B.S. Biochemistry – CASNR

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Nebraska Lincoln

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources gives students a strong foundation in the chemistry and biology of living systems, with three options—Biochemical Analysis, Cellular Biochemistry, and Computational and Systems Biochemistry—to tailor the degree to different interests and career goals. Students explore everything from biomolecules, genetics and metabolism to biotechnology and bioinformatics, making the program suitable for careers in research, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, biotechnology, health sciences and related fields.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as Foundational Concepts & Career Opportunities in Biochemistry, General Chemistry I, Fundamentals of Biology I, and Calculus I, alongside Science and Decision-Making for a Complex World. Students following the Computational and Systems Biochemistry option also begin Computer Science I: Informatics Focus, introducing the computational side of biological science from the start.

Year 2: The curriculum moves deeper into biological and chemical systems through Scientific Analysis and Technical Writing, General Genetics, and Organic Chemistry I and II with their laboratory components. Depending on the selected option, students can also begin developing more specialized skills in quantitative analysis, cellular biology or computational approaches to biochemistry.

Year 3: Students progress into advanced biochemical study with Biochemistry I: Structure and Metabolism and Biochemistry Laboratory, while continuing physics or other option-specific requirements. The Computational and Systems Biochemistry pathway adds courses such as Data Structures and Algorithms for Informatics and Applications of Bioinformatics, giving students direct experience with computational analysis of biological information.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced knowledge and career preparation through Advanced Topics in Biochemistry, with students completing option-specific coursework such as Microbiology, Physical Chemistry, or Research Techniques in Biochemistry. Computational and Systems Biochemistry students can also complete Database Systems, computational/bioinformatic electives and biochemistry internship experiences, bringing together their laboratory, biological and computational skills.

Focus Areas

Biochemical Analysis, Cellular Biochemistry, Computational and Systems Biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, metabolism, microbiology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, computational biology, quantitative analysis, structural biology, molecular bioengineering

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to apply physical and chemical sciences to biological systems, explain biomolecular structure and function, understand information flow through biological systems, analyze and communicate biochemical data, use quantitative and computational techniques, and—within the Computational and Systems Biochemistry option—use discipline-specific bioinformatics tools and software to analyze biological datasets.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Biochemistry is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). As an ASBMB-accredited degree, students take the ASBMB examination during their senior year to demonstrate mastery of the major and earn an ASBMB digital credential.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s agriculture and natural resources programs ranked 40th globally and in the top 9% of nearly 500 institutions in the 2026 QS World University Rankings for agriculture and natural resources. This is a university-level subject ranking rather than a ranking specifically for the B.S. Biochemistry program.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the B.S. Biochemistry program can build practical experience through laboratory-based courses, internships and undergraduate research rather than relying solely on classroom study. CASNR requires undergraduate students to complete an experiential-learning component, while the Biochemistry Department provides dedicated internship and research experiences; students can also work with faculty through UCARE and gain exposure to advanced biotechnology facilities covering bioinformatics, microscopy, flow cytometry, Cryo-EM, proteomics and metabolomics.

Key opportunities include:

Biochemistry Laboratory (BIOC 433): Provides dedicated laboratory training as part of the core biochemistry curriculum.
Biochemistry Internship (BIOC 95): A zero-credit experiential-learning course specifically designed for biochemistry internships.
Professional Experience for Biochemistry Careers (BIOC 395): Provides practical experience and career exploration/development in a biochemistry-related field and can carry 1–6 credits.
Biochemistry Research Experience (BIOC 98): Provides an avenue for students to gain undergraduate research experience.
UCARE: The Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience program supports students working one-on-one with faculty research advisors on research or creative projects during the academic year or summer.
Research Techniques in Biochemistry (BIOC 437): Available within the Computational and Systems Biochemistry pathway and provides additional research-focused preparation.
Computational and bioinformatics tools: The Computational and Systems Biochemistry option includes Applications of Bioinformatics, Data Analysis, Database Systems, Data Structures and Algorithms for Informatics, Systems Biology, Genome Analysis, Computational Methods in Bioinformatics and other computational electives.
Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Students have access to a university research environment containing core facilities for Bioinformatics, CryoEM, Flow Cytometry, Microscopy, Proteomics and Metabolomics, and Single Cell Genomics.
Bioinformatics infrastructure: The Bioinformatics Core provides education, analysis and computational services, while its research infrastructure includes high-performance computing resources and life-science databases.
Advanced imaging and analytical facilities: The Microscopy Core includes fluorescence, confocal and electron microscopy, while the biotechnology facilities also support flow cytometry, proteomics/metabolomics and single-cell genomics.
Industry-linked internship examples: The department lists student experiences with organizations including Bayer Crop Science, Neogen Corporation, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Estee Lauder Companies and LI-COR Biosciences.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biochemistry prepares students for careers that combine laboratory science, molecular biology, biotechnology, computational analysis and health-related applications. UNL identifies pathways into industries involving chemicals, foods, feeds and pharmaceuticals, as well as federal agencies and professional fields such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and other health sciences.

Typical career directions include: Biochemist, Research Scientist, Laboratory Technician, Biotechnology Professional

Career development is supported through:

CASNR Career Services: Helps students navigate student jobs, internships and full-time employment, while CASNR faculty, staff and alumni provide support through research, internships, mentorship and networking.
Biochemistry career coaching: The department works with students on opportunities for advanced degrees and related employment and maintains relationships with local companies seeking students for internships.
Internship and employer connections: The department lists student internship experiences with Bayer Crop Science, Neogen Corporation, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Estee Lauder Companies and LI-COR Biosciences, as well as graduate employment examples with Roche, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Black & Veatch and Biotronic Neuronetwork.
CASNR Ensuring Your Future: CASNR states that through its Ensuring Your Future program, participating CASNR students are guaranteed at least one job offer within six months after graduation. This is a CASNR-wide initiative rather than a Biochemistry-specific employment statistic.
Employment and salary information: UNL's official Biochemistry pages provide examples of graduate jobs and internships but do not publish a specific employment rate or average starting salary for the B.S. Biochemistry program. Therefore, a program-specific salary figure should not be entered as an official statistic.
Industry and research exposure: Students can connect their studies with research and internship environments involving organizations such as Bayer Crop Science, Neogen, LI-COR Biosciences, Roche and Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories.
Accreditation value: The program's ASBMB accreditation provides an externally recognized professional framework, and students take the ASBMB examination in their senior year and earn a digital credential.
Graduate and professional pathways: The department reports graduates progressing to master's and doctoral programs as well as medical school, genetic counseling, dentistry and other professional programs.

Further Academic Progression:
Students can continue into graduate study after completing the B.S. in Biochemistry. UNL offers master's and Ph.D. study in biochemistry, while the department also provides a combined B.S. and M.S. pathway in which eligible students can count up to 12 approved graduate credits toward both degrees; the thesis-based route provides an opportunity to carry out and interpret contemporary research. The undergraduate degree also provides preparation for professional programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and other health-related fields.