Bachelor in Biochemistry
University of Tampa CSSME and CNHS
Key Information
Campus location
Tampa, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 45,878 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* per year
Introduction
The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry degrees prepare chemistry students for entering the job market or for continuing their education at the graduate level. Research projects, publishing opportunities, internships, and classes provide students with both lecture and laboratory experience.
Biochemistry majors are assigned to a faculty member who serves as an adviser and whose specialty coincides with the student’s area of interest. Students are encouraged to learn by experience through research opportunities in areas such as the design of enzyme inhibitors, protein chemistry, bio-organic reaction mechanisms, biosensor development, and tumorigenesis.
Students interested in obtaining a graduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology or who wish to attend a professional school (dental, medical, or veterinary) may wish to consider the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry degree.
Curriculum
What Will You Learn?
Students receive a solid foundation in the five major areas of chemistry: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical. The B.S. or B.A. in biochemistry is a degree option for students interested in science at the intersection of biology and chemistry. The B.S. is ideal for students interested in graduate study in biochemistry and molecular biology or in the health professions. The B.A. is also appropriate for students considering the health professions.
The B.S. in biochemistry/MBA is a five-year joint degree program designed to develop scientists who can serve as managers, group leaders, and analysts in chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical diagnostic, and investment companies. Graduates are awarded both a B.S. and an MBA.
ACS-Accredited Program
The University of Tampa’s undergraduate chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society and one of the leading sources of authoritative scientific information. ACS reviews programs based on their institutional environment, faculty and staff, infrastructure, curriculum, undergraduate research, development of student skills, and program self-evaluation.
Practical Experience
Research and Internships
Students are encouraged to participate in faculty research projects or pursue their own independent work under the guidance of faculty. They learn how to design and conduct experiments and to interpret empirical data. Students not only receive academic credit but also may present their findings in scientific publications and at conferences. On campus, the CNHS Undergraduate Research Symposium provides an opportunity for students to present their current or recently completed research projects in a poster format. Research topics encompass areas such as atmospheric chemistry, marine nutrient analysis, protein chemistry, organic synthesis, and genetic regulation of cancer.
Internships help students relate their classroom studies to real-world experiences. Students have interned at locations such as Moffitt Cancer Center, Thornton Labs, Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tampa General Hospital, and The Florida Aquarium.
Career Opportunities
What Can You Do With These Degrees?
Career opportunities in chemistry, biochemistry, and forensic science are virtually limitless. The knowledge and application of chemical principles are part of every industrial, scientific, educational, and government enterprise. Mastery of chemistry requires excellent analytical and mathematical skills. Students learn to solve problems and think things through — skills useful in any job.
Employment options depend on how far you take your education. A bachelor’s degree can be used to gain acceptance to medical school, law school and other graduate or professional programs.
Graduate schools attended by UT chemistry, biochemistry, and forensic science majors include the University of Texas at Austin, Auburn University, Memphis Southern College of Optometry, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Iowa, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and Tufts University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Purdue University, among many others.
With a bachelor’s degree, entry-level jobs for chemistry or biochemistry undergraduates are often either industrial quality control jobs (chemical analysis work) or research assistant jobs (helping to develop new products or improving existing ones).
Federal, state, and local governments also operate research labs and regulatory agencies that employ chemists to perform research and analytical services. Other areas to be considered are food chemistry, textile and fabric chemistry, industrial hygiene, toxicology, chemical sales or instrumentation development, and teaching high school chemistry.
Biochemistry is one of the major growth areas in chemistry, and an expansion of startup biotechnology companies is creating new opportunities for graduates.
Facilities
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Biochemistry majors may qualify for Life Science Scholarships, which are annual scholarships up to $5,000 (renewable for four years) for first-year students (fall term only).
Qualifications include an unweighted high school GPA of 3.25, 1200 SAT (critical reading and math) or 26 ACT, completed admission application, and acceptance for full-time study. The annual deadline for scholarship consideration is February 1.
The department also offers a limited number of competitive Summer Fellowships for juniors and seniors to conduct research with faculty.
The ROTC program can assist prehealth professional students with their professional program finances through the Health Professions Scholarship Program.