BA/BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Iowa

Program Overview

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program at the University of Iowa explores the chemical and biological processes that govern living systems, combining biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science for students interested in science, medicine, research, dentistry, or other health professions. Students can pursue either a BA, which offers greater flexibility for pre-health preparation, additional disciplines, clinical experiences, or double majors, or a BS, which provides additional science and laboratory preparation for research careers and graduate study.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: BA and BS students begin with the same foundational curriculum, including CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I, MATH:1850 Calculus I or an approved calculus alternative, and BIOL:1411 Foundations of Biology. Students establish the chemistry, mathematics, and biological-science foundation needed for more advanced biochemical study while also completing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.

Second Year: Students continue with CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II, CHEM:2210/2230 Organic Chemistry I, BIOL:1412 Diversity of Form and Function, and subsequent organic chemistry and laboratory work. The common BA/BS curriculum builds a stronger understanding of molecular structure, biological systems, chemical reactions, and experimental laboratory practice.

Third Year: Students move into the program's core biochemical curriculum with BMB:3120 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, BMB:3130 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, and BMB:3140 Experimental Biochemistry, alongside physics and science electives. At this stage, students begin connecting molecular mechanisms with laboratory experimentation and can increasingly tailor their studies toward pre-health, research, or other scientific interests.

Fourth Year: Students complete advanced study such as BMB:4240 Biophysics and Advanced Biochemistry and additional science electives, while BS students undertake further research-oriented and laboratory-intensive coursework, including the Development of Senior Research Project. BS students can also complete BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research, while qualified students in either degree may pursue honors research and present their findings at the Lata Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Focus areas

Biochemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology, developmental biology, computational biology, structural biology, biophysics, experimental biochemistry, chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, research, medicine, dentistry, and other health sciences.

Learning outcomes

Students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of biochemical and molecular processes and gain practical laboratory and research experience. The program also develops students' ability to investigate scientific questions through coursework, independent research, advanced laboratory study, and scientific communication.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The University of Iowa's official program and catalog pages do not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BA/BS. The program is housed within the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Carver College of Medicine, while the undergraduate degrees are awarded through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Reputation (official outcomes)

The University of Iowa reports that 95% of Iowa graduates are employed, continuing their education, or not seeking work within six months of graduation. For Biochemistry and Molecular Biology specifically, the university reports that approximately one-third of majors go on to study medicine, while others enter graduate or professional programs or careers in industry and research.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Practical research is a major part of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Iowa, with students encouraged to participate in one-on-one laboratory research alongside faculty and become affiliated with active departmental research laboratories through independent study or honors courses. The department provides access to well-equipped research laboratories and specialized shared facilities covering areas such as protein structure, genomics, nuclear magnetic resonance, microscopy, and other biomedical research techniques.

Students can gain hands-on scientific experience through:

BMB:3140 Experimental Biochemistry: A core laboratory course giving students direct experience with experimental biochemistry.
BMB:3993 Undergraduate Biochemistry Research: Students conduct directed research with a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology faculty member and perform experiments connected with an active research project.
BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research: Students undertake an individualized research project, investigate scientific literature, and present their research results.
Senior Research Project: BS students complete a Development of Senior Research Project component as part of their additional research-focused curriculum.
Honors research: Students completing honors in the major undertake 6 semester hours of BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research and present their research as both a written manuscript and an oral presentation at the Lata Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Industry internships: The department encourages students to pursue industry internships to gain additional research experience and become familiar with industrial research environments.
Department research employment: Students can apply for part-time positions in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and assist with ongoing research projects.
Research laboratories: The department has 19 well-equipped research laboratories supporting research in areas including biochemistry and molecular, cellular, developmental, computational, and structural biology.
Protein Structure, Analysis, & Design Core: Students and researchers can access this shared Carver College of Medicine resource as part of the university's biomedical research infrastructure.
Genomics resources: The Iowa Institute of Human Genetics Genomics Division (DNA Facility) is among the shared Carver College of Medicine resources available to department researchers.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility: The department lists the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility among its shared research resources.
Central Microscopy Research Facility: Students and researchers have access to this shared facility as part of the Carver College of Medicine research infrastructure.
Biochemistry Reading Room: The department maintains the Mattill Biochemistry Reading Room as one of its departmental resources.
Biochemistry Undergraduate Majors Club: Students can join the club to explore biochemistry careers and graduate-study opportunities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BA/BS provides pathways into research, medicine, dentistry, chemistry, biology, health services, industry, and advanced study. The BA is particularly flexible for pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, pre-dental, other pre-health interests, and double majors, while the BS is designed more specifically for students seeking research careers or graduate programs such as an MS, PhD, or MD/PhD.

Typical job roles include: Research Assistant, Research Technician, Laboratory Researcher, Biochemistry Research Assistant.

Students can strengthen their progression through:

Pomerantz Career Center: The university's Pomerantz Career Center provides resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Industry internships: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology students are encouraged to undertake industry internships to gain research experience and understand professional industrial research environments.
Research employment: Students can apply for departmental part-time research positions and contribute to ongoing research projects.
Graduate and professional study: The university identifies medicine, dentistry, graduate programs, professional degree programs, and research careers as progression routes for graduates.
Medicine progression: About one-third of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology majors go on to study medicine, according to the university's admissions page.
Overall graduate outcomes: The University of Iowa reports that 95% of Iowa graduates are employed, continuing education, or not seeking work within six months of graduation. This is a university-wide figure rather than a Biochemistry-specific employment rate.
Research network: Department faculty conduct research supported by organizations including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society, giving students the opportunity to learn in an active research environment.
Research-to-career preparation: The BS is specifically structured for students seeking research careers, including employment as research scientists or technicians and progression into MS, PhD, or MD/PhD programs.
Teaching opportunities: The department offers BMB:3800 Biochemistry Teaching Practicum, where qualified junior and senior students can contribute to undergraduate courses, hold review sessions and office hours, assist in laboratories, and help with course implementation.
Salary information: The official Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program pages do not publish a specific graduate salary figure, so no program-specific salary amount is included here.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into the University of Iowa's MS or PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or pursue professional education in medicine, dentistry, and other health-related fields. The BS also offers a particularly strong route into Iowa's combined BS/PhD program, which allows eligible students to transition into the PhD during their senior year and count 12 semester hours toward both degrees; eligible students must have 108 undergraduate semester hours, a minimum 3.50 GPA, four semesters of research experience, and the required core BMB courses.