The biochemistry program at UT Dallas is administered through the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and draws on faculty from chemistry, biological sciences and researchers from UT Southwestern Medical School to provide courses and research opportunities to its majors.

The biochemistry major bridges the gap between modern chemistry and biology. The curriculum builds on a base of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics to provide students the opportunity to develop essential theoretical and practical skills. Meeting these goals, the biochemistry program provides students with the flexibility to enter industry, go on to graduate school or pursue medical, dental and other degrees in the health sciences.

Career Potential

Biochemistry graduates from UT Dallas arrive at graduate school or in the workforce prepared to work in the biological sciences or chemical sciences, or for entry-level positions in the biotechnology industry.

The NSM Career Success Center is an important resource for students pursuing STEM and healthcare careers. Career professionals are available to provide strategies for mastering job interviews, writing professional cover letters and resumes and connecting with campus recruiters, among other services.

Marketable Skills

Review the marketable skills for this academic program.

Biochemistry at UT Dallas

Biochemistry majors may perform their research in the laboratories of faculty members from UT Southwestern biochemistry, internal medicine, pharmacology and physiology departments as available.

Students must take 120 hours to graduate: 42 hours from the University’s core curriculum, with the remaining hours divided between major core courses (66 hours) and elective requirements, where students can tailor their learning experience more closely to their interests.

High School Preparation

High school students need an interest in science and an aptitude for chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer science and physics. A background in these classes will help ensure success at the undergraduate level.

Quick Facts about the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

UT Dallas’ School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students in biology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, and physics. In addition to regular coursework, undergraduates are encouraged to participate in research alongside faculty and graduate students. Together with its world class departments, the school also hosts the renowned MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute and the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences that developed the mass spectrometer that discovered water on Mars.

• Established in 1975
• Six departments
• More than 3,200 students
• 30 degrees offered
• Alumni include a Nobel Prize winner, a NASA astronaut, and numerous faculty fellows of the National Academy of Engineering and American Association for the Advancement of Science

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Actuarial science, biochemistry, biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, data science*, geosciences, mathematics, molecular biology, physics

Bachelor of Arts: Biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics

Master of Science: Actuarial science, bioinformatics and computational biology, biotechnology, chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, molecular and cell biology, physics, statistics

Master of Arts in Teaching: Mathematics education, science education

Doctor of Philosophy: Chemistry, geosciences, mathematics, molecular and cell biology, physics, statistics

*Joint program between the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Certificates

• Data Science
• Genomics
• Geophysics
• Quantum Information
• Certificate in Biomedical Sciences (CBioMed)

Teacher Certification

The UTeach Dallas program offers students the opportunity to complete the requirements for high school teacher certification along with their regular BS or BA degrees.

Fast Track to Graduate School

The Fast Track program enables exceptionally gifted UT Dallas students to include master’s level courses in their undergraduate degree plans. Students who meet the requirements for admission to graduate school, and the minimum GPA requirement for their major, can take up to 15 semester credit hours of approved graduate level courses in their senior year to use toward completion of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  

To take graduate courses in the Fast Track program upper-division undergraduates must have completed 90 semester credit hours and petition their associate dean for permission to take graduate courses.