Biochemistry, BS (Boston)

Experiential learning is built directly into Northeastern’s Biochemistry BS through laboratory courses, faculty-mentored research, co-op placements, internships, and a research or capstone experience. Students can work across interdisciplinary research areas including biochemistry, biology, chemistry, bioengineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and computational biology, while Northeastern’s College of Science provides access to research laboratories and specialized facilities.

Students gain practical experience through:

• BIOL 2309 – Biology Project Lab: A dedicated project-based laboratory course that gives students hands-on experience with biological investigation.

• BIOL 3611/3612 – Biochemistry and Lab: Combines advanced biochemical study with laboratory experience.

• CHEM 3331/3332 – Bioanalytical Chemistry and Lab: Provides an option for advanced analytical chemistry training with a laboratory component.

• BIOC 4991/BIOC 4900 – Research and Biochemistry Capstone: Students can complete a research-focused capstone as their culminating experience.

• BIOC 4994/BIOC 4900 – Internship and Biochemistry Capstone: Students can use an internship as the basis of their biochemistry capstone experience.

• CHEM 4750 – Senior Research: Provides a dedicated senior-level research pathway.

• Faculty-mentored research: Students can work with investigators across bioengineering, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, psychology, and other academic units.

• Biochemistry research laboratories: Northeastern lists research groups working in areas including computational biology and drug discovery, single-cell proteomics, metabolic engineering, protein and enzyme research, biomaterials, medicinal chemistry, and neglected-disease drug discovery.

• Boston Electron Microscopy Center: The shared research facility provides access to high-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy and includes a biological sample-preparation laboratory; training is available for students and researchers.

• Co-op education: Northeastern’s signature co-op provides full-time professional experience, with opportunities in biotechnology companies, hospitals, and research facilities in Boston and internationally.

• Professional Development for Co-op: EESC 2000 is specifically included in the Biochemistry BS curriculum to prepare students for their co-op experience.

• Research and co-op network: Northeastern reports a network of more than 3,800 co-op employer partners, while its co-op system includes organizations across healthcare, research, biotechnology, and other sectors.

The Biochemistry BS prepares graduates for careers across laboratory and clinical research, biotechnology, regulation and quality control, production, marketing, and information systems, while also providing a foundation for advanced professional or graduate education. Northeastern specifically identifies graduate, medical, veterinary, dental, law, and business school as possible progression routes after the degree.

Typical job roles include: Biochemistry Research Associate, Laboratory Researcher, Clinical Research Associate, Quality Control Analyst.

Students can strengthen their employment prospects through:

• Co-op and career preparation: Northeastern's co-op model allows students to spend months in professional environments, apply classroom knowledge to real-world needs, work with professional mentors, and build industry networks before graduation.

• Co-op employer network: Northeastern reports more than 3,800 co-op employer partners, providing access to organizations across research, healthcare, biotechnology, engineering, and other sectors.

• Employment outcomes: Northeastern reports that 96% of graduates were employed or in graduate school within nine months in its latest university-wide career-outcomes snapshot, with 82.6% employed and 13.4% in graduate school.

• Major-related employment: Among full-time employed undergraduates from the Class of 2025, Northeastern reports that 92% had jobs related to their major within nine months of graduation.

• Starting salary information: Northeastern maintains an official Career Outcomes database that includes a Starting Salaries category and allows outcomes to be explored by class year, college, academic discipline, and student level. The university does not state a single salary figure for all Biochemistry BS graduates on the program page.

• Industry connections: Northeastern's co-op model connects students with biotechnology companies, hospitals, and research facilities, while the university's Boston location places students within a major life-sciences ecosystem.

• Research-to-career preparation: Faculty-mentored research allows students to work with investigators across multiple scientific disciplines and develop experience relevant to research careers and graduate study.

• Professional accreditation: The BS Biochemistry program is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), providing program-level professional recognition.

• Co-op employment conversion: Northeastern reports that 54% of students receive a job offer from a co-op employer, while noting that the figure is university-wide rather than specific to Biochemistry.

• Graduation outcomes: Northeastern's career-outcomes reporting tracks employment, graduate-school enrollment, seeking employment, industry/company, co-op participation, and starting salaries, giving students multiple ways to examine post-graduation pathways.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Biochemistry, students can progress to graduate or professional education in areas such as biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, chemistry, biomedical sciences, medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, law, or business. Northeastern also offers PlusOne pathways specifically open to Biochemistry BS students, including MS Chemistry, MS Biotechnology, MS Bioinformatics, and MS Cell and Gene Therapies, subject to the individual program requirements.