Biochemistry BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University at Buffalo SUNY

Program Overview

The Biochemistry B.S. at the University at Buffalo combines chemistry, biology and molecular science to help students understand how living systems work at the molecular level, with particular attention to human health, disease and emerging biomedical technologies. It is well suited to students interested in medical, dental, veterinary or graduate school, as well as careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, research, healthcare, government and other biology- or chemistry-related fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Students begin by developing a strong foundation in the natural sciences through subjects such as BIO 200 Evolutionary Biology, CHE 101 General Chemistry and MTH 141 College Calculus I. These courses establish the biological, chemical and quantitative knowledge needed for more advanced biochemistry study.

Year 2

The second year builds laboratory and molecular-science knowledge through courses such as BIO 201 Cell Biology, CHE 201 Organic Chemistry and PHY 107 General Physics I. Students develop a deeper understanding of cellular systems, chemical reactions and the physical principles that support biological processes.

Year 3

Students move into dedicated biochemistry study, examining the molecular basis of biological systems through advanced coursework and research-oriented learning. Courses such as BCH 403 Biochemical Principles, BCH 401 Introduction to Research and CHE 319 Physical Chemistry help connect biochemical theory with experimental science and quantitative analysis.

Year 4

The final year emphasizes advanced biochemical concepts, research and scientific communication through courses such as BCH 404 Advanced Topics in Biochemistry, BCH 405 Research Topics in Biochemistry and BCH 407 Research Presentations. Students also complete substantial laboratory research through BCH 498 Undergraduate Research Participation in Biochemistry, giving them experience applying scientific methods to real research questions.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, macromolecular structure and function, metabolism, molecular biology, genetic information, cell biology, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, laboratory research, scientific literature analysis, experimental design, biochemical data analysis and molecular mechanisms of human health and disease.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop an understanding of macromolecular structure and function, metabolism, and the replication and expression of genetic information; learn to analyze and communicate scientific literature; gain proficiency in modern life-science laboratory techniques; critically evaluate experimental data; and develop the conceptual and technical skills needed to formulate and test scientific hypotheses.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official UB Biochemistry sources identify the program as a Biochemistry B.S. and describe its preparation for academic, industrial, medical and governmental careers, but they do not list a separate specialized professional accreditation for the Biochemistry B.S. program.

Reputation (Employability / Official Statistics)

UB's official program information highlights pathways into medical, dental, veterinary and graduate education, as well as employment across universities, industry and government. The university also reports more than 100 research centers, institutes and collaborative projects and $540 million in annual research spending, demonstrating the research environment available to students across the university.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biochemistry B.S. places substantial emphasis on hands-on research: the major requires eight credit hours of laboratory research, with students completing BCH 498 Undergraduate Research Participation as members of a faculty research team. Students can pursue an independent project, work alongside faculty, graduate students, technical staff and postdoctoral researchers, conduct experiments and data analysis, and present their findings at the annual Biochemistry Research Day.

The program also connects students with UB's broader biomedical research infrastructure, including faculty laboratories, multidisciplinary research centers and specialized core facilities supporting genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and cellular research:

BCH 498 Undergraduate Research Participation: Students join an active faculty laboratory, conduct hands-on experiments and data analysis, and complete eight credits of research.
BCH 499 Independent Study: Students can design a semester-long research project with a faculty member, typically culminating in written work and/or a research presentation.
Biochemistry Faculty Research Labs: Research includes protein structure and function, membrane structure and transport, gene-expression regulation, DNA repair, metabolic regulation, and cellular development and differentiation.
Core Facilities: UB provides research infrastructure supporting whole-genome expression analysis, cellular proteomes and intracellular localization.
Genomics and Bioinformatics Core: Provides next-generation sequencing instrumentation and expertise for life-science research.
Proteomics & Bioanalysis Core: Provides mass-spectrometry capabilities for proteomics and biopharmaceutical analysis.
Center for Computational Research: Provides high-performance computing, software-development, artificial-intelligence and data-analytics infrastructure for research.
New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences: Brings together more than 250 scientists and research staff working across physical, biological and computational sciences.
Research Centers: Students can encounter research environments spanning neuroimaging, cardiovascular medicine, toxicology, clinical and translational science, bioinformatics and microbial pathogenesis.
Biochemistry Research Day: Undergraduate researchers present posters describing their research projects, giving them experience communicating scientific findings.
Experiential Learning Network: UB lists undergraduate research and summer opportunities, including projects involving biochemical analysis, enzyme assays, protein crystallization and computational modeling.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry B.S. is designed to prepare students for advanced study in medical, dental or graduate school, while also supporting careers in academic, industrial, medical and governmental settings. UB specifically identifies career fields including biochemistry, biotechnology, bioengineering, chemistry, genetics, pharmaceuticals, public health, food and drug analysis, environmental science and sales.

Typical career directions include biochemist, research associate, laboratory technician, bioinformatics analyst and biotechnology professional.

Career Design Center: Provides career advising, resume reviews, interview preparation, career communities, employer connections, job-search resources and career fairs.
Employer and job network: UB reports access to more than 45,320 approved employers through Bullseye powered by Handshake and more than 221,835 job, internship and work-based learning opportunities posted in 2024–25.
Internships and research: UB supports internships, undergraduate research projects, on-campus employment and other experiential-learning opportunities; its Internship Equity Fund can provide eligible students with financial support for qualifying unpaid internships.
Career fairs and employer engagement: In 2024–25, UB reports that 5,220 students engaged with 173 companies through Career Design Center-hosted job and internship fairs.
Salary and career data: UB's Biochemistry admissions page provides U.S. Department of Labor/O*NET occupational data, including a 2024 mean annual wage of $115,570 for biochemists and biophysicists, $112,690 for medical scientists and $58,020 for biological technicians. These are occupational figures rather than salaries guaranteed to UB graduates.
Research environment: UB reports more than 100 research centers, institutes and collaborative projects and $540 million in annual research spending, providing a substantial environment for students considering research careers or advanced study.
Long-term academic preparation: The program's required research experience, scientific literature analysis, laboratory training and hypothesis-testing skills are specifically designed to support progression into medical, dental and graduate education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biochemistry B.S., students can pursue medical school, dental school, veterinary school or graduate study in areas such as biochemistry, neurobiology, pharmacy and genetics. UB's Department of Biochemistry itself offers master's and PhD programs, providing a direct route for students interested in continuing into advanced biochemical research.