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Overview

Biochemistry can be an excellent choice for a career in industry, medical settings, academic and government positions. The degree is also an excellent choice to prepare students for medical, pharmacy, and dental school.

Biochemistry is the study of the structure, composition, and chemical reactions of substances in living systems. Biochemistry emerged as a separate discipline when scientists combined biology with organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry and began to study how living things obtain energy from food, the chemical basis of heredity, what fundamental changes occur in disease, and related issues. Biochemistry includes the sciences of molecular biology, immunochemistry, and neurochemistry, as well as bioinorganic, bioorganic, and biophysical chemistry.

As a biochemistry major at D’Youville, you’ll explore cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and more through hands-on experiences in our state-of-the-art science building. At D'Youville, we believe conducting research is important so we offer our undergraduate biochemistry students several research experiences. 

Why Choose D'Youville?

Personal Attention and Small Class Sizes

At D'Youville, your professors will know who you are and you'll find helpful resources right at hand, from financial aid to tech support. You'll get individualized attention in small classes, usually around 15-30 students, and not more than 40, and in science labs, you'll learn alongside 12 to 18 students per class. You'll also always be taught by a faculty member, never a teaching assistant.

Built for Your Future

As an undergraduate, you'll gain skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and written, and oral communication — all skills that employers believe are critical to success, no matter what career path you decide to take. 

What you'll learn:

  • Research skills that prepare you for your career
  • Bachelor of Science: Coursework that prepares you for careers in science or medicine or scientific research

Internships Designed With Your Future In Mind

The Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics encourages students to perform research experiences as part of the completion of their undergraduate degree. Our friendly and engaging faculty has a diverse set of research interests, ranging from organic chemistry to genetics to bioinformatics and more, so finding the research project that sparks your curiosity couldn’t be easier.

Research projects engage students in new and exciting scientific discoveries that allow them to gain knowledge and experience that is beneficial in applying to graduate programs.

Take Your Research Beyond The Lab

Students from the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics have presented their data in local, national, and international meetings. These experiences help to broaden the horizons of our students and to develop contacts and relationships with researchers from around the globe.

Explore Courses In The Biochemistry Program

  • Learn about the design and discovery of drugs, and strategies in optimizing drug-target interactions.

  • Extract your own DNA to find out what your genes say and how that’s reflected in the way your body behaves through molecular technologies like polymerase chain reactions and sequencing.

  • Explore a built-in internship or research experience for credit and gain experience in your favorite biochemistry field!

Admission Requirements

At D'Youville, we are committed to selecting students who are academically well-rounded and committed to meeting the challenges of a high-quality education. If you have been successful in a traditional college preparatory program in high school, you should be well-prepared for the academic challenges at D'Youville. 

First Time in College Student Requirements
  • Submitted application for admission
  • Official high school transcripts
    • An overall weighted GPA of 85% with successful completion of high school graduation requirements and three years of math and science. 

Transfer Admission Required Review Criteria:

  • Submitted application for admission
    • Applications are free of charge and can be found on our apply webpage.
  • Official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges/universities
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.75

Careers

A degree in biochemistry opens the door to many careers. It can equip you for graduate school and lead to a teaching or research career at a college or university. It may provide the foundation for a career as a doctor, dentist, or veterinarian. It can also prepare you for related occupations in business, industry, and government.