Biochemistry, BA

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Pennsylvania

Program Overview

The Biochemistry, BA at the University of Pennsylvania gives students a rigorous understanding of the molecular basis of life by combining chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology, making it a strong choice for students interested in biotechnology, molecular biology, medicine, research and related life-science fields. The 36-course-unit major builds from foundational science into advanced biological chemistry and includes a substantial two-semester mentored research experience in a Penn faculty laboratory.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the scientific and mathematical foundation of the major through courses such as MATH 1400 Calculus, Part I, MATH 1410 Calculus, Part II, CHEM 1012 General Chemistry I, CHEM 1022 General Chemistry II, and CHEM 1101/1102 General Chemistry Laboratories I and II. Physics preparation also begins with PHYS 0150 Principles of Physics I: Mechanics and Wave Motion, building the quantitative foundation needed for later physical chemistry.

Year 2: The second year moves deeper into molecular science through CHEM 2411 Principles of Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory, CHEM 2421 Principles of Organic Chemistry II with Laboratory, and CHEM 2510 Principles of Biological Chemistry. Students also complete PHYS 0151 Principles of Physics II: Electromagnetism and Radiation, while beginning to explore research opportunities and identify a potential faculty research group.

Year 3: Students progress into the more advanced chemistry underlying biological systems with CHEM 2210 Physical Chemistry I and CHEM 2220 Physical Chemistry II, while moving into CHEM 5510 Biological Chemistry I and preparing for CHEM 5520 Biological Chemistry II. By this stage, students confirm their host principal investigator and research group, with many students already beginning independent research through opportunities such as BCHE 2999 Independent Study.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced biochemical knowledge and research, including CHEM 5520 Biological Chemistry II and the two-semester BCHE 4597 Biochemistry Laboratory sequence. Students spend both semesters conducting mentored research with a Penn principal investigator, applying their scientific knowledge to genuine research questions in a faculty laboratory.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, cell biology, chemical biology, genetic engineering, genomics, molecular biology, molecular genetics, nanotechnology, neurobiology, structural biology, systems biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, biological chemistry and biomedical research.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to understand molecular and biological systems through chemistry and physics, apply mathematics and physical-science principles to experimental and computational studies, perform laboratory research, interpret scientific results, work within research teams and communicate scientific findings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Biochemistry BA is an interdisciplinary academic major within Penn's School of Arts and Sciences rather than a professionally licensed degree. Penn's official program information does not identify a separate specialized professional accreditation for the Biochemistry BA, so no program-specific accreditation should be assumed.

Reputation (Employability Rankings / Official Statistics)

Penn's official outcomes data reports that 91% of the Class of 2025 graduates were working full-time or continuing their education within six months, while graduates employed full-time had a median starting salary of $103,418. Penn also reports that 19.6% of 2025 graduates pursued further education, with more than one-third of those pursuing doctoral degrees, supporting the strong research and postgraduate orientation of a science major such as Biochemistry.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Research is not simply an optional activity in Penn's Biochemistry BA—it is a required part of the major. Students complete BCHE 4597 Biochemistry Laboratory across their final two semesters and conduct mentored research with a principal investigator, while research involvement can begin earlier through BCHE 2999 Independent Study. Penn's Biochemistry program places students within an unusually large research ecosystem, with approximately 1,000 independent basic and applied science research laboratories on or adjacent to campus.

Students can develop hands-on laboratory and research skills through opportunities such as:

Mentored faculty research: Students work directly with a Penn principal investigator during the required two-semester BCHE 4597 research sequence, gaining experience with authentic scientific investigation.
Independent research: Students may begin research for academic credit through BCHE 2999 Independent Study, with many students joining a faculty group during their second or third year.
Experimental laboratory techniques: Penn undergraduate research opportunities can involve techniques such as protein and DNA gel electrophoresis, column chromatography/FPLC, bacterial and mammalian cell culture, PCR, restriction-site cloning, site-directed mutagenesis and fluorescence microscopy.
Chemistry teaching and research laboratories: Penn's Chemistry 1958 Wing contains General Chemistry Teaching Labs, Organic Chemistry Teaching Labs, Regional Laser and Biomedical Technology Laboratories, and School of Medicine radiology research space.
Research across disciplines: Students can work in Penn's broad biomedical research community, connecting biochemical study with molecular biology, biophysics, biotechnology, medicine and other scientific fields.
Undergraduate research support: Penn's Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) helps students identify research opportunities, faculty mentors and potential research funding, including programs such as the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
Research safety and training: Undergraduate researchers working in Penn laboratories receive required laboratory safety training and appropriate supervision before beginning laboratory activities.
Research communication and collaboration: Penn's undergraduate research environment allows students to develop scientific investigation skills while learning how research progresses from university laboratories toward careers in government and industry.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry BA prepares graduates for advanced study as well as scientific and biotechnology careers, with Penn specifically identifying graduate programs, health professional schools, biotechnology and science teaching among the pathways supported by the major. The required research experience also gives students direct exposure to how scientific careers develop from undergraduate study into research positions in academia, government and industry.

Typical career directions include Biochemist, Biotechnologist, Research Scientist, Laboratory Scientist.

Students can build their professional pathway through:

Career services: Penn Career Services provides undergraduate students with career exploration and post-graduation resources, including information on employers, job titles, graduate schools, industries and salaries through its outcomes tools.
Employment outcomes: Across Penn's undergraduate population, 91% of the Class of 2025 were working full-time or continuing education within six months, and the median starting salary for full-time employed graduates was $103,418. These are university-wide undergraduate figures, not Biochemistry-specific salary statistics.
Research-to-industry exposure: Penn's Biochemistry program states that students are exposed to the transition from academic research laboratories to positions in government and industry, providing a broader view of scientific career possibilities.
Extensive research network: Students can engage with approximately 1,000 independent basic and applied science research laboratories on or adjacent to the Penn campus, creating substantial opportunities for research experience and faculty connections.
Undergraduate research support: CURF helps students identify faculty mentors, research opportunities and funding, including research experiences both at Penn and beyond campus.
Graduate and professional preparation: The major's combination of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology and research provides a strong foundation for graduate and health professional education.
Long-term accreditation value: No separate professional accreditation is listed for the Biochemistry BA; its long-term value instead comes from Penn's interdisciplinary scientific curriculum, research-intensive training and access to the University's biomedical research ecosystem.
Graduation outcomes: Penn reports that 19.6% of the Class of 2025 pursued further education, with more than one-third of those continuing into doctoral degrees, demonstrating the University's strong postgraduate progression overall.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's and PhD programs in biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, chemical biology, structural biology, systems biology and related life sciences. The major also provides the scientific foundation for medical, dental and other health-professional schools, while students interested in research can build on their undergraduate laboratory experience through doctoral study or research-focused postgraduate programs.