What is a Biochemistry Degree?

Biochemistry is known as the chemistry of life. A biochemistry degree covers the complex chemical reactions taking place inside each living organism and provides the foundation for nearly all advances in medical research, agriculture and genetic engineering, tying together new medical technologies and discoveries in genetic and cell biology.

Whether you want to explore the mysteries of DNA, aid in the development of innovative biotechnologies, or study the diagnosis and treatment of disease, you can get there with a biochemistry degree from Florida Tech. Here, you'll develop a strong background in biology and chemistry and get hands-on experience in analysis and instrumentation.

Our biochemistry degree program is dynamic and focused. You'll get started right away, taking core courses like Biological Discovery and Introduction to Biochemistry as a freshman. Guided by highly accomplished faculty who care about your success, you'll hone your strengths and begin narrowing your focus as early as sophomore year. During the junior and senior years, students take many specialized courses that reflect their choice of emphasis between biology and chemistry.

Advantages

Why Florida Tech:

• 50% of required credits for a biochemistry degree are in biology
• Enjoy small classes and individualized attention
• Work with enthusiastic faculty on publishable research projects
• Use state-of-the-art instrumentation in excellent laboratory facilities
• Undertake professional caliber research and training opportunities at the undergraduate level

Facilities: The biology department is housed in the F.W. Olin Life Sciences Building (LSB). LSB contains eight teaching labs, 12 modern research labs, a 16-workstation computer facility, and an electron microscopy suite. The building also includes animal care facilities for housing small mammals and reptiles and a temperature-controlled 800 sq. ft greenhouse. The department has excellent teaching facilities with a state-of-the-art multimedia auditorium and classroom. All research and teaching space is fully connected to the campus-wide high-speed network. The department also maintains an on-campus Aquaculture Center and the Vero Beach Marine Laboratory where field studies in aquaculture and marine biology can be performed.
Learning

Research: Biochemistry professors are working on finding cures for asthma and Alzheimer's disease, making new drugs out of chemicals found in sea sponges, and discovering what exactly happens during the early stages of life, right after fertilization. Undergraduates getting their biochemistry degree often participate in these research endeavors.

Internships and Cooperative Learning: Students in the biological sciences, including those getting a biochemistry degree, at Florida Tech have been recruited for internships by companies such as:

• American Museum of Natural Science
• Andean Biodiversity Consortium
• Baltimore Aquarium
• Brevard County Environmentally Engangered Lands Program
• Brevard Zoo
• Epcot Center
• Florida Medical Entomology Lab
• The Perry Institute for Marine Science
• Sea World Florida
• Shedd Aquarium

Future Outcomes

Outcomes - Grad School: In addition to pursuing master's and doctoral degrees at Florida Tech, biochemistry degree graduates have gone on to study at a number of universities around the country. A few of these include:

• University of Florida
• University of South Alabama
• University of Miami
• University of Texas
• University of South Florida

Outcomes - Career and Salary: A biochemistry degree can be applied to many other disciplines and sciences. Our students go onto careers in:

• Medicine
• Drug discovery/pharmacology
• Drug research and development
• Cancer and other disease research
• Biotechnology
• Agricultural research
• Animal population restoration