Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Oregon

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Oregon combines chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics to give students a rigorous understanding of biological molecules and the chemical processes that support life. It is particularly suited to students interested in laboratory science, research, biotechnology, health-related fields or graduate and professional education, with the program placing a strong emphasis on laboratory experience and professional skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific foundation through General Chemistry I, II and III, supported by General Chemistry I, II and III Laboratory courses and calculus. The B.S. also allows CH 329 Research Immersion Laboratory in place of the General Chemistry III laboratory, giving students an opportunity to begin research exposure early in the degree.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into biological and organic chemistry, with BI 281H Accelerated Biology I: Cells, Biochemistry and Physiology, BI 282H Accelerated Biology II: Genetics and Molecular Biology, and the Majors Track Organic Chemistry I–III sequence. Students also complete Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory for Majors, developing the experimental skills needed for advanced biochemical work.

Year 3: Students begin the core upper-division biochemistry sequence through CH 461–463 Biochemistry and CH 467 Biochemistry Laboratory, while also studying General Physics or Foundations of Physics with the associated laboratory courses. The B.S. degree map also introduces CH 401 Research: [Topic], allowing students to connect classroom learning with faculty-supervised research.

Year 4: The final year focuses on CH 411–412 Physical Chemistry, advanced 400-level chemistry or biology courses, and continued CH 401 Research: [Topic]. Students can use advanced electives to explore areas such as RNA Biochemistry, Physical Biochemistry, Structural Biochemistry, Cellular Biochemistry, Computational Chemistry, Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy, or Molecular Evolution, depending on their interests.

Focus areas: Biochemistry, molecular biology, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical and instrumental techniques, molecular genetics, biophysics, chemical biology, computational chemistry, structural biochemistry, cellular biochemistry

Learning outcomes: Students develop conceptual, quantitative and computational understanding of molecular systems; proficiency in laboratory techniques and modern instrumentation; the ability to design, conduct, analyze and communicate biochemical research; scientific communication and teamwork skills; and an understanding of professional ethics and the broader impact of chemistry and biochemistry.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The B.S. in Biochemistry is American Chemical Society (ACS)-certified. The curriculum is aligned with the most recent ACS Guidelines for Chemistry Programs and emphasizes laboratory experience, modern instrumentation, research and professional skills.

Reputation (employability/research): The University of Oregon identifies itself as an R1 research university, and its Chemistry and Biochemistry department reports extensive undergraduate participation in research. The department currently reports 60% of undergraduate majors participating in research, while UO's College of Arts and Sciences reports an estimated wage of $53,000 within one year and $118,000 at 15+ years for CAS alumni overall; these salary figures are college-wide rather than specific to biochemistry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Oregon gives biochemistry students opportunities to move quickly from classroom concepts into hands-on scientific work. The department encourages students to begin exploring research as early as their first year, and students can work in research-equipped laboratories on problems that extend beyond textbook instruction. The department also provides access to advanced instrumentation for protein, nucleic-acid, molecular, imaging and materials analysis, supported by specialist training and research facilities.

Students can develop practical experience through:

Research Immersion Laboratory: CH 329 Research Immersion Laboratory can be used to satisfy the General Chemistry III laboratory requirement, providing an early opportunity to engage with research-based laboratory work.
Faculty-supervised research: Students can contact faculty directly to join research laboratories and investigate areas such as biochemistry/molecular biology, biophysics, bioorganic/chemical biology, optics and spectroscopy, and physical chemistry.
CH 401 Research: B.S. students can complete CH 401 Research: [Topic] as part of the advanced laboratory requirement; students planning graduate school are specifically encouraged to include research in their advanced work, with at least six CH 401 credits required when chemical research is used to satisfy the requirement.
Advanced instrumentation: Research facilities include Agilent HPLC and LC/MS/MS systems, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, DNA sequencers, real-time PCR systems, NMR spectroscopy, surface-plasmon resonance, X-ray crystallography, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and advanced microscopy.
Computational tools: The department provides computational tools as part of its research infrastructure, supporting work that combines molecular science with computational approaches.
Center for Advanced Materials Characterization in Oregon (CAMCOR): Students and researchers can access advanced materials-characterization capabilities including microanalysis, surface analysis, electron microscopy and chemical characterization.
Science Library: The Allan Price Science Commons and Research Library provides more than 300,000 science volumes and 3,500 journals, along with electronic research resources and scientific-computing facilities.
Interdisciplinary research: UO's chemistry and biochemistry researchers work across nine interdisciplinary research institutes and areas including molecular biology, biophysics, materials science, optics and theoretical science.
Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars Program: Chemistry and Biochemistry students can participate in the Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars Program as part of the department's experiential-learning opportunities.
Research participation: The department reports that 60% of undergraduate majors participate in research, giving students substantial opportunities to develop laboratory and scientific research skills.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biochemistry prepares students for scientific careers as well as continued education in professional and graduate programs. UO specifically identifies pathways across environment and health, research and development, quality control and regulatory industries, and law and policy, while its career resources highlight opportunities ranging from medical and biotechnology fields to research laboratories and public health.

Typical career directions include Medical Scientist, Chemist, Laboratory Manager, Forensic Chemist.

Students can strengthen their career preparation through:

University Career Center: Students receive career coaching for career planning, resumes, cover letters, interviews, LinkedIn profiles, job searches and internships. The center also provides access to Handshake, career events and networking opportunities with alumni and employers.
Employment and salary information: UO's College of Arts and Sciences reports an estimated $53K wage within one year and $118K at 15+ years for CAS alumni overall. These figures cover the broader college and should not be treated as biochemistry-specific salary outcomes.
Career pathways: UO's official Chemistry and Biochemistry career information identifies fields including environmental science, forensic science, pharmacy and pharmacology, medicine and medicinal chemistry, neuroscience, biotechnology, molecular biology, materials science, private research laboratories and organizations, as well as roles such as laboratory manager, environmental protection scientist, science policy analyst, basic and applied researcher, and science or health communication specialist.
Employer and alumni connections: The University Career Center connects students with alumni and employers through events and workshops, while its employer-engagement program provides recruiting events, career expos, interview days and internship/job opportunities.
Research preparation: Undergraduate research develops experimental methods, scientific reasoning and laboratory experience that UO says can help students secure post-graduation employment and make informed career choices.
Professional alignment: The ACS-certified curriculum provides a structured professional foundation in chemistry and biochemistry, including laboratory techniques, modern instrumentation, research, scientific communication, teamwork and ethics.
Graduate and professional preparation: The program learning outcomes explicitly prepare students for advanced education in professional and graduate schools, scientific careers in government or industry, teaching careers and related fields.
Research and honors: Students seeking deeper research experience can pursue departmental honors, which requires substantial supervised laboratory research and at least one academic year of research activity.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into graduate or professional education in areas related to biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, medicine, health sciences and other scientific disciplines. For students planning graduate school, UO specifically recommends incorporating research into advanced coursework, while the department's honors route offers an additional research-intensive pathway before postgraduate study.