Biochemistry, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Program Overview

The Biochemistry, BS at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee combines chemistry and biological sciences to explore the molecular processes that underpin living systems, while preparing students for careers in biochemical industries, research, healthcare and scientific fields. The programme is particularly suited to students interested in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, biotechnology or laboratory research, with students able to choose between a Biochemistry General Option and a Biochemistry with Clinical Pharmacology Option.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as CHEM 102 General Chemistry, CHEM 104 General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis, and BIO SCI 150 Foundations of Biological Sciences I. Mathematics and physics are also introduced, giving students the quantitative and scientific background needed for more advanced biochemical study.

Second Year: Students progress into more specialised chemistry and biology through CHEM 221 Elementary Quantitative Analysis, CHEM 343 Organic Chemistry, CHEM 344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory, and BIO SCI 152 Foundations of Biological Sciences II. BIO SCI 325 Genetics further develops their understanding of heredity and biological processes, while physics and calculus strengthen their analytical skills.

Third Year: The programme moves deeper into biochemical science with CHEM 345 Organic Chemistry, CHEM 501 Introduction to Biochemistry, and CHEM 560 Biophysical Chemistry. Students can also explore advanced biological subjects such as Cell Biology, General Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, Immunology and Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology, depending on their selected coursework.

Fourth Year: Students develop advanced expertise through options including CHEM 601 Biochemistry: Protein Structure and Function, CHEM 602 Biochemistry: Cellular Processes, CHEM 604 Biochemistry: Metabolism, and CHEM 603 Introduction to Biochemistry Laboratory. The programme also includes a research component through CHEM 691 Senior Research or CHEM 692 Senior Thesis, allowing students to apply their knowledge to independent scientific work.

Focus areas

Biochemistry, biological chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, molecular biology, genetics, protein structure and function, cellular processes, metabolism, clinical pharmacology, laboratory science, pharmaceutical science and biochemical research.

Learning outcomes

Students develop mathematical and analytical problem-solving skills, understand chemical reactions and molecular systems, apply physical principles to molecular-scale problems, perform chemical synthesis and laboratory reactions, use laboratory equipment for meaningful measurements, analyse experimental data and demonstrate competence in biochemical and chemical laboratory techniques.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The official UWM programme and department pages do not state a separate professional accreditation for the Biochemistry, BS. The curriculum does, however, provide specialised preparation for biochemical industry employment and professional pathways including medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry.

Reputation (employability rankings)

UWM does not publish a programme-specific QS or Guardian employability ranking for the Biochemistry, BS. The university's Chemistry & Biochemistry department instead highlights career preparation through internships, undergraduate research and its career resources, while noting cooperation with Milwaukee's industrial and scientific community.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UWM gives Biochemistry, BS students opportunities to gain practical experience alongside their academic coursework, with undergraduate research encouraged as early as the first year. Students can work directly with faculty and graduate students, undertake senior research or a thesis, complete internships for academic credit, and gain exposure to advanced analytical techniques used in biochemical and molecular research.

Students can build practical and research skills through:

Early undergraduate research: Through UROP, students can join faculty-led research projects as early as their freshman year and earn academic credit while learning about university research.
Senior Research and Thesis: CHEM 691 Senior Research and CHEM 692 Senior Thesis provide formal opportunities to undertake advanced research and satisfy the College of Letters & Science research requirement.
Paid research opportunities: UWM's SURF programme provides hourly research employment, while the SURE programme can provide qualifying STEM students with up to $4,000 to conduct research with a faculty mentor.
Summer research: The department's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience supports approximately 8–10 undergraduates in a 10-week intensive research experience culminating in a departmental poster presentation.
Internships: Students can undertake chemistry internships through CHEM 489 Internship in Chemistry, Upper Division, with eligible internships capable of receiving academic credit. The department also develops employer contacts and helps match students and employers.
Mass spectrometry: UWM's State-of-the-Art Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory and Research Core includes GC-MS, LC-MS, LC-MS/MS, QTOF, Orbitrap, MALDI and ICP-MS instrumentation for advanced chemical and biomolecular analysis.
NMR spectroscopy: The Chemistry NMR Laboratory includes Bruker Avance Neo 400 MHz and Bruker Avance III HD 500 MHz spectrometers, with workstations for data processing and analysis.
Molecular and structural research: Department research uses recombinant DNA technology, crystallography, NMR, EPR, UV/Vis, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy to study biological macromolecules and their functions.
Computational research: UWM research includes computational modelling of proteins, DNA, viruses and other chemical and biological particles, giving students exposure to computational approaches in modern biochemistry.
Drug discovery research: The department's research environment includes the Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery and research in organic and medicinal chemistry, drug discovery and development.
Research travel: Undergraduate research travel awards can help students present their faculty-directed research at local, national or international conferences.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biochemistry, BS prepares students for scientific careers in biochemical industry, laboratory research, healthcare, manufacturing, forensics, agriculture, genetics, food safety, pharmaceutical production and scientific communication. UWM also identifies medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry as important professional pathways, while students interested in advanced research can continue into graduate study.

Typical career directions include Biochemist, Research Scientist, Laboratory Researcher and Pharmaceutical Scientist:

Career services: UWM's Student Experience and Talent professionals help students identify professional goals, develop job-search strategies, locate internships, practise informational interviewing and shadowing, and connect with UWM alumni in different industries.
Faculty career guidance: Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty advisors help students explore internships and undergraduate research and provide guidance when considering graduate programmes and career paths.
Internship-to-career preparation: The department works with employer contacts and helps match qualified students with businesses and agencies seeking chemistry students, although individual internship placement is not guaranteed.
Industry connections: UWM states that the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department cooperates with chemists in the Milwaukee-area industrial and scientific community, providing a connection between academic study and regional scientific activity.
Research and biotechnology environment: Students can engage with research areas spanning analytical chemistry, biological chemistry and structural biology, bioinorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and physical and computational chemistry.
Employment statistics and salary: UWM's official Biochemistry, BS page does not publish programme-specific employment rates or salary figures, so no programme-specific statistic is estimated here. The department instead directs students to its career resources and job-outcomes information.
Long-term professional value: The programme's intensive biochemistry curriculum, laboratory training, research experience and senior research/thesis options can provide a foundation for biochemical-industry employment and applications to professional or graduate programmes. UWM specifically states that the Biochemistry BS is designed to prepare students for work in the biochemical industry after the bachelor's degree.
Professional pathways: The department identifies medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and other healthcare professional programmes as pathways for students who want to build on their chemistry and biology foundation.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into UWM's M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry, with graduate study in biochemistry available through the department. The undergraduate degree can also provide a foundation for professional programmes in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and other healthcare fields.