Offered jointly through the Biology and Chemistry Departments, the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major is designed for students interested in multiple scientific fields. This major provides you with a rigorous, multi-layered approach, integrating important topics and techniques in both disciplines. In addition to a comprehensive understanding of how chemical processes and molecular mechanisms impact biological systems, you develop critical thinking, analytical, and technical skills necessary to be a creative, effective, and responsible scientist.

Upon graduation, you will meet the American Chemical Society (ACS) requirements for certification.

Career Paths

Brittany Temple, medical trip to Belize

Multiple Career Options

Biochemistry and molecular biology represent a growing interdisciplinary field, and this major offers breadth and depth that make you marketable in various areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and bioinformatics.

Some of the graduate and professional schools are graduates are attending include:

  • University of Kansas
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Florida
  • A.T. Still University
  • National Institutes of Health

Student working on computer

Preparation for Professional Studies

The biochemistry and molecular biology major is an ideal option if you're interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. Your Truman advisor can help you customize an appropriate plan to prepare for your intended professional study.

Featured Courses

Examine physical chemistry with an emphasis on applications to biochemical systems and life sciences.
Investigate cellular, molecular, and genetic processes that regulate the flow of information and energy within organisms.
Explore the fundamental concepts of chemistry including thermodynamics (enthalpy, entropy and the Gibbs energy), kinetics, basic equilibrium, quantum mechanics and simple approaches to bonding (Lewis dot structures and VSPER theory).
Study the structure, organization and function of cells, with an emphasis on eukaryotes. Topics include macromolecular structure, biological membranes, functions of major organelles, protein and vesicular trafficking, bioenergetics, the cytoskeleton and cell-cell communication.
An introduction to the use of classical and instrumental methods of quantitative chemical analysis.
Learn about the nature, transmission, variation, and action of the genetic material.
Explore fundamental organic chemistry including nomenclature, synthesis, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms on a molecular level, theoretical aspects of chemical bonding, and introductory chemical phenomena through alcohols.
Chemistry professor and student in lab

Research Opportunities

You might work alongside a faculty mentor as a teaching assistant in a lab course, join an existing research team or start your own research project.

Many students present their research results at Truman’s Student Research Conference as well as national and international scientific conferences.