Biochemistry - BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Utah State University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biochemistry at Utah State University explores the molecular basis of life, combining general, organic and biological chemistry with biology, calculus, physics and laboratory study. It is well suited to students interested in biochemical research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and related industries, health professions or graduate study, with opportunities to begin undergraduate research early and progress toward independent research projects and publications.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their foundation in chemistry, biology, mathematics and scientific practice through courses such as CHEM 1210 Principles of Chemistry I, CHEM 1215 Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM 1220 Principles of Chemistry II and CHEM 1225 Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory. The programme also introduces students to the profession through CHEM 1990 Introduction to the Chemistry and Biochemistry Professions, which covers career and employability skills.

Year 2: Students progress into more advanced chemical and biological foundations, including CHEM 2310 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 2315 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM 2320 Organic Chemistry II and CHEM 2325 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory. These courses strengthen students' understanding of organic molecules and laboratory techniques before they move into upper-division biochemistry.

Year 3: The focus shifts toward quantitative and biochemical analysis, with CHEM 3000 Quantitative Analysis, CHEM 3005 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory, CHEM 5700 General Biochemistry I and CHEM 5710 General Biochemistry II. Students also begin approved advanced biology electives, allowing them to connect biochemical principles with broader biological sciences.

Year 4: Students consolidate their advanced knowledge through CHEM 5070, additional approved advanced biochemistry electives and CHEM 4890 Undergraduate Biochemistry Seminar. The seminar develops scientific literature research, database use, scientific presentation and career-preparation skills, while the programme's advanced laboratory work gives students experience designing experiments and applying biochemical techniques.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, biological macromolecules, enzyme mechanisms, gene and protein regulation and expression, bioenergetics, metabolic pathways, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biological chemistry, quantitative analysis, molecular biology and laboratory research.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop general knowledge in chemistry and biochemistry, learn to read, present and analyse scientific literature and data, and develop the ability to design experiments, select appropriate techniques, achieve research objectives and apply quantitative skills. The programme also develops laboratory safety, modern instrumentation, teamwork and scientific communication through upper-level laboratory and capstone experiences.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official USU Biochemistry B.S. page does not state that this specific standalone Biochemistry B.S. is professionally accredited by ACS or ASBMB. However, the programme's assessment framework uses an ACS-standard biochemistry examination as its current exit examination, with the department stating that an ASBMB examination is expected to be used in future years.

Reputation (Employability)

Utah State University highlights an undergraduate research environment in which students can progress from laboratory-assistant roles to their own research projects, and states that many undergraduates in the department are able to co-author research papers. The department identifies this research and publication experience as valuable preparation for graduate or professional programmes and entry into the job market; no programme-specific QS or Guardian employability ranking is published on the official programme page.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students at USU can become involved in undergraduate research from the beginning of their studies, initially as laboratory assistants and later through independent research projects. The programme develops practical capability through upper-division laboratories, where students use modern instrumentation, practise laboratory safety, work in teams and complete scientific reports; the biochemistry laboratory also includes an individual two-month research project using a wide range of biochemical techniques.

USU's research infrastructure provides access to specialised instrumentation relevant to biochemical and molecular research, including NMR/EPR, mass spectrometry, chromatography, PCR and protein-analysis equipment. Students can also use scientific literature and database tools through the senior seminar and pursue directed undergraduate research through CHEM 4800 Research Problems.

Key practical opportunities include:

Undergraduate research: Students can begin as laboratory assistants and progress to their own research projects; the department notes that many undergraduates are able to publish research papers.
CHEM 4800 Research Problems: Provides directed undergraduate research for students with departmental permission.
CHEM 5720 General Biochemistry Laboratory: Students undertake an individual two-month research project involving a broad range of biochemical techniques.
Modern laboratory instrumentation: Students gain exposure to instruments including GC-MS, LC-MS, HPLC, UV-VIS spectrophotometers, peptide synthesizers, surface plasmon resonance equipment, PCR thermal cyclers, analytical ultracentrifuges, gel-imaging systems and NanoDrop spectrophotometers.
NMR/EPR facility: USU's Chemistry Instrument Lab includes an 11.7 Tesla Bruker Ascend 500 FT-NMR spectrometer and a Bruker X-band EPR spectrometer supporting biochemistry and related research.
Center for Integrated Biosystems: Provides advanced research capabilities in genomics, genotyping, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and bioinformatics, supporting interdisciplinary life-science research.
Scientific databases and communication: CHEM 4890 Undergraduate Biochemistry Seminar trains students in scientific literature searching, scientific databases, seminar participation and scientific communication.
Team-based laboratory work: Upper-level laboratories require students to apply lecture material practically, write laboratory reports, use modern instrumentation and work as members of scientific teams.
Genomics training: USU also offers CHEM 5730 Genomic Technologies, covering whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome and proteome characterisation, DNA libraries and modern genomics laboratory equipment; this is a graduate-level course rather than a core B.S. requirement.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biochemistry can support students who want to enter the workforce after graduation as well as those planning professional or graduate education. USU specifically identifies opportunities in research and development, sales, quality control and analysis within biochemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, while the degree also provides preparation for medical, dental and veterinary education and graduate study in areas such as biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, oncology and bioinformatics.

Typical career directions include Biochemical Researcher, Pharmaceutical Researcher, Biotechnology Researcher, Quality Control Analyst.

Career preparation: CHEM 1990 Introduction to the Chemistry and Biochemistry Professions introduces students to careers in chemistry and biochemistry and includes professional skills focused on obtaining and maintaining employment.
Department advising: Students are expected to meet with the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Advisor, while the department provides undergraduate advising and academic planning support.
Employment preparation: CHEM 4890 Undergraduate Biochemistry Seminar includes career preparation and development alongside scientific literature searching and presentation skills.
Research and publication experience: USU reports that many undergraduate students in the department can co-author research papers, providing experience that the department identifies as useful for graduate/professional applications and entering the job market.
Employment statistics and salary: The official Biochemistry B.S. programme sources reviewed do not publish a programme-specific graduate employment rate or salary figure, so no programme-specific statistic or salary is inserted here.
University–industry connections: The official sources reviewed document research infrastructure and industry-relevant instrumentation, including the Center for Integrated Biosystems and analytical laboratories, but do not publish a specific named industry-partnership list for this B.S.; therefore, no unverified partnership is claimed.
Long-term professional value: The degree develops research, laboratory, quantitative and scientific-communication skills that can support employment in biochemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology settings and provide preparation for professional or graduate education.
Graduation and postgraduate preparation: USU states that the major is appropriate both for students entering careers after the bachelor's degree and for those continuing to graduate or professional education.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into USU's M.S. in Biochemistry, and qualified undergraduate biochemistry majors may apply during their third year for the BS-MS pathway. The department also offers a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, while the B.S. provides preparation for medical, dental and veterinary school and graduate study in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, oncology, bioinformatics and related biological, environmental and chemical sciences.