Bachelor's in Biophysics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Marquette University

Program Overview

Marquette University’s Biophysics, B.S. brings physics, chemistry and biology together to explore living systems at the molecular, atomic and electronic levels, making it a strong choice for students interested in medicine, biomedical research or technology-driven scientific careers. Students combine rigorous science and mathematics with computing, modeling, instrumentation, laboratory work and research, with opportunities to tailor the degree through upper-level electives.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students build the mathematical, chemical and physical foundations of the degree through courses such as MATH 1450, MATH 1455, CHEM 1001, CHEM 1002 and PHYS 1013/1014 Classical and Modern Physics with Calculus 1 and 2. The first year also introduces students to the discipline through PHYS 1953 Discovering Physics, helping them understand the field and begin developing scientific skills.

Second Year: Students move into biological science and more advanced chemistry and mathematics with BIOL 1001/1002 General Biology 1 and 2, CHEM 2111 and CHEM 2112, and MATH 2440 and MATH 3450. This stage strengthens their understanding of biological systems while developing the quantitative background needed to study biophysical processes.

Third Year: The curriculum becomes distinctly biophysical through courses including BIOL 3101 Biochemistry and the Molecular Basis of Biology, BIOL 3301 Cell Biology, PHYS 2400 The Microscopic World and PHYS 2500 Oscillations and Waves with Laboratory. Students also take PHYS 2953 Computational Methods in Physics and PHYS 2954 Participating in Physics, adding computational and professional-development skills to their scientific training.

Fourth Year: Students study advanced biophysics through PHYS 4046 The Physical Basis of Living Systems and PHYS 4065 Biophysical Methods, while completing upper-division electives across physics, biology, chemistry or mathematics. These electives can be tailored toward research interests, and pre-med students are specifically encouraged to take BIOL 3301 Cell Biology and a second semester of organic chemistry.

Focus areas:

Biophysics, physics, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, biological systems, computational modeling, instrumentation, medical science, biomedical research, experimental science

Learning outcomes:

Students develop the ability to understand biological systems through physical laws and models, use physical techniques and instrumentation to investigate biological processes, apply mathematics and computation to scientific problems, analyze experimental information and connect physics, chemistry and biology to biomedical applications.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The Biophysics B.S. is designed as an interdisciplinary science degree rather than a separately licensed professional qualification. Marquette describes it as preparation for medicine, graduate and professional schools, biomedical industry, industrial and government research and development, and further study in biophysical and biomedical sciences.

Reputation (employability rankings):

Marquette's official Biophysics Major page highlights #6 Best College in Job Placement / #1 in Wisconsin from Zippia, #82 in Student Outcomes from The Wall Street Journal and #14 Best Colleges for Internships among private universities from The Princeton Review. The university also reports that biophysics graduates have gone on to organizations including Los Alamos National Laboratory, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Motorola, Ford Motor Co. and Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Marquette's Biophysics B.S. places strong emphasis on learning by doing, with opportunities to work with modern laboratory technology, conduct research alongside faculty and gain professional experience through internships. The program specifically highlights computing, modeling and hands-on instrumentation, while students can pursue research in areas ranging from cancer and mitochondrial biology to imaging, computational tools and biological diversity.

Students can build practical experience through several routes:

Faculty-mentored undergraduate research: Students can volunteer with faculty researchers or undertake independent study, with Marquette's Biological Sciences department emphasizing laboratory training and research opportunities for undergraduates.
Physics research: Current research areas connected to the major include cosmic rays, cancer and metabolic disease, mitochondrial respiratory chains, imaging systems, computational tools and astrophysical phenomena.
Computational methods: PHYS 2953 Computational Methods in Physics gives students formal exposure to computational approaches within the biophysics curriculum.
Biophysical methods: PHYS 4065 Biophysical Methods provides advanced preparation in the physical techniques used to investigate biological systems.
Experimental laboratory work: PHYS 2500 Oscillations and Waves with Laboratory and BIOL 4102 Experimental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or BIOL 4302 Experimental Molecular Cell Biology provide hands-on experimental training.
Independent research through Physics Honors: Eligible students can complete PHYS 4956H Honors Undergraduate Research, consisting of six credits of faculty-guided research over at least two terms.
Internships: Marquette specifically states that biophysics students can gain professional experience through internships in Milwaukee and nationwide.
Study abroad: Biophysics students can study at universities abroad through semester programs, summer study, faculty-led programs and international research opportunities.
Research publications: Marquette's Biological Sciences department notes that undergraduate research experiences can lead to publications with students as coauthors alongside faculty mentors.
Interdisciplinary research environment: Students can connect their biophysics training with research in physics, biological sciences, chemistry and biomedical engineering. Marquette and the Medical College of Wisconsin also operate biophotonics facilities supporting optical instrumentation, sensor fabrication, tissue-phantom work and advanced data analysis.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Marquette describes the Biophysics B.S. as preparation for graduate, medical, dental and law schools, industrial or government research and development, and teaching, while the program's interdisciplinary training also opens pathways into biomedical and scientific industries. The university's published examples show graduates moving into organizations such as NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NIST, Motorola, Ford and Kimberly-Clark.

Typical career directions include Biophysicist, Biomedical Researcher, Medical Instrumentation Specialist and Research Scientist:

Career preparation and internships: Marquette's Arts and Sciences internship program helps biophysics students identify professional experiences in Milwaukee and nationwide, giving them an opportunity to explore career directions before graduation.
Career outcomes: Marquette reports an 87% career outcomes rate within six months for the Class of 2025, including employment, continuing education, service vocation or military service; 53% reported full-time employment and 26% were continuing education full-time.
Career-related outcomes: Among full-time employed Class of 2025 graduates, 93% reported that their employment was related to their career goals. These figures are university-wide rather than specific to the Biophysics B.S.
First Destination data: Marquette's Career Center maintains undergraduate first-destination outcomes by major, covering employment and enrollment in graduate and professional education.
Research-to-career connections: Biophysics graduates have entered organizations including Los Alamos National Laboratory, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Rockwell Automation, Procter & Gamble and Trace Analytical Laboratories.
Professional-school preparation: The degree is explicitly positioned as preparation for medicine and other professional or graduate education, while the rigorous physics, chemistry and biology combination provides a broad scientific foundation.
Long-term professional value: The B.S. provides an interdisciplinary scientific foundation rather than a professional license; students entering regulated professions such as medicine would continue into the relevant professional degree and licensing pathway.
Research progression: Students interested in research can build their profile through faculty-led projects, independent study and Honors research. Marquette's Honors program also offers competitive summer research fellowships for eligible students.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biophysics B.S., students can pursue medical or dental school, graduate study in biophysics and biomedical sciences, or other professional and graduate programs related to their interests. The degree is particularly suited to students who want to continue into advanced scientific research while also keeping medicine and biomedical careers open.