Biochemistry

Biochemistry is a popular laboratory science at the intersection of biology and chemistry. Practitioners examine the chemical processes that drive living things at the molecular and genetic level. It is the science of such varied phenomena as the human brain, disease pathology, forensic science, and genetic modification.

Biochemistry is a broad and multidisciplinary field of study that can lead to many different kinds of careers. Biochemists have led numerous scientific breakthroughs over the last century, and their roles continue to expand. They may work as research scientists, academics, or professionals with an applied orientation, like a pharmaceutical consultant, government investigator, or forensic scientist.

The education required of a biochemist depends on one's ultimate career goals. In general, it is recommended that students earn at least a graduate degree to be taken seriously as a scientist. To pursue a career in academia or independent research, a doctoral degree is necessary. Students do not have to major in Biochemistry per se to pursue this field of study; a related field like molecular biology is generally acceptable.

Recently, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) initiated an accreditation initiative for U.S. biochemistry programs. Students who earn an ASBMB-accredited degree will be eligible for voluntary national certification with the ASBMB.

Degrees in Biochemistry

Bachelor Degrees

A career in biochemistry begins with a 4-year bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree can often be used to access entry-level employment, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recommends aspiring biochemists use it to get into a quality graduate school and advance in the field.

Bachelor students are introduced to statistical analysis, experimental design, and scientific research. They learn how to produce results in labs, while studying the structure and composition of different chemical reactions and forms of biochemical matter. Students headed to graduate school should try to get exposure to research to be competitive in grad school admissions.

At the baccalaureate level, it's okay to focus on gaining a broad-based scientific education. Future Ph.D.s can major in biochemistry, chemistry, or a related discipline like biology, physics, or even engineering at this level. Biochemistry programs confer a solid foundation in biology and chemistry; physics and math; and computer science and statistical data analysis. Many biochemistry programs are jointly offered by biology and chemistry departments; independent Biochemistry divisions are mainly found at large universities.

A bachelor's degree in Biochemistry includes classes like:

  • Principles of Immunology
  • Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics I & II
  • Analytical Chemistry

Bachelor degree-holders can begin work as a:

  • Laboratory Technician
  • Research Associate I
  • Assistant Molecular Scientist

Master Degrees

While undergraduate programs focus on classroom instruction, master programs let students dive into the research process. A master's degree in biochemistry can give job applicants an edge in industries like food and drug inspection or product development. Many employers accept graduate education as a substitute for experiential requirements. Most biochemistry master degrees require students to defend a thesis, or independent research project, under the supervision of an advisor.

At the master's level, students tend to gravitate toward an area of specialization within biochemistry, such as molecular biology, immunochemistry, or neurochemistry, for example. Other popular foci are bioinorganic, biophysical, and bioorganic chemistry. Master programs may last anywhere from 1 to 3 years.

To get into the best biochemistry schools, like the best interior design schools, master's study applicants should cultivate stellar undergraduate professor recommendations. They should also consider taking the Graduate Record Exam, including the Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology subject test, in the first semester of their senior year. Although not required for all programs, proof of GRE scores is typically required to obtain a biochemistry fellowship.

Master's-level coursework in Biochemistry might include:

  • Environmental Biochemistry
  • Protein Structure & Function
  • Introduction to Bioinformatics & Computational Biology

A master-certified graduate of a Biochemistry program can become a:

  • Research Associate - Protein Biochemistry & Purification
  • Graduate Chemist
  • R&D Scientist - Sample Prep

Doctoral Degrees

The Ph.D. is the most competitive educational qualification in biochemistry. It is also often a minimum qualification for research-oriented work in academia, the government, and private industry. Biochemistry is an in-demand field with solid career opportunities for independent researchers, especially those with clinical experience.

Doctorates take longer to complete than master programs, approximately 5 to 6 years. Much of this time goes to writing and defending a dissertation. Unlike many master's candidates, doctoral students are more likely to receive departmental funding or external support through a pre- or postdoctoral fellowship. The federal government is an active funder of biochemical research via the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Possible areas of study for a doctorate in Biochemistry include:

  • Synthetic Biochemistry
  • Medicinal Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry & Nutrition

With a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, graduates have their pick of positions. They could become a:

  • Clinical Biochemist
  • Biochemistry Professor
  • Host Organism Engineer

We found 344 schools offering biochemistry degree programs in the U.S.

>> See all 344 Biochemistry Colleges in the U.S.

Biochemistry Schools Ranked By US News and World Report

1
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA  |  Total Enrollment: 24279

Degrees Offered: Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's, Post-Masters certificate, Doctor's, First-professional degree, First-professional certificate
2
University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley, CA  |  Total Enrollment: 31277

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's, Post-Masters certificate, Doctor's, First-professional degree, First-professional certificate
3
University of California - San Francisco
San Francisco, CA  |  Total Enrollment: 3517

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor's, First-professional degree, First-professional certificate
4
Scripps Research Institute
La Jolla, CA  |  Total Enrollment: 0

Degrees Offered: Doctor's
5
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI  |  Total Enrollment: 40658

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's, Post-Masters certificate, Doctor's, First-professional degree
6
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA  |  Total Enrollment: 10090

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor's, First-professional degree
7
Stanford University
Stanford, CA  |  Total Enrollment: 18549

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Post-Masters certificate, Doctor's, First-professional degree
8
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA  |  Total Enrollment: 1968

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Post-Masters certificate, Doctor's
9
Yale University
New Haven, CT  |  Total Enrollment: 11099

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's, Post-Masters certificate, Doctor's, First-professional degree
10
University of California - San Diego
La Jolla, CA  |  Total Enrollment: 20197

Degrees Offered: Bachelor's, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's, Post-Masters certificate, Doctor's, First-professional degree, First-professional certificate

Browse All 344 Colleges With Biochemistry Programs


Title City State Enrollment
Howard University Washington DC 10010
Idaho State University Pocatello ID 13040
Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington IN 37076
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Indiana PA 13410
Iowa State University Ames IA 26845
Ithaca College Ithaca NY 6170
John Brown University Siloam Springs AR 1536
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD 17774
Juniata College Huntingdon PA 1291
Kansas State University Manhattan KS 21929
Kenyon College Gambier OH 1599
Keuka College Keuka Park NY 952
Knox College Galesburg IL 1199
Lafayette College Easton PA 2279
Lagrange College Lagrange GA 917
Lansing Community College Lansing MI 16011
Lebanon Valley College Annville PA 2099
Lee University Cleveland TN 3361
Lewis & Clark College Portland OR 3018
Lipscomb University Nashville TN 2528
Loma Linda University Loma Linda CA 3153
Loras College Dubuque IA 1725
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge LA 31527
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans New Orleans LA 2720
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles CA 7500
Loyola University Chicago Chicago IL 12605
Manhattan College Bronx NY 3070
Marietta College Marietta OH 1238
Marlboro College Marlboro VT 416
Maryville College Maryville TN 982
Mayo Graduate School Rochester MN 246
Mcmurry University Abilene TX 1344
Medical College of Georgia Augusta GA 1932
Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee WI 1181
Medical University of South Carolina Charleston SC 2346
Meharry Medical College Nashville TN 905
Mercyhurst College Erie PA 3186
Meredith College Raleigh NC 2595
Merrimack College North Andover MA 2660
Messiah College Grantham PA 2797
Miami University - Oxford Oxford OH 16757
Michigan State University East Lansing MI 43366
Middlebury College Middlebury VT 2298
Mills College Oakland CA 1059
Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato MN 12842
Mississippi State University Mississippi State MS 16561
Montclair State University Montclair NJ 13502
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley MA 2069
Mount St Marys College Los Angeles CA 1973
Mount St Marys University Emmitsburg MD 1859
Muhlenberg College Allentown PA 2543
Nazareth College of Rochester Rochester NY 3075
Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln NE 1699
New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces NM 14958
New York Medical College Valhalla NY 1502
New York University New York NY 37150
Niagara University Niagara University NY 3146
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh NC 28619
North Central College Naperville IL 2532
North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo ND 9902
Northeastern University Boston MA 23897
Northern Michigan University Marquette MI 8427
Northwestern University Evanston IL 16952
Notre Dame De Namur University Belmont CA 1670
Oakland University Rochester Hills MI 15235
Oakwood College Huntsville AL 1767
Oberlin College Oberlin OH 2928
Occidental College Los Angeles CA 1729
Ohio Northern University Ada OH 3227
Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus OH 47952
Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware OH 1880
Oklahoma Christian University Edmond OK 1752
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater OK 18676
Old Dominion University Norfolk VA 18969
Oral Roberts University Tulsa OK 3607
Oregon State University Corvallis OR 16758
Otterbein College Westerville OH 2887
Pace University - Pleasantville Briarcliff Pleasantville NY 3471
Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine Hershey PA 644
Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park PA 40571
Philadelphia University Philadelphia PA 3316
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego CA 2733
Portland State University Portland OR 18889
Providence College Providence RI 5336
Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette IN 39667
Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte NC 1596
Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah NJ 5195
Reed College Portland OR 1385
Regis College Weston MA 1138
Regis University Denver CO 9129
Rice University Houston TX 4205
Rider University Lawrenceville NJ 5274
Roberts Wesleyan College Rochester NY 1596
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester NY 14106
Roosevelt University Chicago IL 7359
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago IL 1360
Rush University Chicago IL 1282
Russell Sage College Troy NY 819
Rutgers University - New Brunswick/piscataway New Brunswick NJ 35236
Saginaw Valley State University University Center MI 8622
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