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Biochemistry focuses on the chemical processes occurring in the wide variety of living systems and touches essentially all aspects of our own lives. Our Northeastern program engages you in two integrated paths to a career in biochemistry: rigorous course work that is designed to prepare you to interpret the ever-expanding knowledge base and hands-on learning that positions you to leverage cutting-edge technology to solve fundamental problems in the chemistry of life.

After required basic course work in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, our majors select elective courses that reflect many areas of biochemistry including neuroscience, bioorganic chemistry, stem cell and regenerative biology, microbial biotechnology, and systems biology and engineering.

In our interdisciplinary program, students take advantage of faculty-mentored research guided by investigators from bioengineering, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, psychology, and other academic units.

Northeastern’s signature co-op program provides complementary opportunities in world-class biotechnology companies, hospitals, and research facilities as close as Boston and as far as your global interest takes you.

Our biochemistry program prepares students to enter the job market directly or go on to graduate, medical, veterinary, dental, law, or business school. Our graduates are qualified for a wide range of careers that span academics, industry, government, and medicine, working in laboratory or clinical research, regulation and quality control, production, marketing, or information systems.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Biochemistry Major Requirements

Introduction to College
BIOC 1000Biochemistry at Northeastern1
or INSC 1000 Science at Northeastern
Biology Foundations
Foundations
BIOL 1107
and BIOL 1108
Foundations of Biology
and Lab for BIOL 1107
5
Inquiries
BIOL 2299Inquiries in Biological Sciences4
Techniques
BIOL 2309Biology Project Lab4
Genetics and Molecular Biology
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
Genetics and Molecular Biology
and Lab for BIOL 2301
5
General Chemistry
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
General Chemistry for Science Majors
and Lab for CHEM 1161
5
Organic Chemistry 1
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
Organic Chemistry 1
and Lab for CHEM 2311
5
Organic Chemistry 2
CHEM 2313
and CHEM 2314
Organic Chemistry 2
and Lab for CHEM 2313
5
Physical Chemistry
CHEM 3431
and CHEM 3432
Physical Chemistry
and Lab for CHEM 3431
5
Biochemistry Courses
BIOL 3611
and BIOL 3612
Biochemistry
and Lab for BIOL 3611
5
BIOL 4707Cell and Molecular Biology4
Complete one of the following:3-5
Bioanalytical Chemistry
and Lab for CHEM 3331
Protein Chemistry
Experiential Learning Introduction
EESC 2000Professional Development for Co-op1
Capstone
Please complete one of the following options to fulfill the capstone requirement:4-5
One-semester research options:
Research
and Biochemistry Capstone
Internship
and Biochemistry Capstone
Senior Research
Two-semester research option (Honors in the Discipline). Second semester will be:
Junior/Senior Honors Project 2
Non-research option:
Biology Capstone

Biology and Chemistry Advanced Electives

Complete 3 courses for a total of at least 10 semester hours. One must be a lecture-based BIOL course and one must be a lecture-based CHEM course. The third may be BIOL, CHEM, or Research:10
Biology
BIOL 2311 to BIOL 5999
Chemistry
CHEM 2310 to CHEM 5999
Research Option
Up to 4 semester hours may be biochemistry-related research for credit:
Junior/Senior Honors Project 1
Research
Internship

Biochemistry Breadth Courses

Mathematics Courses
MATH 1341Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering4
MATH 1342Calculus 2 for Science and Engineering4
Physics Courses
Physics 1
Complete a lecture and lab set for Physics 1:5
Physics for Life Sciences 1
and Lab for PHYS 1145
Physics for Engineering 1
and Lab for PHYS 1151
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1151
Physics 1
and Lab for PHYS 1161
Physics 1 for Bioscience and Bioengineering
and Lab for PHYS 1171
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1171
Physics 2
Complete a lecture and lab set for Physics 2:5
Physics for Life Sciences 2
and Lab for PHYS 1147
Physics for Engineering 2
and Lab for PHYS 1155
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1155
Physics 2
and Lab for PHYS 1165
Physics 2 for Bioscience and Bioengineering
and Lab for PHYS 1175
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1175
Statistics
Complete one course from the following list. Students who receive transfer credit for the Advanced Placement Statistics exam may complete the 1 semester hour PSYC 2315 course (requires Psychology Department permission):4-5
Bioengineering Measurement, Experimentation, and Statistics
and Lab for BIOE 2365
Biostatistics
and Lab for ENVR 2500
and Recitation for ENVR 2500
Probability and Statistics
Foundations of Biostatistics
Statistics in Psychological Research

Writing Requirements

ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
or ENGW 1102 First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
ENGW 3307Advanced Writing in the Sciences4
or ENGW 3315 Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

NUpath Requirements Met by Major

  • Analyzing and Using Data (AD)
  • Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ)
  • Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone
  • Engaging with the Natural and Designed World (ND)
  • Integrating Knowledge and Skills Through Experience
  • Writing Across Audiences and Genres

Biochemistry Major Credit/GPA Requirements

Complete 86 semester hours in the major.  A minimum 2.000 GPA in the following course codes is required: BIOL, CHEM, MATH, PHYS.

Due to overlap in course content, double majoring in biochemistry and biology, biochemistry and cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and behavioral neuroscience, or biochemistry and chemistry is not permitted.

Program Requirement

136 total semester hours required

Sample Plans of Study

Please note that these are sample plans of study. While the requirements are the same for all students, individual schedules may vary.

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer Second Half/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOC 1000 or INSC 10001BIOL 22994BIOL 23014Elective 34
BIOL 11074CHEM 23114BIOL 23021Elective 44
BIOL 11081CHEM 23121Elective 24 
CHEM 11614ENGW 1111 or 11024  
CHEM 11621MATH 13424  
CHEM 11630   
MATH 13414   
Elective 14   
 19 17 9 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 23094BIOL 36114BIOL 47074Co-op0
CHEM 23134BIOL 36121Elective 84 
CHEM 23141EESC 20001  
PHYS 11513PHYS 11553  
PHYS 11521PHYS 11561  
PHYS 11531PHYS 11571  
Elective 54Elective 64  
 Elective 74  
 18 19 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0CHEM 34314ENGW 3307 or 33154Co-op0
 CHEM 34321Elective 104 
 CHEM 5620 or 3331 and 33323-5  
 ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
and ENVR 2502 (or other statistics course)
5  
 Elective 94  
 0 17-19 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0CHEM 4750 (or BIOL 4701 or BIOC 4971 or xxxx4991+BIOC 4900)4  
 BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
 BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
 BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
 0 19  
Total Hours: 142-144

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer First Half

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOC 1000 or INSC 10001BIOL 22994BIOL 23014Elective 34
BIOL 11074CHEM 23114BIOL 23021Elective 44
BIOL 11081CHEM 23121Elective 24 
CHEM 11614ENGW 1111 or 11024  
CHEM 11621MATH 13424  
CHEM 11630   
MATH 13414   
Elective 14   
 19 17 9 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 23094Co-op0Co-op0BIOL 36114
CHEM 23134  BIOL 36121
CHEM 23141  Elective 64
EESC 20001   
PHYS 11513   
PHYS 11521   
PHYS 11531   
Elective 54   
 19 0 0 9
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 3307 or 33154Co-op0Co-op0BIOL 47074
PHYS 11553  Elective 84
PHYS 11561   
PHYS 11571   
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
and ENVR 2502 (or other statistics course)
5   
Elective 74   
 18 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
CHEM 34314CHEM 4750 (or BIOL 4701 or BIOC 4971 or xxxx4991+BIOC 4900)4  
CHEM 34321BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
CHEM 5620 or 3331 and 33323-5BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5Elective 104  
Elective 94   
 17-19 18  
Total Hours: 142-144

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Summer Second Half/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOC 1000 or INSC 10001BIOL 22994BIOL 23014Vacation
BIOL 11074CHEM 23114BIOL 23021 
BIOL 11081CHEM 23121Elective 24 
CHEM 11614ENGW 1111 or 11024  
CHEM 11621MATH 13424  
CHEM 11630   
MATH 13414   
Elective 14   
 19 17 9 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 23094BIOL 36114BIOL or CHEM advanced elective4Co-op0
CHEM 23134BIOL 36121Elective 64 
CHEM 23141EESC 20001  
PHYS 11513PHYS 11553  
PHYS 11521PHYS 11561  
PHYS 11531PHYS 11571  
Elective 34Elective 44  
 Elective 54  
 18 19 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0CHEM 34314VacationCo-op0
 CHEM 34321  
 ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
and ENVR 2502
5  
 ENGW 3307 or 33154  
 Elective 74  
 0 18 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0CHEM 5620 or 3331 and 33323-5VacationCo-op0
 BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
 Elective 84  
 Elective 94  
 0 16-18 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0BIOL 47074  
 CHEM 4750 (or BIOL 4701 or BIOC 4971 or xxxx4991+BIOC 4900)4  
 BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
 Elective 104  
 0 17  
Total Hours: 141-143

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer First Half

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOC 10001BIOL 22994BIOL 23014Vacation
BIOL 11074CHEM 23114BIOL 23021 
BIOL 11081CHEM 23121Elective 24 
CHEM 11614ENGW 1111 or 11024  
CHEM 11621MATH 13424  
CHEM 11630   
MATH 13414   
Elective 14   
 19 17 9 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 23094Co-op0Co-op0BIOL 36114
CHEM 23134  BIOL 36121
CHEM 23141  Elective 44
EESC 20001   
PHYS 11513   
PHYS 11521   
PHYS 11531   
Elective 34   
 19 0 0 9
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
and ENVR 2502 (or other statistics course)
5Co-op0Co-op0Vacation
PHYS 11553   
PHYS 11561   
ENGW 3307 or 33154   
PHYS 11571   
Elective 54   
 18 0 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 47074Co-op0Co-op0Vacation
CHEM 34314   
CHEM 34321   
CHEM 5620 or 3331 and 33323-5   
Elective 64   
 16-18 0 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5CHEM 4750 (or BIOL 4701 or BIOC 4971 or xxxx4991+BIOC 4900)4  
BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5BIOL or CHEM advanced elective5  
Elective 74Elective 94  
Elective 84Elective 104  
 18 17  
Total Hours: 142-144