Biochemistry, BA

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Hawaii Manoa

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa combines chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics to help students understand the molecular processes underlying living systems. It is particularly suited to students interested in health, biomedical science, research, biotechnology, environmental science or professional-school pathways, while the BA structure also provides flexibility for broader academic interests.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish a strong scientific foundation through CHEM 161 – General Chemistry I, CHEM 161L – General Chemistry I Laboratory, and BIOL 171 – Introduction to Biology I, supported by calculus and general education courses. In the second semester, CHEM 162 – General Chemistry II, BIOL 172 – Introduction to Biology II, and MATH 242 – Calculus II continue building the chemistry, biology and quantitative skills needed for advanced study.

Year 2: The curriculum moves deeper into molecular science with CHEM 272 – Organic Chemistry I and its laboratory, followed by CHEM 273 – Organic Chemistry II and CHEM 273L – Organic Chemistry II Lab. Students also complete language, social science, humanities and other university requirements, giving the BA a broader academic dimension alongside its scientific core.

Year 3: Students begin connecting chemistry and biology more directly through BIOL 275 – Cell and Molecular Biology, BIOL 275L – Cell and Molecular Biology Lab, and CHEM 372 – Bioorganic Chemistry. Physics courses, including PHYS 170 – General Physics I and PHYS 272 – General Physics II, add an important quantitative and physical-science perspective to the study of biological systems.

Year 4: The final year brings students into more advanced biochemical study through CHEM 461 – Physical Biochemistry and BIOL 402 – Principles of Biochemistry or MBBE 402 – Principles of Biochemistry. Students also complete major electives, including options such as CHEM 462 – Advanced Biochemistry, BIOL 401 – Molecular Biotechnology, BIOL 483 – Introduction to Bioinformatics Topics for Biologists, MBBE 451 – Synthetic Biology, MICR 461 – Immunology, or BIOL 472 – The Biology of Cancer, allowing them to shape the degree around their interests.

Focus Areas

Flexible study of the chemistry of living systems, with opportunities to connect biochemistry to health, environmental work, public service, communication and other liberal-arts interests.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop foundational laboratory techniques, chemical and biological reasoning, quantitative analysis, scientific writing, data interpretation and cross-disciplinary problem-solving skills. The university's biochemistry coursework also emphasizes understanding major biochemical pathways and using quantitative measurements and spectroscopy to analyze molecular structure.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official university sources reviewed do not identify a separate professional accreditation for the BA in Biochemistry. The program instead provides a broad scientific foundation that can support research, employment and preparation for professional or graduate programs.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The official University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa sources reviewed do not publish a program-specific QS, Guardian or equivalent employability ranking for the BA in Biochemistry, so no unsupported ranking has been assigned to the program.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biochemistry BA gives students substantial opportunities to move beyond classroom theory and work with laboratory methods, research projects and scientific instrumentation. The curriculum itself includes multiple laboratory courses, while the Department of Chemistry strongly encourages undergraduate research in faculty research laboratories; students can also pursue directed research and connect with faculty and graduate researchers.

Students can build practical experience through:

Laboratory-based coursework: Students complete laboratory components in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, analytical chemistry and physics, developing practical experimental skills alongside theoretical knowledge.
CHEM 274L – Principles of Analytical Chemistry Lab: Students work with analytical approaches including phase separations, chromatography, titrimetry and spectrophotometry.
Advanced laboratory electives: Options include CHEM 445L – Preparation and Analysis of Organic Compounds Laboratory, which introduces UV-visible and IR methods, HPLC, GC, GCMS, LCMS and NMR techniques.
Advanced biochemistry laboratory: CHEM 462L – Advanced Biochemistry Lab covers techniques involving protein purification and characterization, enzyme kinetics, ligand binding, nucleic-acid structure, protein structure and fluorescence.
Molecular biotechnology: BIOL 401L/MBBE 401L – Molecular Biotechnology Lab-Gene Editing by CRISPR/Cas9 provides an opportunity to study modern molecular biotechnology techniques.
Directed research: The BA's approved electives include CHEM 399 – Directed Reading and CHEM 399L – Directed Research, allowing students to gain experience working on research under faculty guidance.
Research laboratories: UH Mānoa Chemistry encourages students to participate in research projects in departmental research laboratories, where they can work on real chemical problems and interact with faculty, graduate students and other researchers.
Scientific instrumentation: Departmental facilities include NMR, mass spectrometry, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), circular dichroism spectroscopy and X-ray facilities that support research and advanced scientific work.
Undergraduate research programs: UH Mānoa provides broader research opportunities through UROP, INBRE and NSF-supported Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). UROP also provides project and presentation funding opportunities.
Research scholarships: Chemistry students may access awards and scholarships supporting undergraduate research, including the Frank and Sara McKnight Awards in Molecular Sciences, Kosaki Award, K.S. Cheng Scholarship and other academic opportunity awards.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry BA can prepare graduates for laboratory and research-oriented roles while also providing a useful scientific foundation for health-professional and graduate education. The university's own major-exploration guidance identifies potential directions including laboratory or research assistance, health-related support roles, science communication, public health and environmental work.

Typical career directions include:

Laboratory Research Assistant, Biochemistry Laboratory Technician, Biotechnology Research Assistant, Scientific Communication Specialist

Students can strengthen their transition from study to employment through:

Mānoa Career Center: The university provides career counselling, mock interviews and workshops to help students prepare for employment.
Major advising: Biochemistry students receive support from both major and college advisors. Major advisors can assist with career planning as well as research and internship opportunities.
Research experience: Undergraduate research can provide direct experience in research laboratories and is specifically promoted by the Chemistry Department as preparation for graduate school or employment.
Industry exposure: UH Mānoa's Career Center has hosted employer information sessions for organizations such as Johnson & Johnson MedTech, which has specifically identified biochemistry among the bachelor's fields relevant to one of its clinical career opportunities.
Health-professional preparation: The BA's chemistry, biology, physics and biochemistry coursework can fit into preparation for professional programs, although students must check the specific prerequisite requirements of each school. UH Mānoa provides dedicated pre-health advising resources for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry and other professional pathways.
Employment and salary figures: The official UH Mānoa sources reviewed do not publish a program-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure for the Biochemistry BA. Therefore, no salary or employment statistic is presented as though it were a verified program outcome.
University–industry partnerships: The official sources reviewed document employer engagement and career opportunities, but do not establish a formal industry partnership specifically attached to the Biochemistry BA. These should therefore not be represented as program-specific partnerships.
Long-term value: The degree provides a broad scientific foundation that can support progression into graduate-level research or professional education, particularly when students use electives and undergraduate research to develop a more specialized academic profile.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into relevant master's or doctoral-level study in areas such as chemistry, molecular biosciences, biomedical sciences, tropical medicine or other life-science disciplines, depending on the admission and prerequisite requirements of the graduate program. The BA can also be used as a foundation for professional-school pathways such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and other health professions, with students expected to complete the specific prerequisites required by their chosen school.