Bachelor's in Biophysics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of San Diego

Program Overview

The University of San Diego’s Biophysics B.S. combines physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics to explore living systems quantitatively, with applications ranging from molecular and cellular processes to biomaterials, neuroscience, biomedical devices and drug delivery. It is designed for students who enjoy both physical and life sciences and want substantial laboratory and research experience alongside preparation for biotechnology, biomedical engineering, healthcare, graduate study or professional health programmes.

Curriculum Structure

Freshman Year: Students build the scientific foundation for the major through MATH 150 Calculus I, CHEM 151/151L General Chemistry I and Laboratory, and BIOL 240/240L Bioenergetics and Systems and Laboratory. They then begin physics with PHYS 270/270L Introduction to Mechanics and Mechanics Lab, while continuing mathematics and chemistry to establish the quantitative background required for advanced biophysics.

Sophomore Year: The curriculum progresses into PHYS 271/271L Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, PHYS 281 Introduction to Optics, and PHYS 272/272L Introduction to Modern Physics and Laboratory. Students simultaneously study PHYS 282 Introduction to Methods in Computational Physics, BIOL 242/242L Genomes and Evolution and Laboratory, and CHEM 301/301L Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory, strengthening their computational, biological and experimental skills.

Junior Year: Students move into specialised biophysics through PHYS 319 Thermal and Statistical Physics, PHYS 381 Experimental Biophysics, and PHYS 340 Biological Physics. They also begin formal research through PHYS 400 Research Forum and PHYS 496 Research, while CHEM 331 Biochemistry connects chemical principles with biological structure and function.

Senior Year: The final year develops advanced research, communication and interdisciplinary skills through BIOL 300 Genetics, PHYS 493 Seminar I: The Craft of Scientific Presentation, and PHYS 495 Seminar II: Frontiers of Physics. Students continue PHYS 496 Research and can select advanced areas such as PHYS 325 Introduction to Fluids and PHYS 371 Computational Physics, allowing them to tailor the degree toward their scientific or professional goals.

Focus Areas

Molecular and cellular biophysics, biological physics, biomaterials, DNA dynamics, cellular transport, force spectroscopy, microscopy, thermodynamics, optics, computational physics, genetics, biochemistry and biomedical applications.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop quantitative scientific reasoning, laboratory and computational skills, interdisciplinary knowledge across physics, biology and chemistry, experimental research abilities, scientific communication skills and the ability to apply physical principles to biological systems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official USD Biophysics pages describe the programme as an interdisciplinary B.S. but do not identify a separate professional or programme-specific accreditation for the Biophysics major. Its curriculum instead emphasizes advanced laboratory training, research, quantitative reasoning and preparation for graduate and professional pathways.

Reputation (Employability)

USD reports that Biophysics graduates pursue biotechnology, immunology, pharmaceuticals, data science and biomedical engineering careers, while others enter medical, dental, veterinary and graduate programmes. Across the Physics and Biophysics alumni data presented by USD, 45% are employed and 40% are furthering their education, and 85.7% of 2022–25 respondents received their first full-time job offer within three months of graduating. These figures are department-level alumni outcomes rather than Biophysics-B.S.-only statistics.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biophysics B.S. is strongly research-oriented, with research participation required for Physics and Biophysics majors and students encouraged to begin faculty-mentored research as early as possible. Through advanced laboratory courses and research laboratories, students work with specialised instrumentation and learn wet-lab, computational and quantitative techniques used to investigate molecular and cellular systems.

Students develop practical expertise through:

Experimental Biophysics: PHYS 381 Experimental Biophysics is the primary upper-division laboratory course and covers fluorescence and force spectroscopy, molecular diffusion, fluctuation-dissipation theory and viscoelasticity, combining wet-lab techniques with computational methods.
Advanced instrumentation: Students gain first-hand experience with optical tweezers, light-sheet microscopy, laser-scanning confocal microscopy, ultracentrifugation and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
Optics laboratory training: PHYS 281 Introduction to Optics provides hands-on work with reflection, refraction, image formation, lasers, coherence, diffraction, interference and polarization—techniques used in experimental physics and biophysics.
Computational methods: PHYS 282 Introduction to Methods in Computational Physics and the suggested PHYS 371 Computational Physics develop computational approaches for solving and interpreting physics and biophysics problems.
Faculty-mentored research: Students can work directly with faculty on research in molecular and cellular biophysics, biomaterials, cellular transport, DNA dynamics, force spectroscopy, microscopy and cytoskeleton mechanics.
Research for academic credit: PHYS 496 Research allows students to conduct research during the semester or summer for upper-division credit, and many students complete multiple semesters or summers of research.
Research Forum: PHYS 400 Research Forum introduces students to the department's research environment and complements their faculty-guided research experience.
Scientific writing and presentation: PHYS 493 Seminar I: The Craft of Scientific Presentation and PHYS 495 Seminar II: Frontiers of Physics develop scientific communication and exposure to current research.
Paid research: USD's STAR (Summer Training in Advanced Research) programme provides eligible undergraduates with a 10-week full-time summer research or creative-work experience under faculty mentorship.
Student research publications: USD highlights undergraduate co-authorship and research presentations in its Physics and Biophysics research programme, including student work published in scientific journals.
Research facilities: Faculty research includes development and use of advanced optical tools, including optical tweezers, fluorescence microscopy and light-sheet microscopy, providing students with exposure to specialised biophysical research methods.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biophysics B.S. prepares students for careers that apply quantitative physical science to biological and biomedical problems, with USD specifically identifying biotechnology, immunology, pharmaceuticals, data science and biomedical engineering as employment areas. The programme also fulfils the pre-health requirements identified by USD and supports progression into medical, dental and veterinary school as well as graduate programmes in biophysics, biochemistry, bioengineering and medical physics.

Typical job roles include Biophysics Researcher, Biomedical Researcher, Biotechnology Research Associate and Biomedical Engineering Researcher.

Students can strengthen their professional preparation through:

Faculty mentorship: USD emphasises individual faculty mentorship and hands-on learning, while students can work directly with research faculty on interdisciplinary projects.
Research experience: Required research and advanced laboratory work give students practical experience that can support applications for graduate school, professional programmes and scientific employment.
Career and internship pathways: USD's Physics and Biophysics department identifies biotechnology, immunology, pharmaceuticals, data science and biomedical engineering as career areas for Biophysics graduates.
Employment outcomes: USD's Physics and Biophysics alumni data reports 45% employed, 40% furthering education, 10% seeking employment and 5% not seeking employment. These figures are for the combined Physics and Biophysics alumni group, rather than Biophysics B.S. alone.
First job offer: 85.7% of 2022–25 respondents received their first full-time job offer within three months of graduation in the combined Physics and Biophysics outcome data.
Salary information: USD's university-wide 2024–25 career outcomes report gives an average annual starting salary of $77,620 and a median of $75,000 across undergraduate graduates; it does not provide a Biophysics-specific salary figure.
Industry exposure: Faculty research and student projects connect biophysics education with areas such as biomedical engineering, biomaterials, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and advanced microscopy.
Research funding and partnerships: USD reports that Physics and Biophysics student research has been supported by more than $6.6 million in external faculty research grants since 2010, providing a substantial research environment for undergraduate participation.
Graduation outcomes: USD's broader 2024–25 undergraduate data reports a 94% career outcomes rate, consisting of employment, further education, military, service and other positive outcomes; this is university-wide and should not be interpreted as a Biophysics-specific rate.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can pursue graduate degrees in biophysics, biochemistry, bioengineering or medical physics, or continue into professional programmes such as medical, dental or veterinary school. The strong foundation in physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, research and pre-health coursework also supports further study in related biomedical and life-science disciplines.