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Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (B.A.)

Majors-Biochemistry-Molecular-Biology

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Make sense out of life.

One of the most exciting and influential areas of science today, biochemistry and molecular biology (BCMB) exists at the intersection of biology and chemistry. Exploring the cellular and molecular building blocks of living organisms is a fascinating — and humbling — experience, as you uncover the very conditions and interactions that make life (and you) possible.

Leading to a bachelor of arts degree, the biochemistry and molecular biology major puts you on the fast track to discovery, allowing you to engage in research as early as your first year, co-author research papers with faculty members or graduate students, and present those papers at professional conferences. Whether you choose to enter the industry or pursue an advanced degree, you’ll graduate ready to hit the ground running.

Why Study Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Clark?

  • Pursue your degree — and valuable internships — in a region with a national and international reputation for excellence in biomedical innovation and education, including the University of Massachusetts Medical School and biotech companies that are right here in Worcester.
  • Combine traditional “wet lab” biochemistry with chemical, biological, and computational tools to solve biology questions.
  • Conduct research in Clark’s LEED Gold-certified Lasry Center for Bioscience, a 50,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, and use specialized biology and chemistry research equipment normally found only in much larger departments.

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Path

The biochemistry and molecular biology major is highly structured and requires a solid grounding in biology and chemistry, as well as courses in physics and calculus. You also will take biochemistry, a yearlong course sequence that reviews our current understanding of the field, before moving on to more advanced courses, one of which must fulfill a techniques requirement.

Our robust Prehealth Advising Program is available if you’re interested in pursuing a career in the health profession.

Skills you will learn include:

  • How to design a hypothesis, and collect and interpret relevant data
  • How to communicate information orally and in writing
  • How to work as part of a team

Learn about our biology and chemistry facilities and equipment available for teaching and research, and the resources at Clark’s Carlson Science Library.

During your junior year, you might be accepted into the biochemistry and molecular biology honors program. Joining the program means you’ll work closely with a professor to create a thesis on a topic of your choice. Examples of recent honors thesis topics are:

  • Effects of Light-Emitting Diodes on the Light Harvesting System of Green Photosynthetic Bacteria
  • Understanding the Function of KIFAP3 and Its Possible Role in ALS
  • Biophysical Studies of the Self-Assembly of the Amyloid b-2 Protein in the Presence of Rifamycin SV
  • Gene Delivery Via Functionalized Poly(ethylene imine)-DNA Polyplexes
  • Biochemical and Genetic Analysis of Octopamine Biosynthesis

Building your foundation

The Clark Experience

We structure our curriculum around Liberal Education and Effective Practice (LEEP), which connects classroom learning with action through world and workplace experiences.

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Explore the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program