Skip to main content
Major Exploration Major Exploration

Biochemistry

  1. Major Exploration
  2. Academic Schools
  3. Physical Sciences
  4. Biochemistry

Majors in UC San Diego's Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics department offer a broad foundation in biochemistry preparing students for graduate study and careers in science, medicine, engineering, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Students develop strong analytical and laboratory skills through extensive coursework in chemistry, math, physics, and advanced lab classes. The program also emphasizes individualized mentoring, academic advising, and hands-on research opportunities with faculty or industry mentors, helping students explore scientific questions beyond the classroom and gain practical experience. Housed in a nationally recognized department, the major supports diverse academic and professional pathways, including American Chemical Society-certified preparation.

Majors

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacological Chemistry

Program Highlights

  • Many of the department's majors rank in the top 20, according to nationwide rankings.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Department

This page is intended to give some highlights about the program. If you are interested in learning more about the major and its curriculum, visit the department website.

BIOCHEMISTRY WEBSITE

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Co-curricular Programs

Learn how to make the most of your experience at UC San Diego within the context of your major.

Research

Conduct research in your field of study with one of the many research programs available. Research opportunities in this major include, but are not limited to:

Transfer Research Experience (T-REX) 

  • Available Summer term
  • Open to newly admitted transfers only
  • Stipend available

McNair

  • Available Winter, Spring and Summer term (8 weeks; 3 quarter commitment).
  • Open to juniors and seniors.
  • Stipend, course credit, and housing available.

Summer Training Academy for Research Success (STARS)

  • Available Summer term
  • Open to all undergraduate students

 

For more details, eligibility, and to explore more programs, visit our Undergraduate Research website.

Internships

UC San Diego offers strong internship pathways for undergraduates through the Academic Internship Program (AIP) and the Research Experience and Applied Learning (REAL) Portal. AIP enables students to earn academic credit while gaining professional experience in fields across all majors, supported by faculty mentorship and an academic component. The REAL Portal serves as a centralized hub for finding research, internships, service learning, and other hands‑on opportunities on and off campus. Together, these resources help students explore career interests, build professional skills, and connect academic learning with real‑world experience.

Find a Program

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to explore study abroad opportunities which allow students to experience the culture and history of another country and gain a global perspective,  all while earning academic credit toward their degree.

Learn more about study abroad opportunities for Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Student Organizations

With over 600 student organizations, students are able to connect with other students who share similar interests. And, if you can't find something that interests you, it's easy to create a new one with just a few other students. Explore UC San Diego student organizations.

Be sure to check out these organizations related to your major:

  • American Chemical Society Student Affiliates
  • Graphite

What can I do with this major?

Learn about how you can apply your major to various opportunities after you graduate. The information below is based on recent surveys from alumni in this (or similar) majors and is not an exhaustive list. 

  • Recent Employers - Top 10 employers alumni reported working for. 
  • Job Types - Industries and types of jobs that alumni reported. 
  • Skills - Common skills and skills specific to the major that alumni reported gaining from this major. 
  • Graduate Programs - The types of graduate programs alumni reported going to (if applicable)

Recent Employers

  • University of California
  • Illumina
  • Cue Health
  • Biolegend
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • Gilead Sciences
  • UCSF
  • Stanford University
  • Eurofins
  • BD
  • The Salk Institute For Biological Studies

Job Types

  • Scientific Research Managers
  • Research Assistants
  • Chemists
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
  • Medical Assistants
  • Life Scientists
  • Software Developers and QA Testers
  • Teaching Assistants

Graduate Programs

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Pharmacy
  • Medicine
  • Accounting
  • Biochemistry
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
  • Bioinformatics
  • Biostatistics
  • Chemical Engineering

Skills

Common

  • Research
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Customer Service
  • Teaching
  • Teamwork

Specific

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Cell Cultures
  • Biochemical Assays
  • Data Analysis
  • Cell Biology
  • Gel Electrophoresis
  • Western Blot