Bachelor of Science in biochemistry (B.S.)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Southern Methodist University

Program Overview

The Southern Methodist University B.S. in Biochemistry is a 120-credit interdisciplinary programme combining chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics to prepare students for careers in medicine, research, biotechnology and the chemical industry. Students can choose an ACS-certified professional-training option or a more traditional biochemistry curriculum, with undergraduate research strongly encouraged for students targeting graduate or research careers.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their scientific foundation through introductory chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics coursework. Core subjects such as CHEM 1303 General Chemistry I, CHEM 1304 General Chemistry II and introductory biological sciences develop the quantitative and laboratory skills needed for more advanced biochemistry study.

Second Year: Students progress into organic chemistry and more advanced biological sciences, building an understanding of chemical reactions and biological systems. Courses such as CHEM 3371 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 3372 Organic Chemistry II and BIOL 3222 Molecular Genetics Lab develop the chemical and molecular skills that underpin later biochemical study; the Molecular Genetics Lab also introduces recombinant-DNA techniques and MinION nanopore sequencing.

Third Year: The curriculum moves further into molecular-level chemistry and biology, with students developing an integrated understanding of biological molecules, genetics and cellular processes. Courses such as BIOL/CHEM 4310 Biological Chemistry: Macromolecular Structure and Function, BIOL 4305 Genomics and Bioinformatics and BIOL 4105 Genomics Lab connect biochemical concepts with protein and nucleic-acid structure, enzyme kinetics and computer-based genomic analysis.

Fourth Year: Students complete advanced biochemistry coursework and can tailor their upper-division studies through one of two curriculum options. Students intending to pursue graduate research are encouraged to complete CHEM 4397 Undergraduate Research, BIOL 3398 or BIOL 4398, while students pursuing departmental distinction can undertake independent research culminating in a senior thesis and public presentation.

Focus areas

Biochemistry, biological chemistry, molecular biology, macromolecular structure and function, genomics, bioinformatics, organic chemistry, chemistry, biological sciences, mathematics, physics, biomedical research and biotechnology.

Learning outcomes

Students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of biochemical and molecular processes while gaining laboratory, analytical, quantitative and research skills that can be applied to medicine, scientific research, biotechnology and graduate-level study. The curriculum also develops experience interpreting scientific information and working with modern biological and biochemical techniques.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The programme offers two curriculum options. Option 1 is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS) for professional training in biochemistry, while Option 2 provides a traditional biochemistry curriculum. Therefore, ACS certification applies specifically to the Option 1 track rather than automatically to every B.S. in Biochemistry student.

Reputation (employability rankings)

SMU's official programme page reports that the university is in the Top 20% of Best National Universities according to U.S. News & World Report 2026 and has an 11:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio. For biochemistry specifically, SMU highlights preparation for medicine and research, extensive laboratory experience, graduate study and careers in biotechnology and the chemical industry; the university does not publish a separate QS or Guardian ranking specifically for this B.S. programme.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Biochemistry students at SMU gain practical experience through extensive laboratory coursework, faculty-mentored research and opportunities to work in interdisciplinary research environments. Undergraduate research can begin as early as the first year, and students can earn academic credit, apply for research funding or participate in specialised programmes such as the BRITE Scholars Program, which provides biomedical research experience at SMU and UT Southwestern.

The programme is supported by research and teaching facilities in the Dedman Life Sciences Building and Fondren Science Building, with access to advanced instrumentation for molecular, biochemical and chemical analysis. Students can develop hands-on experience with the following resources:

Molecular genetics: BIOL 3222 Molecular Genetics Lab provides experience manipulating DNA through recombinant-DNA techniques and generating genomic DNA sequences using MinION nanopore sequencing.
Genomics and bioinformatics: BIOL 4305 Genomics and Bioinformatics and BIOL 4105 Genomics Lab provide computer-based experience analysing genomic DNA sequences.
Undergraduate research: Students can undertake CHEM 4397 Undergraduate Research, BIOL 3398 or BIOL 4398, with graduate-school-bound students specifically encouraged to complete at least three research credits.
Departmental distinction: Students pursuing departmental distinction complete independent reading and research culminating in a senior thesis and public presentation.
BRITE Scholars Program: Biochemistry students interested in biomedical research can participate in BRITE, a collaboration between SMU and UT Southwestern that includes summer research in SMU and/or UT Southwestern laboratories.
NMR spectroscopy: Chemistry facilities include a JEOL 500 MHz NMR and Bruker 400 MHz NMR for chemical characterisation.
Mass spectrometry and chromatography: Facilities include Agilent GC/MS, an Advion expression CMS ESI mass spectrometer and Agilent 1260 HPLC.
Biological research equipment: Dedman Life Sciences facilities include an EVOS-fl fluorescence microscope, BioTek Cytation 5 plate reader, CO₂ incubators, centrifuge and biosafety cabinets.
Computational resources: The department provides access to ManeFrame II/CSC computational resources for scientific research.
Research centres: Students can pursue biomedical research through the Center for Drug Discovery, Design and Delivery (CD4), which supports research into medically important problems in human health.
Internships: Biochemistry students can access research, healthcare and industry internships in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, including paid research opportunities at UT Southwestern Medical Center and summer research positions in SMU laboratories.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biochemistry provides several progression routes, particularly for students interested in medicine, biomedical research, biotechnology and advanced scientific study. SMU states that graduates can progress into doctoral or master's programmes in areas such as molecular biology, pharmacology and bioinformatics, while the degree also provides preparation for medical, pharmacy, dental and veterinary professional schools.

Typical career directions include Biochemist, Research Scientist, Biotechnology Professional, Biomedical Researcher:

Career support: Dedman College provides career-related opportunities and the programme specifically highlights internships through the Hegi Family Career Development Center, including research, healthcare and industrial opportunities in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Employment outcomes: The official programme page identifies entry-level opportunities in research laboratories, clinical settings and the biotechnology industry. SMU does not publish a specific current employment rate or salary figure for B.S. Biochemistry graduates on the programme page, so a programme-specific salary should be recorded as NA rather than estimated.
University–industry/research partnerships: The BRITE Scholars Program connects SMU with the UT Southwestern Medical Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, providing students with biomedical research experience in SMU and UT Southwestern laboratories.
Research partnerships: Students can also engage with the Center for Drug Discovery, Design and Delivery (CD4) and research areas including cancer, drug resistance, gene regulation, inflammation and immunity, structural biology and stress biology.
Long-term accreditation value: Students selecting Option 1 receive a curriculum certified by the American Chemical Society for professional training in biochemistry, providing a professionally aligned curriculum framework. Option 2 is the traditional biochemistry pathway.
Graduation outcomes: SMU reports that biochemistry graduates leave with strong preparation for medicine or research, while official alumni examples include graduates progressing to medical school and research-oriented careers.
Research progression: Students completing departmental distinction can graduate with a senior research thesis, while research-focused students can use programmes such as BRITE to build experience for Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. study.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biochemistry, students can continue into master's or doctoral study in molecular biology, pharmacology, bioinformatics, biochemistry and related biomedical sciences. The degree also supports progression to professional schools in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and veterinary medicine, while research-focused students can pursue the SMU/UT Southwestern pathway and other Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programmes.