Biochemistry degree - BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of the Pacific

Program Overview

The BS in Biochemistry at the University of the Pacific explores the molecular basis of life, combining chemistry and biology to help students understand biological processes and contribute to areas such as drug discovery and disease research. It is well suited to students interested in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, pharmaceutical research or scientific careers, with a strong emphasis on laboratory work, faculty mentorship and undergraduate research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific foundation through courses such as CHEM 025 General Chemistry, CHEM 027 General Chemistry and BIOL 051 Principles of Biology, alongside Pacific's general education curriculum. These courses establish the core chemical and biological concepts needed for more advanced study.

Year 2: Students progress into more specialized chemistry and biology, including CHEM 121 Organic Chemistry, CHEM 123 Organic Chemistry and BIOL 061 Principles of Biology. The curriculum develops a stronger understanding of chemical reactions and biological systems while continuing the mathematical and scientific preparation required for upper-level biochemistry.

Year 3: The program moves directly into molecular-level study through CHEM 151 Biochemistry I, CHEM 153 Biochemistry II and CHEM 157 Biochemistry Laboratory. Depending on their selected track, students can also explore subjects such as Genetics, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Cancer Biology or Immunology.

Year 4: Students deepen their expertise through advanced chemistry, biology and research-oriented study. The ACS-accredited track includes courses such as CHEM 141 Analytical Chemistry, CHEM 161 Physical Chemistry – Thermodynamics and Kinetics, CHEM 171 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, and options such as CHEM 167 Experimental Physical Chemistry or CHEM 197 Independent Research.

Focus areas

Biochemistry, molecular biology, organic chemistry, biological processes, drug discovery, disease research, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, genetics, microbiology, cell biology and pharmaceutical science.

Learning outcomes

Students develop a strong foundation in chemical and biological principles, laboratory and analytical skills, quantitative reasoning and scientific problem-solving, while gaining opportunities to apply their knowledge through research and modern scientific instrumentation.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The BS in Biochemistry follows national guidelines and is aligned with prerequisites for professional schools. Students can also choose an ACS-accredited track, which adds advanced chemistry, mathematics, biology and research coursework; the department itself is ACS accredited.

Reputation (employability rankings)

University-level outcomes provide useful context for the program: Pacific reports that 91% of graduates who responded to its survey were working in their field or pursuing further education within six months of graduation. Pacific also reports a #4 ranking for Best Value in California in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, while its official rankings page lists #1 in career earnings among U.S. colleges and universities with the highest percentage of Pell Grant recipients, based on Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce data.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS in Biochemistry is strongly research-oriented, giving undergraduates opportunities to work directly with faculty and graduate students on active research projects. Students can use modern chemistry instrumentation, participate in research for academic credit or, when funding and qualifications permit, as paid research associates; Pacific also offers paid summer research opportunities, conference presentation opportunities and the possibility of contributing to published research.

Students can build practical experience through the department's research environment and internships, with Pacific chemistry students having interned at organizations including Agilent Technologies, Gilead Sciences, Genentech, MasSpec Lab and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Key opportunities and resources include:

Undergraduate research: Students can join faculty research groups and work alongside graduate students and faculty supervisors on current projects.
Drug discovery and disease research: Research areas include organic synthesis, biochemistry, spectroscopy, bioanalytical chemistry and drug discovery/design.
Mass spectrometry: The Department of Chemistry has a dedicated mass spectrometry facility, including advanced mass-spectrometric instrumentation.
600 MHz NMR facility: Students have access to a high-field magnetic resonance facility supporting advanced chemical analysis and research.
Computational resources: The department maintains powerful computational resources and a computer cluster supporting research and computational chemistry.
Biochemistry laboratory: CHEM 157 Biochemistry Laboratory provides dedicated laboratory study within the degree curriculum.
Independent research: CHEM 197 Independent Research can form part of the ACS-accredited pathway, allowing students to undertake supervised research.
Research publications and conferences: Pacific reports that chemistry faculty have co-authored 106 peer-reviewed research papers over the last decade, often with undergraduate or graduate student researchers, and students can present their research at conferences.
Paid summer research: Students can undertake paid summer research with faculty members, subject to available funding and qualifications.
University Libraries: The Stockton Campus Library provides research support, subject guides, research consultations, digital resources and study facilities. University Libraries overall provide access to more than 260,000 physical volumes, 750,000 e-book titles, 230,000 serials and 223 online databases.
Academic support: The Stockton library's Student Academic Support Services Hub includes tutoring, a Math Hub, Bio Hub, writing support and research consultations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Biochemistry can prepare graduates for laboratory and biotechnology roles as well as further professional or graduate education. Pacific specifically identifies pathways into medical, dental and pharmacy schools, research and industry, while its program page highlights laboratory technician opportunities in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Typical career directions include: Biochemistry Laboratory Technician, Biotechnology Laboratory Technician, Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician, Research Assistant.

Career development opportunities include:

Career Services: Pacific provides career advising, job and internship searches, resume and cover-letter support, graduate-school planning, career fairs and employer events.
Industry exposure: Pacific chemistry students have gained internship experience with organizations including Agilent Technologies, Gilead Sciences, Genentech, MasSpec Lab and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Employer networking: Pacific's Career Expo connects students and alumni with employers interested in employment, internships and co-op opportunities, while Industry Days provide opportunities to explore healthcare, science and research career paths.
Employment and further-study outcome: Pacific reports that 91% of graduates who responded to its survey were working in their field or pursuing further education within six months of graduation, and 93% indicated that their current position was related to their career objective.
Salary information: The University's BS Biochemistry page cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing a median salary of more than $103,000 for employees with a biochemistry degree. This is a national occupation/degree-related figure rather than a Pacific-specific graduate salary.
Research and industry preparation: Pacific's chemistry department combines faculty research, modern instrumentation, internships and networking opportunities to support progression into scientific and industry careers.
Professional-school preparation: The BS Biochemistry curriculum follows national guidelines and is aligned with prerequisites for professional schools, supporting students planning medical, dental or pharmacy education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Biochemistry, students can continue into medical school, dental school, pharmacy school, master's-level study or doctoral research. Pacific also offers a Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences MS/PhD pathway, where graduate students conduct independent research with chemistry faculty; the university's chemistry graduate program includes focus areas in bioanalytical/physical chemistry and biochemistry and chemical synthesis, drug discovery and design.