundation.
Research ecosystem: Illinois Tech's biology and biochemistry research environment includes connections with major research institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory, supporting work in molecular and computational science.
Long-term value: The degree is STEM-eligible, which is particularly relevant for international students seeking STEM-related academic and professional pathways in the United States.

Further Academic Progression:

Graduates can continue into master's and doctoral study in areas such as biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, computational biology, chemistry, data science or related life-science fields. Students following the Pre-Health specialization can also use the degree as preparation for professional health programs, while Illinois Tech's broader biology offerings include advanced study and specialized pathways for students planning postgraduate education.