Chemistry—Biochemistry Bachelor of Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Ohio University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Chemistry—Biochemistry is designed for students interested in the biological applications of chemistry, with preparation for careers in medicine, industry, research and health science. It also provides a strong foundation for graduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology or immunology, as well as professional pathways in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy combined with research.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin by establishing their chemistry, mathematics and biological-science foundations, with introductory chemistry coursework such as CHEM 1510 Fundamentals of Chemistry I and CHEM 1520 Fundamentals of Chemistry II. These subjects build the quantitative and scientific base needed for the programme's later organic chemistry and biochemistry courses.

Second Year: Students move into more specialised chemistry through CHEM 3050 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 3060 Organic Chemistry II, and laboratory work including CHEM 3080 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and CHEM 3090 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II Advanced. This stage develops practical skills in organic synthesis, separation, purification and characterisation of compounds, including techniques such as chromatography and NMR.

Third Year: Students build their analytical and biochemical understanding through courses such as CHEM 4890 Basic Biochemistry, which introduces biochemical concepts, techniques, metabolic pathways and information storage and transmission, alongside advanced chemistry and supporting biology coursework. The programme's chemistry requirements also provide exposure to analytical methods and physical chemistry that support molecular-level study.

Fourth Year: Students can deepen their specialisation through CHEM 4901 Biochemistry I, CHEM 4903 Biochemical Techniques, and advanced electives such as CHEM 4810 Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery. These subjects connect molecular structure and biochemical systems with laboratory techniques and the chemical principles used in drug discovery and development.

Focus areas

Biochemistry, biological applications of chemistry, molecular biology, biochemical techniques, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, metabolism, biomolecular structure, health science, medicine, pharmaceutical science and research.

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply chemistry to biological systems, understand biomolecular structure and metabolism, use laboratory and analytical techniques, and prepare for research, healthcare, industry or advanced study in biochemistry and related life sciences.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Chemistry—Biochemistry B.S. is not identified by Ohio University as an ACS-accredited degree. Ohio University specifically states that its B.S. in Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society, while the Chemistry—Biochemistry programme is presented separately; therefore, ACS accreditation should not be recorded for this biochemistry major.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Ohio University does not publish a programme-specific QS or Guardian ranking for the Chemistry—Biochemistry B.S. Its official information instead highlights graduate pathways into research, healthcare, education, scientific journalism and industry, with possible employers including pharmaceutical and chemical companies, universities, hospitals and federal government laboratories. OHIO also reports that its outcomes dashboard provides current postgraduate status, time-to-first-status and average full-time earnings data that can be disaggregated by major.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The programme gives students opportunities to move beyond classroom learning through laboratory work, undergraduate research, internships and participation in the department's research environment. Ohio University states that undergraduate research is available to students and can be completed for course credit or through paid research with a faculty sponsor; students can also present their work at the annual Student Expo and pursue departmental honors through sustained research and a thesis.

The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department's research environment is particularly relevant to biochemistry students, with small research groups that can provide close faculty mentoring and facilities containing NMR, mass spectrometry, biomolecular modelling and DNA/protein sequencing capabilities.

Students can develop practical experience through:

Undergraduate research: Students can earn credit through CHEM 4940 Undergraduate Research, CHEM 4941 Undergraduate Research Tier III, or CHEM 4941H Honors Thesis in Chemistry. Paid research opportunities with faculty sponsors are also available.
Biochemistry research: Research groups in the Biochemistry Research Division accept students of different skill levels, giving undergraduates opportunities for hands-on laboratory research and close adviser mentoring.
Internships: Ohio University's Chemistry & Biochemistry department provides internship coordination, while the university's curriculum includes CHEM 5911 Chemistry Internship, involving supervised work in an approved scientific laboratory or industry-equivalent setting.
NMR instrumentation: The Chemistry NMR facility includes a Bruker Ascend 500 NMR spectrometer, supporting solution and solid-state experiments and variable-temperature work.
Mass spectrometry: Students have access within the research environment to instruments including the Thermo Fisher Q Exactive Plus and Bruker AutoFlex Max MALDI-TOF, supporting high-resolution and MALDI mass-spectrometry research.
Biomolecular facilities: Ohio University's research facilities include DNA and protein sequencing facilities, macromolecular modelling computer workstations and a microinjection facility for transgenic-animal research.
Organic chemistry instrumentation: Department facilities include HPLC, gas chromatography, absorbance/fluorescence spectrometers, molecular-modelling computation nodes and high-resolution LC/MS equipment.
Research presentation: Students may present undergraduate research at the annual Ohio University Student Expo, giving them an opportunity to communicate scientific findings publicly.
STEMstart: Incoming science students can participate in STEMstart, which includes academic sessions, field trips and interactive workshops focused on biology, chemistry and mathematics.
Science library resources: Ohio University's research environment includes access to university library resources, while the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department provides specialised research facilities and instrumentation for molecular science.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Chemistry—Biochemistry provides several progression routes because Ohio University specifically positions the degree for medicine, industry, research and graduate study. Graduates can continue into biochemistry or related life-science graduate programmes, or combine their scientific training with professional education in medicine, dentistry or pharmacy.

Typical career directions include Biochemist, Health Scientist, Research Scientist, Scientific Journalist:

Career services: The College of Arts & Sciences provides individualized career coaching, career fairs, leadership programmes, job and internship searches through Handshake, mock interviews and résumé-writing support. More than 2,600 registered employers recruit Ohio University students through Handshake.
Employment statistics and salary: Ohio University maintains an official outcomes dashboard with current postgraduate status, time-to-first-status and average full-time earnings, with data capable of being disaggregated by major. A specific current salary figure for the Chemistry—Biochemistry B.S. was not available in the official sources reviewed, so a programme-specific salary should be recorded as NA rather than estimated.
University–industry connections: OHIO's Industry Partnerships Office supports research collaborations, technology commercialisation, entrepreneurship and student internship/career-placement relationships with corporate partners. The university is also a founding partner of the Ohio Innovation Exchange, which connects industry with university expertise, research services and resources.
Long-term accreditation value: The Chemistry—Biochemistry B.S. itself is not listed as ACS-accredited. The department's ACS accreditation applies specifically to the separate B.S. in Chemistry, so students should not be represented as earning ACS professional status solely from this biochemistry major.
Graduation outcomes: OHIO systematically tracks postgraduate status, employment-related outcomes and further education, and its academic programmes use graduate outcomes and external partnerships as part of ongoing programme review.
Research progression: The department reports that many biochemistry research projects are accessible to undergraduates and that recent biochemistry graduates have progressed into academic, government and industrial scientific careers.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can pursue graduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, immunology or related life sciences. Ohio University also offers an M.S. in Chemistry, an Online M.S. in Chemistry, a Ph.D. in Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry & Molecular and Cellular Biology; the degree can also support progression into medical, dental and pharmacy professional programmes.