BS in Biological Chemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Chicago

Program Overview

The BS in Biological Chemistry at the University of Chicago combines chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and biotechnology to prepare students for interdisciplinary work in biochemical and biophysical sciences. It suits students interested in understanding biological systems at the molecular level, with study covering macromolecules, enzymes and hormones, molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, and biophysics.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through CHEM 11100-11200 Comprehensive General Chemistry I-II, mathematics such as MATH 15100-15200 Calculus I-II, and BIOS 20186 Fundamentals of Cell and Molecular Biology. BIOS 20187 Fundamentals of Genetics adds an early foundation in genetics and molecular biology.

Year 2: Students progress into more specialized chemistry and biological chemistry through CHEM 20100 Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 22000-22100-22200 Organic Chemistry I-II-III or the honors sequence, and BIOS 20200 Introduction to Biochemistry. The curriculum also develops the mathematical and physical-science background needed to understand chemical processes in biological systems.

Year 3: Students move deeper into the interface between chemistry and biology through BIOS 21317 Topics in Biological Chemistry, which examines molecular machines, macromolecular structure-function relationships, DNA/RNA, protein synthesis, molecular motors, membrane proteins, and signal transduction. Students can also choose advanced study such as BIOS 21328 Biophysics of Biomolecules, BIOS 21360 Advanced Molecular Biology, BIOS 21306 Human Genetics and Evolution, or BIOS 21358 Simulation, Modeling, and Computation in Biophysics.

Year 4: Students complete advanced coursework such as CHEM 26700 Experimental Physical Chemistry and an approved 30000-level biochemistry or chemistry course, while students pursuing honors can undertake sustained research through CHEM 29900 Advanced Research in Chemistry or CHEM 29600 Research in Chemistry. Honors students also produce a research paper and give an oral presentation based on their research.

Focus areas:

Biochemistry, biophysics, molecular and cellular biology, macromolecular chemistry, enzymology, molecular genetics, biotechnology, chemical biology, biomolecular structure and function, computational biophysics.

Learning outcomes:

Students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of chemical and biological systems, including molecular structure and function, biochemical mechanisms, genetics, biophysics, biotechnology, quantitative methods, and research-based scientific investigation.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

University accreditation: The University of Chicago is continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), with accreditation dating to 1913; the university states that its degrees and programs of study are accredited by this institutional accreditor. The Biological Chemistry BS does not list a separate professional or program-specific accreditation.

Reputation (employability rankings):

UChicago-wide graduate outcomes: UChicago reports that 98% of the Class of 2025 received an offer for employment, graduate school, or another post-college opportunity, with 71% receiving employment offers and 29% receiving graduate-school offers. These figures are university-wide and are not specific to the Biological Chemistry BS.

Career support: UChicago Career Advancement provides undergraduate students with resume and cover-letter guidance, interview and networking support, internships, treks, and job opportunities around the globe.

Program-specific ranking: The University of Chicago's official Biological Chemistry program information does not publish a separate QS, Guardian, or other employability ranking specifically for this BS, so no program-specific ranking is stated.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the BS in Biological Chemistry at the University of Chicago gain practical experience by combining chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, and biophysical sciences. The program strongly encourages undergraduate research with faculty in both the Department of Chemistry and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, while UChicago’s Biological Sciences Division provides access to extensive research infrastructure and specialized scientific facilities. Students can undertake independent research for course credit and, for those pursuing honors, complete a sustained research project, thesis, and oral presentation:

Undergraduate Research: Students can conduct independent research with a faculty member in Chemistry or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, either independently or for course credit.
Research Courses: CHEM 29600 Research in Chemistry and CHEM 29900 Advanced Research in Chemistry provide formal pathways for students to undertake substantial research projects.
Honors Research: Students completing a substantive research project can pursue Honors in Biological Chemistry, involving a sustained project that can begin in the third year and continue through the summer and fourth year.
Research Thesis: Honors students produce a research paper based on their work and complete an oral presentation of their research, giving them experience communicating scientific findings.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: The program combines resources from Chemistry and BCMB, allowing students to investigate macromolecules, enzymes, hormones, molecular and cellular biology, and biotechnology.
Advanced Research Facilities: UChicago’s Biological Sciences Division provides access to specialized facilities including Genomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics, Mass Spectrometry, NMR, Advanced Electron Microscopy, Integrated Light Microscopy, Biophysics, and Cellular Screening facilities.
Genomics & Proteomics: The Genomics Facility and Proteomics resources support research involving genetic and protein-level analysis, directly complementing the program’s biological chemistry focus.
Mass Spectrometry: The Mass Spectrometry Facility provides specialized analytical infrastructure relevant to molecular and biochemical research.
NMR Research: The NMR Facility in Chemistry supports molecular characterization and research involving chemical structure and dynamics.
Cellular Research: The Cellular Screening Center, Organoid and Primary Culture Research Core, and Single Cell Immunophenotyping Core provide access to advanced cellular and biological research capabilities.
Computational Biology: UChicago’s biological sciences research environment includes techniques such as single-cell genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analysis, quantitative analysis of cellular and molecular interactions, live-cell imaging, microfluidic analysis, and gene editing.
Internships & External Experience: UChicago’s Biological Sciences Collegiate Division identifies two routes for hands-on experience: joining a UChicago research laboratory or undertaking an internship outside UChicago at a research institution, industry organization, or other workplace using biological-science skills.
Summer Research: Students are encouraged to work in research laboratories during the summer, with opportunities for fellowship programs and research funding available through UChicago resources.
Marine Biological Laboratory: UChicago undergraduates can access hands-on biology courses and research opportunities through its programs at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, including summer research opportunities.
Scientific Library: The John Crerar Library is UChicago’s science library, with collections covering biological, medical, physical, and technological sciences, supporting research for Biological Chemistry students.
Research Environment: The Biological Sciences Division includes 10 basic-science and 14 clinical departments, alongside multiple institutes and centers, creating a broad environment for interdisciplinary biological and biomedical research.
Faculty-Led Research Exposure: Students can explore research laboratories through activities such as Pizza with the PIs: Introduction to Biology Research at The University of Chicago, designed to introduce students to the range of biological research conducted on campus.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Biological Chemistry at the University of Chicago combines chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, and biophysical sciences, giving graduates preparation for interdisciplinary scientific careers as well as advanced study. The program strongly encourages undergraduate research, and students pursuing substantial faculty research can complete an honors thesis based on sustained laboratory work.

Typical career roles: Research Assistant, Biochemical Research Associate, Laboratory Research Technician, Clinical Research Coordinator

: UChicago provides several dedicated pathways for turning the degree into research, industry, healthcare, and postgraduate opportunities:

Career Advising: UChicago Career Advancement offers dedicated Careers in Biological Sciences advising through Handshake, helping students explore research, healthcare, industry, policy, education, and business pathways.
Research Opportunities: Students can work in laboratories across the Biological Sciences Division and Neuroscience Institute, including molecular biology, computational biology, genetics, ecology, public health, and translational research.
Chemistry Research: Biological Chemistry students can conduct research with faculty in the Department of Chemistry or Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with honors research typically beginning no later than the third year and potentially continuing through the summer and fourth year.
Research Funding: The Biological Sciences Collegiate Division Summer Fellowships, Quad Undergraduate Research Scholars funding, and other research programs provide routes to funded undergraduate research.
Industry Internships: UChicago biological-sciences students have interned with organizations including AbbVie, Biogen, Ginkgo Bioworks, Genentech, Illumina, Moderna, Pfizer, Tempus, Argonne National Laboratory, and the National Institutes of Health.
Life Sciences Employer Expo: Career Advancement organizes a dedicated Life Sciences Employer Expo, giving students opportunities to meet employers and explore internships and jobs in the sector.
STEM Career Fair: Students can meet employers recruiting across biotechnology, engineering, environmental science, physical sciences, computer science, and related STEM fields through UChicago’s STEM Career Fair.
Career Treks: Biological-sciences career treks have included visits and networking with organizations such as AbbVie, Biogen, Ginkgo Bioworks, Flatiron Health, Impossible Foods, Tempus, Tessera Therapeutics, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.
Professional Networking: UChicago’s Life Sciences Peer Mentors and alumni-in-industry resources allow students to receive recruiting guidance and connect with alumni working in life-science fields.
Research Presentation: Students can present their research through the UChicago Undergraduate Research Symposium and other life-science symposiums, providing experience communicating scientific findings.
Employer-Linked Programs: UChicago’s Targetpalooza gives students the opportunity to develop and pitch novel drug targets to industry leadership, while the Outbreak Hackathon involves analyzing genomic and epidemiological data and presenting findings to UChicago faculty.
Clinical Research Pathways: UChicago identifies opportunities in clinical research coordination, data management, regulatory support, bioinformatics, and data science, including pathways that can be entered without medical training or an advanced degree.
Employment Statistics: UChicago’s official sources reviewed do not publish a current employment rate specifically for Biological Chemistry BS graduates. Therefore, no university-wide or unrelated-major statistic is presented as a program-specific outcome.
Salary Figures: UChicago’s official Biological Chemistry and Career Advancement pages reviewed do not publish a current Biological Chemistry BS-specific median salary or salary range. No third-party salary figure has been substituted.
Accreditation: The University of Chicago states that it has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1913, and its catalog states that all degrees and programs of study are considered accredited under this institutional accreditation.
Graduation Outcomes: The Biological Chemistry BS is specifically designed to prepare students for interdisciplinary biochemical and biophysical sciences, while UChicago's broader biological-sciences career resources identify research, biotechnology, healthcare, clinical research, data science, policy, and industry as potential directions.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into PhD programs in biochemistry, molecular biology, biological chemistry, biotechnology, biophysics, chemistry, and related life-science disciplines. The degree also provides preparation for professional pathways such as medical school and other healthcare education, while UChicago offers a Joint BS/MS in Biological Chemistry for students seeking an accelerated continuation within the university.