Biochemistry BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Massachusetts Boston

Program Overview

UMass Boston’s Biochemistry B.S. gives students an interdisciplinary foundation in the chemical processes that drive living organisms, combining biology, chemistry, calculus and physics with extensive laboratory learning. It is particularly suited to students interested in areas such as human physiology, marine science, bioinformatics, molecular biology or scientific research, with opportunities to complete an independent research project in a Biology or Chemistry laboratory.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the core scientific foundations through courses such as BIOL 111 – General Biology I, BIOL 112 – General Biology II, CHEM 115 – Chemical Principles I Lecture and CHEM 116 – Chemical Principles II Lecture, alongside their corresponding laboratory work. These courses establish fundamental concepts in biology and chemistry while introducing students to hands-on laboratory learning.

Second Year: Students progress into more specialized chemistry and biology through CHEM 251 – Organic Chemistry I Lecture, CHEM 252 – Organic Chemistry II Lecture, BIOL 210 – Cell Biology and BIOL 252 – Genetics. At this stage, students deepen their understanding of organic reactions, cellular processes and genetic mechanisms while continuing to develop practical laboratory skills.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into advanced analytical and molecular topics through courses such as CHEM 311 – Analytical Chemistry, CHEM 312 – Physical Chemistry, BIOL 370 – Molecular Biology and BIOCHM 383 – Biochemistry I. Students connect chemical principles with molecular and biological systems and build the quantitative and analytical skills needed for advanced scientific work.

Fourth Year: Students consolidate their knowledge through BIOCHM 384 – Biochemistry II, BIOCHM 385 – Biochemistry Lab I and BIOCHM 386 – Biochemistry Lab II, while recommended options such as BIOCHM 491 – Directed Research in Biochemistry I, BIOCHM 492 – Directed Research in Biochemistry II, BIOL 360 – Bioinformatics and CHEM 361 – Analytical Instrumentation can provide additional research or technical preparation. UMass Boston states that students receive approximately 300 hours of laboratory experience, and undergraduate research is strongly recommended as an integrative experience.

Focus Areas

Analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, laboratory science, calculus, physics, bioinformatics, scientific research and quantitative data analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to design experiments, formulate testable hypotheses, analyze and evaluate scientific data, apply quantitative reasoning, use scientific literature, communicate scientific findings, work effectively in teams, follow laboratory safety practices and apply concepts across chemistry and biology.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Biochemistry B.S. is included among UMass Boston programs accredited/certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The university’s official accreditation documentation lists Biochemistry, BS under the American Chemical Society, with the accreditation period shown as 2022–2029.

Reputation / Employability

UMass Boston is classified as an R1 research university, and its College of Science and Mathematics emphasizes substantial undergraduate research and access to advanced research infrastructure. The Biochemistry B.S. itself does not have a separate program-specific QS or Guardian ranking identified on the official university sources reviewed, so no external ranking is attributed to the program here.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Experiential learning is a major component of UMass Boston’s Biochemistry B.S., with the university specifying approximately 300 hours of laboratory experience across the curriculum. Students can also undertake independent research in biochemistry-related laboratories in Biology or Chemistry, work with faculty researchers and gain exposure to advanced instrumentation through UMass Boston’s research infrastructure.

Students can build these practical skills through:

Independent undergraduate research: Students can complete an independent research project in a biochemistry-related laboratory within the Departments of Biology or Chemistry. Faculty from other science departments may also serve as research mentors when their work involves biochemical research.
Directed research courses: BIOCHM 491 – Directed Research in Biochemistry I and BIOCHM 492 – Directed Research in Biochemistry II are recommended options for students seeking structured research experience.
Advanced laboratory work: CHEM 481 – Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry I and CHEM 482 – Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry II are also recommended research-oriented courses.
Bioinformatics: BIOL 360 – Bioinformatics is a recommended elective, allowing students to complement their biochemical training with computational approaches to biological data.
Analytical instrumentation: CHEM 361 – Analytical Instrumentation is available as a recommended elective for students wanting additional exposure to analytical techniques and instrumentation.
Biophysical instrumentation: The university’s Biophysical Instrumentation Core includes fluorescence and fluorescence-anisotropy systems, circular and linear dichroism spectroscopy, absorbance spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, dynamic and multi-angle light scattering, isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry.
Genomics facilities: The Genomics Core includes an Illumina NextSeq 2000, 10X Genomics single-cell and spatial platforms, Agilent instrumentation, NanoString technology and a QuantStudio real-time PCR system.
Proteomics: The Proteomics Core uses an Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid mass spectrometer, with Thermo Xcalibur, Proteome Discoverer and ProSightLite software used for instrument operation and data analysis.
Chemistry research equipment: Chemistry facilities include NMR, GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, centrifuges, incubators, microplate readers and other biochemical and analytical equipment.
Computational resources: The Chemistry Department provides specialized GPU workstations and a high-performance computing cluster with 144 GPUs, with Gaussian ’09 and Spartan ’18 multiuser licenses available for computational chemistry.
Integrated Sciences Complex: The Integrated Sciences Complex houses state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms and provides collaborative research space for science students and researchers.
Research groups: Students interested in biochemistry can explore research groups working in areas including structural biochemistry, protein dynamics, enzymology, proteomics, immunology, bioinformatics, toxicology, medicinal chemistry, microbiology and cancer-related research.
Career-connected experience: UMass Boston’s Academic & Career Engagement and Success Center provides internship and job-search assistance, résumé and cover-letter reviews, LinkedIn and networking assistance, interview preparation and practice interviews.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry B.S. provides a foundation for scientific careers across laboratory, healthcare, environmental, forensic and life-science settings, while also supporting progression into advanced study. UMass Boston specifically identifies careers such as laboratory technician, chemical engineer, forensic scientist, life sciences consultant, wildlife biologist, pharmacist and physician for Biochemistry majors.

Typical career roles include: Laboratory Technician, Forensic Scientist, Life Sciences Consultant, Wildlife Biologist

Career development and graduate opportunities include:

Career advising: UMass Boston’s Academic & Career Engagement and Success Center provides career exploration, résumé and cover-letter critiques, internship and job-search assistance, LinkedIn and networking support, interview preparation and practice interviews.
Internship and employment access: Students can use Handshake to access jobs and internships posted for UMass Boston students and receive support with the search process.
Research-to-employment preparation: Students can gain experience with advanced scientific instrumentation through the university’s research core facilities. UMass Boston states that more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students have been trained on cutting-edge scientific instrumentation through these facilities.
Industry connections: UMass Boston reports that its research core facilities engage with 70+ life science, technology and electronics companies through collaborations, providing a connection between university research capabilities and external organizations.
Research environment: The university describes its research environment as interdisciplinary, with faculty mentorship and access to advanced laboratories, specialized research centers and extensive library resources.
Employment statistics: UMass Boston maintains an official Student Outcomes dashboard covering first destination, top employers, starting salary and employment locations; however, the current dashboard states that it does not have enough student data to display these results. Therefore, a Biochemistry B.S.-specific employment percentage or salary figure should not be entered from this source.
Program-specific research opportunities: The Biochemistry program brings together Biology and Chemistry researchers working in areas including medicinal chemistry, protein dynamics, immunology, proteomics, bioinformatics, toxicology, neurobiology and cancer-related research.
Long-term professional value: The program's ACS accreditation provides a recognized professional framework for the chemistry and biochemistry education, while the degree's extensive laboratory and research preparation can support progression into scientific employment or further academic/professional education.
Graduation requirements: Students must complete at least 78 credits from the required biochemistry, biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics curriculum and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA across biochemistry, biology and chemistry courses.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Biochemistry B.S., students can use their interdisciplinary foundation and research experience to pursue graduate or professional education in areas related to biochemistry, biology, chemistry, biotechnology and the health sciences. The university specifically identifies pathways toward professional careers such as pharmacy and medicine, while recommended research courses and independent research can strengthen preparation for postgraduate academic opportunities.