B.S. Biochemistry – CAS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln combines chemistry, biology, mathematics and quantitative analysis to help students understand how biological systems work at the molecular level. It is well suited to students interested in scientific research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, health professions or graduate study, with three options—Biochemical Analysis, Cellular Biochemistry and Computational Biochemistry—allowing students to shape the degree around their interests.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as Foundational Concepts & Career Opportunities in Biochemistry, General Chemistry I and Calculus I, while also beginning laboratory-based chemistry and biology study. Depending on the selected option, students can also start Computer Science I: Informatics Focus, providing an early introduction to computational approaches to science.

Year 2: Students move into more specialised chemistry and biological sciences through subjects such as Organic Chemistry I, General Genetics, and Scientific Analysis and Technical Writing. The Computational Biochemistry option adds Data Structures and Algorithms for Informatics, while the Cellular and Biochemical Analysis pathways build further knowledge in organic, quantitative and cellular sciences.

Year 3: The core of the degree becomes increasingly focused on biochemistry, with Biochemistry I: Structure and Metabolism, Biochemistry Laboratory, and either General Physics I or Physics for Life Sciences I. Students develop a deeper understanding of biomolecules, metabolism and biological information while gaining practical laboratory experience.

Year 4: Students complete advanced study tailored to their chosen pathway. The Cellular Biochemistry option includes Structural Biology and Biophysical Chemistry, while the Computational Biochemistry option includes Applications of Bioinformatics and a Biochemistry Internship; across the program, Advanced Topics in Biochemistry brings students into current life-science topics and literature research.

Focus Areas

Biochemical analysis, cellular biochemistry, computational biochemistry, molecular biology, metabolism, genetics, structural biology, biophysical chemistry, bioinformatics, scientific data analysis, biotechnology and laboratory research.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to explain how biological systems use and convert energy, connect macromolecular structure with biological function, understand the flow of biological information and apply hypothesis generation, experimental design, quantitative analysis and data interpretation. Computational Biochemistry students additionally develop skills in using computational tools to analyse and interpret biological datasets.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Department of Biochemistry is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). The curriculum is designed to support professional careers in biochemistry and preparation for graduate study and professional fields including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and other health-related areas.

Reputation (Employability)

UNL's Department of Biochemistry describes its program as preparing graduates for careers in areas including medicine, law, pharmaceutical science, biotechnology and agriculture. At the university level, UNL reports that more than 71% of the Class of 2025 graduates secured employment or enrolled in continuing education within six months, with a $60,000 median starting salary; these figures are university-wide rather than specific to Biochemistry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UNL gives Biochemistry students opportunities to connect classroom science with research, laboratory work and professional experience. Students can work directly with faculty researchers, participate in undergraduate research through programs such as UCARE, complete internships in biochemistry-related fields and develop practical skills in scientific analysis, experimental design and data interpretation. The department also places students in an interdisciplinary research environment spanning biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology and computational science.

Students can build practical experience through:

Biochemistry Laboratory: BIOC 433 – Biochemistry Laboratory provides dedicated laboratory training within the major and supports students' development of practical biochemical skills.
Scientific research: BIOC 98 – Biochemistry Research Experience allows students to undertake research with a UNL faculty supervisor and can be repeated for additional research experience.
Internships: BIOC 95 – Biochemistry Internship provides practical experience and career exploration in a biochemistry-related field, while BIOC 395 – Professional Experience for Biochemistry Careers provides a more extensive internship/co-op pathway of 1–6 credits.
Computational tools: The Computational Biochemistry option includes Computer Science I: Informatics Focus, Data Structures and Algorithms for Informatics, Applications of Bioinformatics, and computational tools for biological dataset analysis.
Research techniques: BIOC 437 – Research Techniques in Biochemistry introduces methods including mass spectrometry, chromatography, electrophoretic fractionation, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, together with computational data and pathway analysis.
UCARE undergraduate research: UNL's Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences (UCARE) supports undergraduates working one-to-one with faculty research advisers on research or creative activities.
Interdisciplinary research centres: Students can benefit from research environments such as the Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, where researchers from biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, medicine and computer science study interactions between cells.
Specialised research facilities: The department's research environment includes access to facilities associated with bioinformatics, biostatistics, high-speed computation, molecular biology, animal imaging and phenotyping, and metabolomics through affiliated research centres.
Career development: The department maintains relationships with local companies seeking students for internships, while the Arts and Sciences Academic and Career Advising Center provides career coaching, internship and job preparation, résumé/application support and interview preparation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biochemistry can lead into professional roles across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, food, agricultural and government-related sectors, while also providing preparation for graduate and professional education. UNL specifically identifies pathways into medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and health-related fields, as well as careers connected with agencies such as the FDA, USDA, U.S. Public Health Service and EPA.

Typical career roles include Biochemist, Research Scientist, Clinical Researcher and Laboratory Scientist:

Career services: The Arts and Sciences Academic and Career Advising Center provides dedicated career coaches who help students explore career options, build experience and prepare applications for internships, jobs and graduate school, including résumé and interview support.
Department career support: The Biochemistry Department maintains relationships with local companies seeking students for internship opportunities and encourages research experiences that provide real-world preparation.
Employment and salary: UNL reports that more than 71% of the Class of 2025 graduates secured employment or continuing education within six months, with a $60,000 median starting salary across the university. These figures are not reported specifically for Biochemistry.
Arts and Sciences salary data: UNL's 2023–24 First Destination Survey reported an average salary of $58,204 for Arts and Sciences graduates working 30 or more hours per week. This is college-level data rather than a Biochemistry-specific salary.
Industry connections: The department has established relationships with local companies for biochemistry-related internships, while graduates have entered fields including pharmaceutical science, biotechnology, agriculture, medicine and other private-industry areas.
Research and professional preparation: Students can develop research experience through faculty mentoring, UCARE and departmental research opportunities, strengthening preparation for scientific employment or advanced study.
Accreditation value: ASBMB accreditation provides an externally recognised academic standard for the Biochemistry program and supports preparation for professional and postgraduate pathways.
Graduation pathways: The program is explicitly structured to support employment in chemical, food, feed and pharmaceutical industries and federal agencies, alongside graduate and professional education in health and life-science fields.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's and doctoral study in biochemistry and related life-science disciplines. The degree also provides preparation for professional programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and other health-related fields; UNL's Biochemistry Department also offers graduate programs for students who wish to continue into advanced biochemistry research.