BS Biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Cincinnati

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Cincinnati combines biology and chemistry to explore how proteins, enzymes, DNA and other biological molecules work and how chemical reactions support life. It is particularly suited to students with strong interests in biology, chemistry and mathematics who enjoy hands-on laboratory work and want to prepare for careers in pharmaceutical, biomedical, government and industrial research or for further study in health and science fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build a strong foundation in both biological and chemical sciences through Biology I: Molecules, Cells, and the Foundation of Life, General Chemistry I and Calculus I, followed by Biology II, General Chemistry II and their associated laboratories. This gives students the core scientific and mathematical knowledge needed to understand biological systems at the molecular level.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into more specialised chemistry with Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and Analytical Chemistry, alongside calculus-based physics. Students begin developing the ability to understand organic molecules, carry out laboratory procedures and use analytical approaches to investigate chemical systems.

Year 3: Students begin connecting chemistry directly to biological systems through Genetics, Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Kinetics, and Introduction to Biochemistry. The course Characterization and Analysis of Biological Molecules adds practical experience in examining biological molecules and prepares students for advanced biochemical study.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced biochemical concepts through Intermediate Biochemistry: Synthesizing the Molecules of Life, Intermediate Biochemistry: Transducing and Storing Energy in Biological Systems, and Characterization and Analysis of Biomolecular Interactions. Students also complete Undergraduate Research in Chemistry, giving them an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a research setting before graduation.

Focus Areas

Biological molecules, proteins, enzymes, DNA, cellular energy, genetics, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biomolecular interactions, pharmaceutical science, biomedical research and laboratory analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to critically observe and record laboratory results, analyse scientific data and apply classroom knowledge to draw conclusions from experiments, while building an integrated understanding of chemistry and biological systems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The University of Cincinnati and its regional campuses are institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The B.S. in Biochemistry itself is not separately identified on the official program page as an ACS-accredited or ASBMB-accredited program, so no additional program-specific professional accreditation should be recorded.

Reputation (Employability)

UC's College of Arts and Sciences describes the university as a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. University-wide, UC reports that 92.5% of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months, supported by more than 1,700 employer partners worldwide; these figures are university-wide rather than specific to Biochemistry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Biochemistry gives students several ways to move beyond classroom theory and develop practical scientific skills. The curriculum includes dedicated laboratory courses, biomolecular analysis and undergraduate research, while the optional co-op subplan allows students to complete three professional experiences. Students can also work in a research environment supported by specialised facilities such as NMR and mass spectrometry laboratories.

Students can develop hands-on and professional experience through:

Biology and chemistry laboratories: First-year students complete Biology I Laboratory, Biology II Laboratory, General Chemistry Laboratory I and General Chemistry Laboratory II, establishing practical laboratory skills from the beginning of the degree.
Organic and analytical laboratory work: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and II and Analytical Chemistry provide further practical experience with chemical analysis and laboratory procedures.
Biomolecular analysis: Characterization and Analysis of Biological Molecules and Characterization and Analysis of Biomolecular Interactions give students program-specific experience examining biological molecules and their interactions.
Undergraduate research: CHEM 5030 – Undergraduate Research in Chemistry gives students a formal opportunity to undertake research during their final year. The department also strongly encourages undergraduate research, with many students contributing to research that results in journal co-authorship.
Co-op experiences: Students choosing the optional co-op subplan complete three co-op experiences, using courses such as COOP2000/2051, COOP3000/3051 and COOP4000/4051. These provide opportunities to gain career-oriented experience before graduation.
NMR instrumentation: The UC Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility supports faculty and student research and provides solution and solid-state capabilities through three NMR spectrometers ranging from 9.4 to 11.7 T. Training resources include ICON-NMR and Mestrelab MNova software.
Mass spectrometry: The R. Marshall Wilson Mass Spectrometry Facility is equipped for organic and biological mass spectrometry and supports work involving areas such as small-molecule identification, pharmacokinetics, lipids and metabolomics.
Biomedical chemistry research: UC's Biomedical Chemistry Laboratories conduct research in areas including drug design, drug delivery and structure-activity relationships, creating a relevant research environment for students interested in pharmaceutical and biomedical science.
Industry research: UC Chemistry students have participated in research with Procter & Gamble, including work using spectroscopy to study antibacterial agents.
Career development: UC Arts & Sciences provides optional co-op and internship opportunities together with career coaching through the Bearcat Promise Career Studio, including personalised guidance, interview practice and job-search strategies.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biochemistry can prepare graduates for scientific roles in pharmaceutical companies, biomedical research laboratories, government laboratories, industrial research and development, forensic science and toxicology. The program also provides a foundation for students who plan to continue into medicine, healthcare or graduate-level science education.

Typical career roles include Pharmaceutical Scientist, Biomedical Research Scientist, Industrial R&D Scientist and Forensic Scientist:

Career services: UC Arts & Sciences offers career coaching through the Bearcat Promise Career Studio, helping students define career goals, practise interviews and develop job-search strategies. The college also provides access to internship and optional co-op opportunities.
Co-op preparation: The optional Biochemistry co-op subplan includes three co-op experiences, allowing students to build professional experience before graduation.
Employment outcomes: UC reports that 92.5% of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation. The university also reports more than 1,700 employer partners worldwide; these figures are university-wide and should not be interpreted as Biochemistry-specific.
Arts and Sciences outcomes: For 2024–25 bachelor's degree completers, UC's Arts and Sciences college reported 80.0% employed, 18.1% continuing education, and a three-year average salary of $46,618. These are Arts and Sciences figures rather than Biochemistry-specific figures.
Industry partnerships: UC has documented research collaboration between its Chemistry Department and Procter & Gamble, where students participated in research involving spectroscopy and antibacterial agents.
Research-sector connections: The department's research environment includes biomedical chemistry, drug design and delivery, mass spectrometry, NMR, metallomics and other research areas that connect biochemistry with pharmaceutical, biomedical and analytical science.
Professional recognition: The University of Cincinnati's institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission provides recognition of the university's academic quality. The official Biochemistry page does not identify a separate professional accreditation for this specific B.S. program.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can enter pharmaceutical, government, biomedical, industrial research, education, forensic science and healthcare-related pathways, with some roles requiring additional professional or graduate education.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's or doctoral study in biochemistry, chemistry, biological sciences and related research fields. The degree can also support progression toward professional education in medicine and other healthcare fields, while UC's Chemistry Department offers master's and doctoral programs with research areas including biological/biophysical chemistry, drug design and delivery, medicinal chemistry, toxicology, environmental chemistry and related disciplines.