Minor in Biochemistry

Our students become deft critical thinkers who understand how living systems respond to changes in the environment or from disease and chemicals, and who enjoy satisfying careers in a range of fields.

The minor in biochemistry is intended for students who wish to enrich their studies in a related science field with training in the biological and chemical sciences. Students explore how living systems respond to changes in the environment or from disease or chemicals, all of which can affect human health.

  • Develop quantitative problem-solving skills, critical thinking and analytical reasoning
  • Refine how you communicate scientific concepts and ideas
  • Complement your undergraduate studies with a minor

Consistently rated among the best biochemistry programs in the United States

Learn from acclaimed faculty, including a Nobel laureate, five members of the National Academy of Sciences and three Howard Hughes Investigators

State-of-the-art Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building for student and faculty research

Be successful.

A minor in biochemistry allows you to enter the workforce with skills such as scientific reasoning and critical thinking.

 

Broaden your employment possibilities with additional knowledge and skills gained from a minor

 

Laboratory researcher, biological scientist, lab manager, pharmacy technician and teacher are common job titles of our graduates

 

Work in medicine, scientific research, biotechnology, pharmacy, biomedical consulting, agricultural sciences, teaching and education

Academic Plan & Requirements

The biochemistry minor requires a minimum of 21 hours of biochemistry coursework.

Course topics includes:

  • Biochemistry
  • General physical chemistry 
  • Organic physical chemistry

Community & Involvement

We offer students many opportunities to network with peers and faculty, further their studies, and get the most out of their undergraduate experience.

Be inspired.

The Department of Biochemistry has an extensive alumni network working in a variety of fields across the globe.

Some alumni of the program include:

(PhD'67) 
A scientist emeritus at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. Previously, she served as professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and director of Brookhaven's Radiotracer Chemistry, Instrumentation and Biological Imaging Program. She has received many awards for her pioneering work, including the National Medal of Science.

(Lucille P. Markey Postdoctoral Scholar working with Thomas Cech, 1991–94)
A professor in the departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) since 1997. She directs the Innovative Genomics Institute where she has been a leading figure in the development of CRISPR Cas9-mediated genome editing.

(BA'76)
Professor of medicine and director of the Division of AIDS at Harvard Medical School, and director of the Ragon Institute, a joint institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard. He also is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, adjunct faculty member at Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, South Africa, and a founding scientist at the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV.

(PhD'77)
One of the first four scientists hired by Genentech and used genetic engineering to develop some of the company’s first blockbuster drugs, including synthetic insulin, human growth hormone and interferons. He is now a managing partner with The Column Group, a San Francisco-based venture-capital firm.

News & Stories

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