Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology (Course 5-7) is a joint program offered by MIT’s Department of Chemistry and Department of Biology, designed for students who want to explore the intersection of chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical biology. Students develop strong foundations in both disciplines while using electives to tailor their studies toward areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, molecular biology, chemical biology, or preparation for clinical and research careers.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with MIT’s General Institute Requirements (GIRs), establishing foundations across science, mathematics, communication, and the humanities while progressing toward the chemistry and biology requirements. The program is structured to build the scientific preparation needed for subjects such as 5.12 Organic Chemistry I and 7.03 Genetics later in the degree.

Second Year: Students develop core chemical knowledge through 5.03 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry I and 5.13 Organic Chemistry II, while 7.06 Cell Biology introduces the cellular mechanisms underlying biological systems. Students also begin the program's laboratory sequence with subjects such as 5.351 Fundamentals of Spectroscopy and 5.352 Synthesis of Coordination Compounds and Kinetics.

Third Year: The curriculum brings chemistry and biology together through 5.07[J] Introduction to Biological Chemistry and 5.08[J] Fundamentals of Chemical Biology, covering chemical processes in biological systems and the use of chemical methods to study biological functions. Students also develop quantitative and analytical understanding through 5.601 Thermodynamics I, 5.611 Introduction to Spectroscopy, and advanced laboratory work such as 7.002 Fundamentals of Experimental Molecular Biology.

Fourth Year: Students deepen their specialization through restricted electives selected from advanced subjects such as 5.43 Advanced Organic Chemistry, 5.383 Fast-flow Peptide and Protein Synthesis, 7.23 Immunology, 7.28 Molecular Biology, 7.35 Human Genetics and Genomics, and 7.46 Building with Cells. The program also offers research-oriented choices including 5.39 Research and Communication in Chemistry, allowing students to connect their chemistry-biology training with specific scientific or professional interests.

Focus Areas: Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Science, Cancer Biology, Immunology, Human Genetics and Genomics, Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Neurobiology, Renewable Energy, Materials Chemistry.

Learning Outcomes: Chemical principles, biological principles, biochemistry, chemical biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, genetics, cell biology, thermodynamics, spectroscopy, experimental molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology, scientific communication, interdisciplinary problem-solving, research skills.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The B.S. in Chemistry and Biology is jointly offered by MIT’s Departments of Chemistry and Biology and is designed for applications across pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, as well as graduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, and chemical biology and clinical or research careers in medicine and related health professions. The MIT catalog does not state a separate ACS accreditation/certification for the joint Course 5-7 degree, so no separate professional accreditation is claimed here.

Reputation (Employability Rankings: MIT — #1 globally overall, according to MIT News reporting on the 2027 QS rankings; MIT also placed #2 globally in Biological Sciences and #2 in Natural Sciences in the 2026 QS subject rankings. These are university/subject-area rankings rather than rankings specifically for the Course 5-7 degree.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Chemistry and Biology (Course 5-7) is jointly offered by MIT’s Chemistry and Biology departments and is designed around the intersection of biochemistry and chemical biology. Students gain practical experience through laboratory-based coursework, original undergraduate research, and access to advanced chemistry and biology facilities, giving them opportunities to work with modern analytical, biochemical, genomic, and computational technologies.

Students can build this practical experience through:

Integrated laboratory curriculum: The program’s laboratory requirement can be fulfilled through 7.003[J], or through the chemistry sequence 5.351 Fundamentals of Spectroscopy, 5.352 Synthesis of Coordination Compounds and Kinetics, and 5.353 Macromolecular Prodrugs, connecting chemistry experiments with biological and molecular applications.
URIECA research-based laboratory modules: MIT Chemistry’s Undergraduate Research Inspired Experimental Chemistry Alternatives (URIECA) uses 12 flexible laboratory modules based on faculty research, covering catalysis, synthesis, nanoscience, materials engineering, biotechnology, and spectroscopy. Students can select one to four modules per semester, allowing them to shape their laboratory experience around their interests.
Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory: The Chemistry Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory (UGTL) provides dedicated hands-on laboratory space where students develop experimental and scientific communication skills. Its instrumentation includes ICP-MS, UPLC-MS, mass spectrometers, gas chromatographs, NMR instruments, FTIR spectrometers, UV-VIS spectrometers, centrifuges, incubator shakers, HPLC systems, and fluorescence/absorbance equipment.
Original research through UROP: Students can participate in MIT’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and work with faculty on original, discovery-based research. MIT Biology specifically describes undergraduate research as an integral part of its educational experience, while Chemistry encourages students at all levels to undertake original research with Chemistry faculty.
Biological research facilities: MIT Biology’s core facilities provide access to technologies including Illumina sequencing, real-time PCR, liquid handlers, microarray scanners, plate readers, Luminex systems, computational servers, and bioinformatics resources through facilities such as the BioMicro Center and Barbara K. Ostrom Bioinformatics & Computing Facility.
Biophysical instrumentation: The Biophysical Instrumentation Facility supports research involving macromolecular structure and interactions, with equipment including an analytical ultracentrifuge, circular dichroism spectrometer, dynamic light scatterer, differential scanning calorimeter, capillary electrophoresis system, and bio-layer interferometer.
Advanced chemistry research instrumentation: The Department of Chemistry Instrumentation Facility (DCIF) provides access to NMR, mass spectrometry, EPR, FTIR, HPLC, and polarimetry instrumentation. MIT users also have access to Mestrelab Mnova software, including NMR-processing and MS/chromatography tools, supporting analysis of experimental data.
Koch Biology Building: Koch Biology Building (Building 68) is MIT Biology’s central research and teaching facility, with research spanning genetics, biochemistry and structural biology, cell biology, microbiology, neurobiology, and developmental biology, creating a strong environment for interdisciplinary Chemistry-Biology study.
Research collaboration and teamwork: UROP projects are structured around collaboration between undergraduates and MIT faculty, with MIT Chemistry highlighting the development of communication and teamwork skills through research participation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology (Course 5-7) is designed for students who want to work at the intersection of chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and chemical biology, with MIT specifically identifying pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as career pathways. The degree also provides preparation for advanced study in biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical biology, medicine, and related health professions.

Typical career roles: Pharmaceutical Researcher, Biotech Researcher, Chemical Researcher, Medical Researcher.

Career development and progression are supported through:

MIT Career Advising & Professional Development (CAPD): Students receive access to career counselors for job applications, interview preparation, résumé advice, and professional planning; MIT also provides CareerBridge and Handshake for job and internship opportunities.
Alumni career mentoring: The MIT Alumni Advisors Hub provides one-to-one consultations with alumni, including informational interviews, résumé critiques, and mock interviews, helping students connect their academic background with professional opportunities.
Internship and recruiting opportunities: MIT Chemistry reports that companies recruiting students with strong chemistry backgrounds actively recruit on campus and offer competitive summer internships, while CAPD supports undergraduate recruiting.
Employment outcomes: MIT's 2025 Graduating Student Survey reported that 45.9% of bachelor's respondents identified full-time employment as their principal activity after graduation, while 41.2% planned to attend graduate or professional school. Among bachelor's graduates reporting employment plans, 84.7% had accepted a position. These are MIT-wide bachelor's outcomes, not Chemistry and Biology-specific statistics.
Employment sectors: Among MIT bachelor's respondents who had accepted positions, 5.9% reported employment in health care, pharmaceuticals, or medical devices, 2.2% in chemicals or materials, and 12.4% in professional, scientific and technical services. These figures represent all MIT bachelor's graduates reporting accepted employment, rather than this specific degree.
Salary figures: MIT's cited official undergraduate placement data does not provide a current Chemistry and Biology-specific starting salary, so a program-specific salary figure is not stated here rather than using an unrelated estimate.
University–industry and research connections: MIT Chemistry's research collaborations include the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Broad Institute, Whitehead Institute, Novartis Center for Continuous Manufacturing, MIT Energy Initiative, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, and Picower Institute. These connections create an interdisciplinary environment spanning chemical biology, biotechnology, medicine, materials, and biomedical research.
Specific biotechnology and pharmaceutical links: MIT research has included an industry consortium involving Amgen, BASF, Bayer, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sunovion, and WuXi focused on machine learning for pharmaceutical discovery and synthesis.
Long-term academic value: The Chemistry and Biology curriculum combines substantial training in organic chemistry, biological chemistry, chemical biology, genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, and experimental laboratory work, creating a foundation for advanced research and professional education.
Accreditation: MIT's Chemistry Department states that its B.S. in Chemistry is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS); however, the official source specifically identifies this certification for the Chemistry degree and does not separately state ACS certification for the joint Chemistry and Biology B.S.
Graduation outcomes and further study: Of MIT bachelor's graduates who reported graduate or professional-school plans in the 2025 survey, 96.1% had been accepted to and chosen a graduate or professional school; among those respondents, 38.6% planned a PhD or ScD, 19.3% an MS, 5.6% medicine/dentistry/veterinary medicine, and 4.5% an MD.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into PhD or ScD programs in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical biology, or related sciences, or pursue medical and other health-profession programs. MIT's Chemistry Department specifically offers a PhD in Chemistry, while the Chemistry and Biology curriculum is also designed to support graduate study in biochemistry, molecular biology, and chemical biology and clinical or research careers in medicine and related health professions.