Biochemistry, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Stony Brook University SUNY

Program Overview

The Biochemistry B.S. at Stony Brook University gives students a rigorous foundation in the chemical and cellular basis of life, combining biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics with advanced study in genetics, cell biology and biochemistry. It is particularly suited to students interested in biomedical and life-science research, health professions, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, teaching or graduate study, with opportunities to earn academic credit through faculty research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Students begin with the scientific foundations needed for advanced biochemistry, including CHE 129/130 or CHE 131/132 General Chemistry, BIO 201 Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems, and calculus through MAT 125/126/127 or MAT 131/132. Laboratory work in general chemistry and introductory biological sciences helps students build practical skills alongside their theoretical understanding.

Year 2

The second stage develops a stronger understanding of molecular and cellular systems through BIO 202 Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology, BIO 203 Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology, and BIO 204 Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I. Students also progress through CHE 321/322 Organic Chemistry I and II, organic chemistry laboratory work, physics and the remaining quantitative requirements.

Year 3

Students move into the core of the major with BIO 320 General Genetics or EBH 302 Human Genetics, BIO 310 Cell Biology, and BIO 361 Biochemistry I. Scientific inquiry becomes increasingly advanced, with students beginning to connect molecular structure, genetics, cellular processes and biochemical mechanisms while preparing for the second semester of biochemistry.

Year 4

The final stage emphasizes advanced biochemical study and laboratory research through BIO 362 Biochemistry II, BIO 365 Biochemistry Laboratory, and upper-division electives such as BIO 312 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, BIO 314 Cancer Biology, BIO 332 Computational Modeling or BME 304 Genetic Engineering. Students also complete the major's upper-division writing requirement through BIO 459, using a laboratory report or approved advanced-course paper to demonstrate scientific communication.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, human genetics, ecological genetics, metabolism, molecular mechanisms of life, bioinformatics, computational biology, cancer biology, microbiology, molecular immunology, cellular signaling, neurobiology, genetic engineering, biomolecular structure and laboratory research.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop knowledge of modern biochemistry, cell biology, genetics and the thermodynamics of living systems; learn to use modern instrumentation, computation, experimental design and data analysis; develop laboratory skills for investigating biochemical, cellular and genetic questions; evaluate experimental results quantitatively and qualitatively; communicate scientific information clearly; work collaboratively on scientific problems; and apply logical reasoning to questions involving human health, the environment and public policy.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official Stony Brook Biochemistry pages do not list a separate specialized professional accreditation for the Biochemistry B.S. Instead, the program emphasizes rigorous preparation in biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, laboratory science and scientific inquiry for professional and graduate education.

Reputation (Employability Rankings / Official Statistics)

Stony Brook University is an R1 research university and an Association of American Universities member. For 2026, Stony Brook reports #1 public university in New York, #26 among U.S. public universities and #59 among U.S. national universities in U.S. News & World Report, while the university reports a 95% post-graduation career and graduate-school placement rate.

The university's official undergraduate outcomes report also provides major-specific Biochemistry outcomes, including a reported $66,341 median salary in the dataset, while the university's Biochemistry admissions page states that nearly 95% of Stony Brook graduates are employed or continue to professional or graduate school.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biochemistry B.S. integrates research into the undergraduate experience, allowing students to receive upper-division academic credit for research performed in faculty laboratories. Students can develop independent projects, conduct experiments and data analysis, prepare written and oral reports, and present their findings at the Stony Brook undergraduate research symposium; the department also maintains connections with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

The program's advanced electives also expose students to computational and experimental approaches, while Stony Brook's research infrastructure provides access to sophisticated biochemical, structural-biology and biomedical facilities:

BIO 365 Biochemistry Laboratory: Provides dedicated advanced laboratory experience and can also be used to satisfy the major's upper-division writing requirement through BIO 459.
Undergraduate Faculty Research: Students can develop independent research projects under faculty supervision, produce written and oral reports, and present research at the annual undergraduate research symposium.
BIO 312 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: Gives students an option to develop computational approaches within the biochemistry curriculum.
BIO 332 Computational Modeling: Provides an advanced elective route into computational modeling of biological systems.
BIO 364 Laboratory Techniques in Cancer Biology and BIO 367 Molecular Diversity Laboratory: Offer additional hands-on laboratory pathways within the approved upper-division electives.
Institute of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery (ICB&DD): Research infrastructure includes NMR, X-ray crystallography, tissue culture, flow cytometry, proteomics, protein X-ray analysis and microbiology facilities.
Mass Spectrometry Facilities: Stony Brook provides biological and chemical mass-spectrometry instrumentation, including LC/MS and MALDI-TOF/TOF systems for biochemical and biological research.
Cryo-EM Facility: The university's research infrastructure includes cryo-electron microscopy equipment such as the FEI Talos Arctica, FEI Vitrobot Mark IV and Gatan CP3.
Brookhaven National Laboratory connection: Students and faculty benefit from the department's close relationship with Brookhaven, including access to advanced structural-biology research infrastructure and synchrotron facilities.
Research training: Undergraduate researchers complete responsible-conduct-of-research and laboratory safety training before beginning independent laboratory work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry B.S. provides several routes after graduation, including research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and government laboratory work, teaching, scientific communication and health professions. Stony Brook specifically notes that graduates may pursue medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy and other health professions, while others continue into doctoral study or research careers in biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, genetics and public health.

Typical career directions include research technician, pharmaceutical researcher, biotechnology professional and science teacher.

Career Center: Stony Brook's Career Center supports students with career advising, resumes, cover letters, e-portfolios, interviewing, internships, co-ops, community service and professional connections with employers and alumni.
Handshake: Students can search for on- and off-campus jobs and internships, connect with recruiters, research employers and participate in career fairs and events through Stony Brook's Handshake platform.
Employer partnerships: The Career Center's Partnership Council includes organizations such as Northwell Health, Nestlé Health Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University Hospital, Henry Schein, Canon and Spellman, among others.
Biochemistry-specific employers: The official program page lists graduates/employment connections involving Pfizer, CVS Pharmacy, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Albert Einstein and The Bountiful Company.
Employment outcomes: Stony Brook reports nearly 95% of graduates are employed or continue to professional or graduate school, while its major-specific outcomes report provides Biochemistry salary data including a $66,341 median salary in the reported dataset.
Research-to-career preparation: The major's combination of laboratory research, experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication is designed to prepare students for professional or graduate education and life-science careers.
Long-term academic value: Students gain a foundation applicable to advanced study in biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, genetics and public health, as well as professional health programs.

Further Academic Progression: After the B.S., students can continue into M.S. or Ph.D. study in areas such as biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, genetics and public health, or progress to professional programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry or audiology. Stony Brook also offers a BS in Biochemistry/MS in Chemistry combined program, in which students earn the B.S. after four years and the M.S. after a fifth year of research-intensive study.