Program Overview

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Biochemistry Bachelor of Science Degree

Overview

The biochemistry program at RIT provides knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology, preparing students to consider real-world problems from a variety of perspectives. The program focuses on the chemistry of life, with a mix of general biology and chemistry courses in the first year, followed by a substantial core of courses in biochemistry, physical chemistry, the liberal arts, and elective courses in life sciences.

Why Study Biochemistry at RIT

• Educational Growth: Nearly half of RIT's biochemistry bachelor's degree students continue their education in graduate programs at top-tier universities.
• Academic Communities: Join student chapters of the American Chemical Society, Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Fraternity, or American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to connect with other students and professionals in the field.
• Undergraduate Research: Engage in biochemistry research starting as early as the first year, preparing students for a wide range of careers with hands-on experience.
• Jobs at Industry Leading Companies: Recent biochemistry graduates are employed at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, ICON Laboratory, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising Program: Receive personalized guidance to become a competitive candidate for admission to medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions.
• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.

RIT's Biochemistry Bachelor's Degree

The program provides knowledge in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology, preparing students to consider real-world problems from a variety of perspectives. With RIT's biochemistry BS, students will be able to:

• Contribute skills in corporate, health care, or government positions
• Enter professional education in medicine or other health-related fields
• Attend graduate programs in a variety of chemical and life sciences-related programs

Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising

RIT's Office of Pre-Health Advising offers an advising program that's open to all majors and provides personal, individualized academic counseling to help students create a comprehensive long-term strategy to assist them in building successful applications to medical, dental, and veterinary schools or graduate degrees in the health professions.

Furthering Your Education in Biochemistry

Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable students to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

Advanced Degrees

If students are interested in pursuing medical school and/or graduate programs in the health professions, two advising programs can guide their planning for advanced study in these competitive areas of study:

• Chemistry and materials science and engineering graduate programs offered by the School of Chemistry and Materials Science prepare professional scientists by offering curricula that allow students to specialize in their chosen fields while engaging in rigorous, meaningful research using state-of-the-art instrumentation and facilities, under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

• Computer-Aided Drug Design Chemist
• Quality Control Analyst
• Chemist
• Research Technologist
• Medical Student
• Analytical Chemist
• Forensic Scientist
• Biotechnology Researcher
• Health Scientist
• Separations Chemist
• Process Chemist
• Cosmetic Biochemist
• Food Biochemist

Industries

• Biotech and Life Sciences
• Health Care
• Higher Education
• Medical Devices
• Pharmaceuticals

Cooperative Education

What's different about an RIT education? It's the career experience students gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. Students will earn more than a degree; they'll gain real-world career experience that sets them apart.

National Labs Career Events and Recruiting

The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education offers National Labs and federally-funded Research Centers from all research areas and sponsoring agencies a variety of options to connect with and recruit students.

Featured Work and Profiles

• Connecting Biochemistry and Business: A Remarkable RIT Journey
• Biochemistry Student Receives Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
• VP of Research and Development in a Science-first Cannabis Company
• Finding Work/Life Balance as a Podiatrist
• From Science Exploration to Brown University Researcher
• No Matter Where You Start, RIT Gets You There

Curriculum

Biochemistry, BS degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • BIOL-123: Introduction to Biology: Organisms and Ecosystems
  • BIOL-124: Introduction to Biology: Molecules and Cells
  • BIOL-125: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Organisms and Ecosystems
  • BIOL-126: Introduction to Biology Laboratory: Molecules and Cells
  • CHEM-171: Advanced General Chemistry I
  • CHEM-172: Advanced General Chemistry II
  • CHEM-175: Advanced General Chemistry I Lab
  • CHEM-176: Advanced General Chemistry II
  • MATH-181: Calculus I
  • MATH-182: Calculus II
  • YOPS-10: RIT 365: RIT Connections
  • General Education – Elective
  • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI)
• Second Year
  • BIOL-206: Molecular Biology
  • BIOL-216: Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • BIOL-302: Cell Biology
  • CHMB-402: Biochemistry I
  • CHMO-331: Comprehensive Organic Chemistry I
  • CHMO-332: Comprehensive Organic Chemistry II
  • CHMO-335: Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Lab I
  • CHMO-336: Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Lab II
  • General Education – Ethical Perspective
  • General Education – Global Perspective
  • General Education – Artistic Perspective
  • General Education – Immersion 1,2
• Third Year
  • CHMA-211: Quantitative Analysis
  • CHMA-215: Analytical Methods Lab
  • CHMB-405: Biochemistry Lab (WI-PR)
  • CHMP-331: Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences
  • PHYS-111: College Physics I
  • PHYS-112: College Physics II
  • Advanced Biochemistry Elective (A)
  • General Education – Social Perspective
  • General Education – Immersion 3
  • Open Elective
• Fourth Year
  • Advanced Biochemistry Elective (A)
  • Advanced Biology Elective (B)
  • Chemistry Elective (C)
  • Open Electives
  • General Education – Electives

Electives

List A

• CHMA-740: Practical NMR
• CHMB-403: Biochemistry II
• CHMB-489: Advanced Special Topics
• CHMB-498: Advanced Biochemistry Independent Study
• CHMB-460: Infectious Disease: Impact Society and Culture
• CHMB-610: Advanced Protein Biochemistry: Structure and Function
• CHMB-702: Protein Conformation and Dynamics
• CHMB-704: Advanced Nucleic Acids Biochemistry; Structure and Function

List B

• BIOL-218: Biology of Plants
• BIOL-265: Evolutionary Biology
• BIOL-305: Plants, Medicine and Technology
• BIOL-306: Food Microbiology
• BIOL-311: Introduction to Microbiology
• BIOL-321: Genetics
• BIOL-322: Developmental Biology
• BIOL-340: Genomics
• BIOL-375: Immunology
• BIOL-401: Biological Separations: Principles and Practices
• BIOL-403: Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry and Pathology
• BIOL-404: Microbiology of Fermentation
• BIOL-408: Biology of Cancer
• BIOL-412: Human Genetics
• BIOL-415: Virology
• BIOL-416: Plant Biotechnology
• BIOL-418: Plant Molecular Biology
• BIOL-420: Bacterial-Host Interactions: Mircobiomes of the World
• BIOL-427: Microbial and Viral Genetics
• BIOL-441: Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology
• MEDS-250: Human Anatomy and Physiology
• MEDS-251: Human Anatomy and Physiology II

List C

• CHEM-389: Special Topics
• CHEM-401: Macromolecular Supramolecular and Nanoscale Chemistry
• CHEM-411: Science Writing and Communications
• CHEM-489: Advanced Special Topics
• CHEM-498: Advanced Chemistry Independent Study
• CHEM-531: Climate Change: Science Technology & Policy
• CHMA-311: Instrumental Analysis
• CHMA-621: Advanced Instrumental Analysis Lab
• CHMA-650: Chemical Separations and Mass Spectrometry
• CHMI-351: Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
• CHMI-465: Preparative Inorganic Chemistry
• CHMI-564: Structural Inorganic Chemistry
• CHMO-420: Organic Reaction Mechanisms
• CHMO-535: Advanced Techniques in Organic Synthesis
• CHMO-636: Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds
• CHMO-637: Advanced Organic Chemistry
• CHMO-640: Mechanisms of Drug Interactions
• CHMO-710: Literature Exploration of Organic Synthesis
• CHMP-341: Physical Chemistry I
• CHMP-342: Physical Chemistry II
• CHMP-751: Colloid & Interface Science
• CHMP-752: Molecular Photophysics and Photochemistry
• CHMP-753: Computational Chemistry
• CHPO-706: Polymer Synthesis
• CHPO-707: Polymer Chemistry II

Admissions and Financial Aid

First-Year Admission

First-year applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background that includes:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of social studies and/or history
• 3 years of mathematics is required and must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry. Pre-calculus is recommended.
• 2-3 years of science is required and must include biology and chemistry.

Transfer Admission

Transfer applicants should meet these minimum degree-specific requirements:

• A minimum of college algebra is required. Pre-calculus or calculus is preferred.
• Chemistry and biology are required.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.

RIT's personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs.

Accreditation

The biochemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and also follows the guidelines of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Faculty

• Paul Craig
• Lea Michel
• Suzanne O'Handley
• Jeffrey Mills

Research

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Many students join research labs and engage in research starting as early as their first year. Participation in biochemistry research leads to the development of real-world lab techniques, enhanced problem-solving skills, and broader career opportunities.

Related News

• Thirteen seniors at partner high school headed to RIT
• Two College of Science students earn Goldwater Scholarships
• Biochemistry student receives Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Contact

Program Contact

• Michael Heagy
• School Head
• School of Chemistry and Materials Science
• College of Science
• 585‑475‑2090