Biochemistry
All across the country, pharmacists are helping patients manage their medications. Researchers are making exciting discoveries in agriculture, environmental remediation, and the food and chemical industries. Biotechnologists with the Human Genome project are isolating and mapping our genes, paving the way for better cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's treatments. And forensic scientists are using science and technology to crack previously unsolvable cases.
What do these professionals have in common? They use biochemistry to get the job done.
Capital's biochemistry major is an ideal springboard for graduate school, the health care field and any number of rewarding scientific careers.
The Curriculum
As a biochemistry major, you will take classes from our excellent chemistry and biological sciences departments to build a molecular understanding of complex biological systems.
Our junior- and senior-year biochemistry curricula are flexible; you can tailor them to match your specific interests. The coursework is modeled on recommended guidelines from the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASCMB) and the American Chemical Society (ACS), both of which are highly respected scientific organizations.
And because Capital University is a liberal arts school, you'll get a fine broad-based education as well as a scientific one. Classes in the arts, religion, humanities and writing will enrich your world view and help you put your growing scientific knowledge in perspective.
Program Highlights
Capital's biochemistry program stands out from the crowd in a number of ways. We give you:
The ability to use and master modern instrumentation and molecular graphics software starting in your freshman year
Opportunities to do undergraduate research in direct collaboration with experienced faculty members
A faculty-to-student ratio as low as 5:1, which ensures that you'll get plenty of personal attention from professors
Chemistry workshops, in which 6-8 students meet outside class to enrich their classroom learning through games and physical and computer modeling
A focus on discovery-based learning, which mirrors the way real scientists conduct their experiments
Laboratory courses that are taught by faculty members, not TAs, which means lecture topics and lab experiments can be seamlessly integrated
Exploring Your Interests Though Independent Research
Want to study a classroom topic in greater detail? Got an interest that won't be covered in class? Under the guidance of one of our biochemists, you can independently pursue almost any biochemistry topic that excites you, including:
- Computer modeling of biological molecules
- Protein structure/function relationships
- Genetic profiling
The Summer Institute in Science and Mathematics, an intensive academic and research program, gives you additional opportunities to complete required coursework or serve as a teaching or research assistant.
Careers Using Biotechnology
The current U.S. biotechnology workforce is 200,000 strong and is expected to grow 12%-17% each year for the next five years. Even conservative estimates show that, by 2012, the number of biotechnology jobs will have doubled.
As a biochemistry major, you can choose from a variety of different fields, including:
- Biotechnology
- Toxicology
- Biomedical engineering
- Pharmacology
- Plant pathology
You can also use your degree as a foundation for graduate studies in biomedical science, biochemistry or molecular biology.
To learn more about biochemistry career paths and job prospects, read this in-depth brochure published by the ASCMB.
Capital biochemistry alumni are making names for themselves, both in graduate school and in the workplace. Here's what some of them are doing now:
- Studying in the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Kentucky
- Learning veterinary medicine at The Ohio State University
- Studying pharmacology at the graduate level at Wake Forest University
- Working as a chemist at Battelle
- Working as a lab manager at Capital University
For more information about Capital's biochemistry program, contact:
Steve Clymer
Chemistry Department Chair
(614) 236-6341
sclymer@capital.edu
Jens Hemmingsen
Professor
(614) 236-6105
jhemming@capital.edu