BS/BA in Biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Ohio State University Columbus

Program Overview

The Biochemistry major at The Ohio State University explores how molecular structure determines biological function, covering areas such as enzyme structure, protein folding, genetic information transfer and photosynthesis. It is suited to students interested in becoming professional biochemists or entering biotechnology, while the BA option also provides flexibility for students preparing for professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry or veterinary medicine.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the scientific foundation for biochemistry through Biology 1113-1114, Chemistry 1210-1220 and Mathematics 1151-1152. The BS pathway also includes Physics 1250-1251, giving students the chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics preparation needed for advanced biochemistry.

Year 2: Students progress into the core chemistry sequence with Chemistry 2510-2520 and laboratory courses Chemistry 2540 and 2550, while continuing mathematics through Mathematics 2153. Students can also begin exploring research through opportunities such as Biochemistry 2900H, which introduces students to biochemical research through faculty seminars and research-laboratory and instrument-facility visits.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into advanced molecular science through Biochemistry 5613, 5614 and 5615, alongside Molecular Genetics 4500 or 4606 and Physical Biochemistry 5721. These courses build the student's understanding of biochemical processes, molecular genetics and the physical principles underlying biological systems.

Year 4: Students complete advanced study through Biochemistry 5621 and Physical Biochemistry 5722 in the BS pathway, while applying their knowledge through research and other advanced academic experiences. Students who pursue undergraduate research can develop an independent project with a faculty mentor and potentially complete an undergraduate thesis.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, molecular genetics, organic chemistry, physical biochemistry, molecular biology, biological processes, enzyme structure, protein folding, genetic information transfer, photosynthesis, chemical basis of life and biotechnology.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to understand biochemistry within the broader sciences, apply chemical, mathematical and physical concepts to biological processes, use biochemical concepts to explain cellular processes, and use scientifically valid reasoning to investigate and communicate how biochemical knowledge is acquired.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official Ohio State program page does not identify a separate professional accreditation for the Biochemistry BA/BS. The BS is specifically designed for students who want to become professional biochemists or enter biotechnology fields, while the curriculum also provides preparation relevant to medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry and veterinary medicine.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Ohio State states that its Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has been ranked among the top chemistry departments in the nation by the National Research Council and U.S. News & World Report. The department also reports more than $12 million in annual federal funding, with approximately 90% of faculty supported by federal research grants, providing a substantial research environment for students.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Ohio State integrates research into the biochemistry curriculum, with students completing short research projects in regular classes and being encouraged to join faculty research laboratories for independent projects. The department provides access to sophisticated research infrastructure, and undergraduate students can receive academic credit for faculty-mentored research in which they design experiments, collect scientific data and interpret results.

Students can gain practical experience through:

Faculty-mentored research: Students can join a faculty laboratory and undertake an individual research project, with the possibility of developing the work into an undergraduate thesis.
Biochemistry 2900H: This early research course includes faculty presentations on current research, excursions to research laboratories and instrument facilities, and discussions about research and careers in biochemistry.
Biochemistry 2998H: Provides students with an opportunity to become engaged in individual research experiences in Ohio State laboratories.
Undergraduate Research 4998/H: Students actively participate in faculty laboratory research, typically receiving their own small research project and learning experimental design, scientific data collection and interpretation.
NMR and EPR Laboratory: The department provides access to magnetic-resonance instrumentation used in research and teaching.
Mass Spectrometry Facility: Students working in research environments can benefit from the department's advanced mass-spectrometry resources for molecular analysis and characterization.
X-ray Crystallography Laboratory: This facility supports structural studies and is part of the department's shared research infrastructure.
Biophysical Interaction and Characterization Facility: Provides specialized resources supporting biochemical and biophysical research.
Campus Chemical Instrument Center: Ohio State also provides high-field NMR, mass spectrometry and proteomics, and X-ray diffraction resources for biomolecular research.
Research areas: Students can encounter research in areas including drug design and delivery, enzymes, computational biology, mass spectrometry and proteomics, metabolomics, molecular biology, molecular biophysics and nucleic acids.
Student research community: The Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Club gives students opportunities to interact with faculty and discuss careers and research with scientists from Ohio State and beyond.
Internship and opportunity information: The department's undergraduate blog provides information about internships, research opportunities, job postings, department events and student features.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry major provides pathways into direct employment in scientific and laboratory settings as well as graduate and professional education. Ohio State identifies careers including biochemist, medical or pharmaceutical laboratory technician, food scientist and industrial sales representative, while the department notes that graduates may also continue into graduate programs or professional degrees.

Typical career directions include: Biochemist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician, Food Scientist.

Academic and career advising: Students can work with the Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Office and a biochemistry advisor to plan coursework around their academic and career objectives.
Research preparation: Undergraduate research provides experience in experimental design, data collection and interpretation, while faculty mentoring can lead to an undergraduate research thesis.
Industry opportunities: Ohio State's department states that many companies actively seek Ohio State biochemistry majors, and identifies industry, pharmaceutical houses, hospitals, private research laboratories and biotechnology as employment settings.
Professional-school preparation: The science and mathematics requirements can help fulfill prerequisites for pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-dentistry and pre-veterinary medicine, while the BA offers flexibility for additional professional-program coursework.
Employment and salary information: Ohio State's program page reports a median annual wage of $94,490 for biochemists and biophysicists in May 2019, with the lowest 10% earning below $50,620 and the highest 10% earning above $182,870. These are occupation-level figures rather than Ohio State graduate salary statistics.
Industry salary context: The same official page reports May 2019 median wages of $120,240 in wholesale trade, $94,090 in management/scientific/technical consulting, $78,820 in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, and $57,060 in colleges, universities and professional schools for biochemists and biophysicists.
Research partnerships and infrastructure: The department works with major shared research facilities across Ohio State, including the Campus Chemical Instrument Center, Campus Microscopy and Imaging Facility, Trace Element Research Laboratory and Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis.
Research scale: The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department reports more than $12 million in annual federal funding and approximately 90% of its faculty supported by federal research grants.
Long-term academic value: The department describes the degree as preparation for graduate study and professional degrees in areas including medicine, pharmacy, engineering, business and law.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates may enter employment directly or continue into master's/PhD programs and professional degrees; Ohio State specifically notes that many biochemistry graduates pursue professional schools, particularly medical school.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biochemistry BS or BA, students can pursue master's or PhD-level study in biochemistry and related biological sciences. Ohio State also identifies professional-degree pathways in medicine, pharmacy, engineering, business and law, with the undergraduate curriculum providing a foundation that can support several of these routes.