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B.S. in Biochemistry at USP
B.S. in Biochemistry at USP
Why USP?
Your Life as a Biochemist
Your Future in Biochemistry
Hands-on Learning at USP
Learn from the Best
The USP Biochemistry Curriculum
Professional Connections in Biochemistry
For more information...
Do you want to lead the way with new ideas in such areas as cancer
research, gene splicing, or vaccine development? As a biochemistry
major at USP, you'll analyze living organisms at the most fundamental,
molecular level that relates metabolism, reproduction, growth, and
heredity. You'll be prepared to work in one of the fastest-growing
and most exciting areas of science.
Why USP?
As one of the leading small science universities in the country,
there's no better place than USP to gain solid experience in biochemistry.
A major in biochemistry provides the foundation for many other biomedical
fields, including genetics, molecular biology, physiology, cell
biology, and immunology. It also provides an excellent background
for students wishing to attend medical school or graduate school.
USP ranks in the top 11% of 1,150 comparable institutions
whose undergraduates have gone on to complete a doctoral degree
in the sciences, according to the National Science Foundation. In
addition, we rank second in the number of graduates who went on
to receive advanced degrees in the medical sciences, according to
the NSF.
Our program offers you many unique advantages:
- There are opportunities to work alongside your professors doing
cutting-edge research in well-equipped
laboratories. You'll
have access to sophisticated instrumentation,
such as a fluorescent DNA sequencer, a 400-MHz NMR spectrometer,
and a Beowulf computer cluster. Research opportunities are available
to students in many areas, such as protein-induced DNA folding
and computer-modeling of drug-protein binding.
- Students are encouraged to take advantage of summer internships
as they become available. Internships on campus give students
the opportunity to work alongside professors conducting advanced
research, while internships off-campus provide valuable industrial
experience.
- Small classes, particularly at the junior and senior level,
allow students to develop close mentoring relationships with their
professors.
- Faculty bring a wide array
of chemical interests to the classroom, ranging from analytical
to biochemical to computational to medicinal, as well as teaching
and research expertise at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- A combined B.S./M.S. option
is available to students who would like to obtain an M.S. degree
immediately following their B.S. degree.
Your Life as a Biochemist
Biochemists find career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry,
government agencies, and the biotechnology industry, where they
may be involved in metabolic or genetic research in the laboratory,
or in clinical research, finding new ways to treat disease. The
biochemistry program at USP will prepare you for:
- Biochemically-related careers in industry, academia, or government
at the B.S. level.
- Entry into graduate school to obtain an advanced degree in biochemistry.
- Entry into professional programs to obtain advanced degrees
in medicine and law.
Your Future in Biochemistry
The rapidly expanding fields of molecular biology and biotechnology
have resulted in great demand for biochemists. In fact, the number
of job opportunities
for those trained in modern biochemical techniques already far exceeds
the supply. Before starting their careers, more than 50 percent
of USP graduates go on to graduate school or to medical, dental,
or other health professional schools.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median annual earnings
of medical scientists were $57,196 in 2000.
Hands-on Learning at USP
Undergraduate research
gives you the opportunity to explore one area of biochemistry in
depth. Employers and graduate/professional schools recognize independent
research as a very valuable learning experience.
Learn from the Best
You'll have access to a wide range of expertise from faculty
members in the departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry and
Biological Sciences who teach courses in the biochemistry program.
You'll receive a solid foundation in the areas of physical and analytical
biochemistry, enzymology, nucleic acid biochemistry, cell biology,
microbiology, and genetics. Some of the experts you'll learn from
include:
- Edward R. Birnbaum,
Ph.D., inorganic chemistry, department chair. Dr. Birnbaum's research
interests include bioinorganic chemistry, lanthanide spectroscopy,
and calcium-binding peptides and proteins.
- Michael F. Bruist,
Ph.D., biochemistry. Dr. Bruist's research interests include nucleic
acid biochemistry, chemistry of DNA rearrangements, and DNA-protein
interactions.
- Yumee K. Koo Ph.D.,
biochemistry. Dr. Koo's research interests include chemical education
and protein interactions.
- Preston B. Moore,
Ph.D., chemistry. Dr. Moore's research interests include molecular
interactions within biological systems, computational chemistry,
and molecular dynamics simulations as applied to biological membranes.
- Guillermo Moyna,
Ph.D., organic chemistry. Dr. Moyna's research interests include
biomolecular NMR spectroscopy, computational chemistry, and computer-assisted
rational drug design.
- Julian W. Snow, Ph.D.,
physical chemistry. Dr. Snow's research interests include structure
of serum apolipoproteins, serum apolipoprotein-lipid interactions,
and thermodynamics of amphiphile-membrane interactions.
- Randy J. Zauhar,
Ph.D., molecular and cell biology. Dr. Zauhar's research interests
include computational chemistry, bioinformatics, and computer-aided
drug design.
The USP Biochemistry Curriculum
In your first two years, you'll take foundation courses in biology,
chemistry, physics, and mathematics. You'll also build a solid understanding
of your field by taking courses in the five major areas of chemistry-analytical,
inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, as well as biochemistry.
Laboratory courses, which typically accompany lecture courses, will
help you develop the skills and techniques needed in the five major
areas. You'll also be encouraged to conduct one or more undergraduate
research projects.
In your third and fourth years, you'll take extensive work in physical
and analytical chemistry, molecular and cell biology, and genetics.
You will also select specialty electives to strengthen a particular
area of interest. These may include biochemistry, bioinformatics,
genetics, cell biology, microbiology, virology, or courses such
as instrumental analysis that provide the skills needed to utilize
sophisticated instrumentation to investigate complex biological
phenomena.
Computer technology is incorporated throughout the curriculum,
starting with Principles of Chemistry I, your first course in chemistry.
Most of the computer knowledge you gain will be as a result of integrating
computer applications into many of the lecture and laboratory courses.
The biochemistry major is also excellent preparation for our pre-med
track, which includes the basic courses required for admission
to medical school, normally completed in the first two years of
the program. Most pre-med students major in biochemistry, biology,
chemistry, microbiology, or pharmacology and toxicology.
First Year
- Orientation for the Chemical Sciences
- Principles of Chemistry I and II
- Principles of Chemistry Lab I and II
- Introductory Biology I and II
- Mathematical Analysis I and II
- College Composition
- Introduction to Literature
- Physical Education I and II
- Social Science
Second Year
- Principles of Organic Chemistry I and II
- Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab I and II
- Basic Inorganic Chemistry
- Mathematical Analysis III
- Mathematical Analysis IV or Introduction to Biostatistics
- Physics I and II
- Intellectual Heritage I and II
Third Year
- Physical Chemistry I
- Molecular Structure in Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry Lab
- Biochemistry Lab I and II
- Discussions in Chemistry
- Literature of Chemistry
- Basics in Microbiology or Physical Chemistry II
- Public Speaking
- Social Science
- Core Distribution Requirement
Fourth Year
- Cell Biology
- Nucleic Acid Biochemistry
- Seminar in Chemistry I and II
- Physical Chemistry Lab I
- Biochemistry Electives including Research
- Core Distribution Requirement
- Electives
Professional Connections in Biochemistry
You'll be encouraged to participate in the American
Chemical Society Student Affiliate Organization, which sponsors
seminars, field trips to industrial and governmental laboratories,
and social events. In addition, you can present the results of your
undergraduate research activities at scientific meetings sponsored
by organizations such as the American Chemical Society and Sigma
Xi.
For more information…
To learn more about the Biochemistry program, contact the Admission
Office at 1-888-996-USIP (8747), e-mail admit@usip.edu,
or fill out our online information request form.
Misher College
of Arts and Sciences
Department of Chemistry
& Biochemistry
Admission
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