Bachelor of science degrees major in biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Notre Dame

Program Overview

The Biochemistry B.S. at the University of Notre Dame explores the chemical foundations of living systems, combining chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics to understand biological macromolecules and the processes that sustain life. It is particularly well suited to students interested in biomedical research, pharmaceuticals, medicine, dentistry, biotechnology or scientific research, while also providing a strong foundation for professional and graduate study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through CHEM 10181/11181: Introduction to Chemical Principles and Laboratory, MATH 10550: Calculus I, and BIOS 10171/11173: Biology I: Big Questions and Biological Investigations Laboratory. The second semester progresses to CHEM 10182/11182: Organic Structure and Mechanism and Laboratory, alongside Calculus II and Biology II, giving students an integrated grounding in chemistry, biology and quantitative science.

Year 2: Students move into more advanced chemistry through CHEM 20283/21283: Organic Reactions and Applications and Laboratory and CHEM 20284/21284: Chemistry Across the Periodic Table and Laboratory. CHEM 23212: Biochemistry Seminar, CHEM 23201: Chemistry Seminar, CHEM 20262: Mathematical Methods for the Chemical Sciences, and Physics for Life Sciences introduce students to biochemical thinking, scientific communication and quantitative approaches.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes distinctly biochemistry-focused with CHEM 30341: Fundamentals of Biochemistry, CHEM 30342: Intermediary Metabolism, CHEM 30338: Physical Biochemistry, and CHEM 31341: Fundamentals of Biochemistry Laboratory. Students also study BIOS 30341: Cell Biology and BIOS 20303: Fundamentals of Genetics, connecting molecular chemistry with cellular processes, genetics and metabolic pathways.

Year 4: Students advance into CHEM 50531: Molecular Biology and CHEM 30333/31333: Analytical Chemistry I and Laboratory, while completing upper-level laboratory work, electives and the Moreau Senior Capstone. Students can also use approved undergraduate research to satisfy the upper-level biology laboratory requirement, giving the final year a strong research and independent-learning dimension.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, molecular biology, intermediary metabolism, physical biochemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, genetics, cell biology, biological macromolecules, biochemical laboratory techniques, scientific research and quantitative methods.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop a strong understanding of the chemical basis of biological processes, biological macromolecules and metabolism while building laboratory, analytical, problem-solving and scientific communication skills through coursework and research. The program also develops preparation for advanced scientific study and professional pathways including medicine, dentistry and research.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The University of Notre Dame is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), with its accreditation reaffirmed in 2024 for another ten-year period. The university's official accreditation information does not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Biochemistry B.S.; therefore, the program should not be described as having a separate program-specific professional accreditation.

Reputation (Employability & Outcomes)

Notre Dame reports a 97% post-graduation placement rate within six months, covering jobs, graduate school and volunteer opportunities, together with a university-wide median starting salary of $82,000. The university also reports that 500 employers visit campus each year and that 90% of students participate in internships or research projects, providing useful university-wide indicators of career preparation rather than Biochemistry-specific employment statistics.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Notre Dame gives Biochemistry students substantial opportunities to move beyond classroom theory and work with research-grade equipment in undergraduate laboratories. The department emphasizes project-based laboratory work, critical thinking and troubleshooting, while more than 50 research faculty provide opportunities for students to become involved in research; approximately 75% of chemistry and biochemistry majors participate in undergraduate research, commonly beginning around sophomore year.

Students can undertake research for credit or through paid summer opportunities, and undergraduate researchers commonly present their work at national and international conferences and may receive co-authorship on scholarly publications. The department's research infrastructure includes advanced facilities for NMR, mass spectrometry, proteomics, biophysics, genomics, bioinformatics and imaging.

The program's practical opportunities include:

Project-based laboratory courses: Undergraduate laboratories emphasize critical thinking, troubleshooting and hands-on work with research-grade instrumentation.
Biochemistry laboratory training: CHEM 31341: Fundamentals of Biochemistry Laboratory provides dedicated practical training within the biochemistry curriculum.
Undergraduate research: Students can conduct faculty-mentored research, typically beginning in the sophomore year, either for academic credit or through paid summer positions.
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility: Students working in research can access instrumentation supporting analysis ranging from small organic molecules to large biomolecules and proteomics.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility: The facility contains eight spectrometers ranging from 300 to 800 MHz, supporting advanced molecular characterization.
Biophysics Instrumentation Core: Provides sophisticated instrumentation for studying biomolecular conformations and interactions as well as isolating and purifying macromolecules.
Genomics & Bioinformatics Core: Provides sequencing and micro-array services supporting genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics research.
Integrated Imaging Facility: Provides advanced electron microscopy, optical microscopy and small-animal imaging capabilities for research.
Research Computing: Notre Dame's Center for Research Computing provides parallel supercomputers, clusters, grid networks and storage for computational research.
Summer research and internships: Students can pursue Notre Dame summer research fellowships, NSF REU programs, internships and mentor-funded research opportunities.
Honors research: Eligible Biochemistry majors can pursue departmental honors through research, a thesis and at least two semesters of undergraduate research during the junior or senior years.
International study: Biochemistry majors can study abroad, with Notre Dame identifying Dublin as a popular option as well as opportunities in Spain, Mexico, Chile, London and Australia.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry B.S. provides a broad foundation for students who want to enter scientific work or continue into advanced professional and graduate education. Notre Dame reports that many recent chemistry and biochemistry graduates continue to medical or dental school or doctoral study, while others progress into pharmaceuticals, research, teaching, service, law, business and other professional fields.

Typical career directions include biochemist, biochemical researcher, pharmaceutical scientist, laboratory scientist.

Students can build their professional pathway through:

Career Development: Notre Dame's Center for Career Development supports students with career preparation, while the university reports that 500 employers visit campus annually and conduct more than 7,000 interviews.
Research and professional preparation: The department's laboratory curriculum develops observation, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, while its research opportunities can help students prepare for scientific careers and graduate or medical school.
Medical and dental pathways: Notre Dame states that the chemistry and biochemistry programs fulfill medical and dental school requirements and prepare students for the MCAT/DAT. The department reports a high acceptance rate into these professional schools, while the university reports an 84% medical-school admission rate among pre-med graduates overall.
Research-to-industry exposure: The department's facilities support research across chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health and related fields, including advanced mass spectrometry, proteomics, genomics and biophysics capabilities.
Employment outcomes: Notre Dame reports a university-wide 97% successful placement rate within six months and an $82,000 median starting salary; these figures cover all undergraduate fields and are not specific to Biochemistry.
Professional accreditation value: Notre Dame's institutional HLC accreditation was reaffirmed in 2024 for ten years, supporting the institutional standing of its degree programs.
Research recognition: Undergraduate researchers commonly present at national and international conferences and may receive co-authorship on scholarly publications, providing valuable evidence of research experience for graduate and professional applications.
Alumni progression: Recent Biochemistry graduates have progressed to M.D. programs, Ph.D. programs in biomedical sciences, and other advanced degrees, demonstrating the range of postgraduate routes available after the B.S.

Further Academic Progression: After the Biochemistry B.S., students can progress into M.D., dental, Ph.D., master's and other professional programs. Notre Dame specifically highlights the Ph.D. in chemistry-related fields, as well as master's pathways such as the Engineering, Science, & Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence (ESTEEM) Master's Program, M.S. in Global Health and M.S. in Management; students can also pursue doctoral study in biomedical sciences and related disciplines.