At Clarkson, we are discovering better options for delivering the healing effects of pharmaceutical drugs, clearing toxins from the air and personalizing healthcare for the individual through biotechnology.

Biomolecular Science faculty are exploring all of these possibilities, and you can too. As a student in our Biomolecular Science undergraduate bachelor's degree program, our faculty will know you as an individual and encourage undergraduates, alongside graduate students, to participate in laboratory-based research. Knowledge and skills learned in the classroom are creatively applied to solving practical and real-world challenges as we expand the boundaries of what is possible.

Your journey through biomolecular science is grounded in a rigorous core curriculum, and you are accompanied by faculty who are inspired explorers, sharing your enthusiasm for serving society through scientific advancement and innovation.

Request More Info Apply Now Contact Admissions Contact the Chemistry & Biomolecular Science Dept.

Biomolecular Science Careers

For Biomolecular Science majors, careers span the full range of the chemical and biological sciences, with exceptional opportunities in 

  • pharmaceutical and biomedical industries
  • biotechnology
  • genetic engineering
  • bio-fuels
  • forensics
  • health sciences

In recent years, students who have completed our biomolecular science bachelor's degree program have been recruited to work at companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Conamix and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). 

Biomolecular Science graduates will also be well-prepared for continued study in the health sciences, including medical, dental and veterinary medicine. Students interested in a career in an academic setting are well-equipped for the advanced study necessary for teaching in primary and secondary education, or for obtaining a PhD to teach and continue research in a university setting. Students have gone on for graduate studies at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of Rochester and West Virginia University. 

Clarkson Class of 2020 97 percent employment

 

Blog post: College Selection Tips from a Biomolecular Major 

Biomolecular Science Curriculum & Academic Options

Major in Biomolecular Science

The Biomolecular Science undergraduate bachelor's degree program is composed of 84 of the 120 required credits for a bachelor's degree. This leaves 36 credits available for student electives and the Clarkson Common Experience curriculum. Students in the biomolecular science major can take courses such as:

  • Inheritance, Evolution and Diversity
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemical Equilibrium and Dynamics
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
Biomolecular Science Major Curriculum

The biomolecular science program consists of 84 credits hours. This includes 24 credit hours in biology, 31 credit hours in chemistry, 17 credit hours in mathematics and physics, and 12 credit hours in professional experiences and program-targeted electives. 20 credit hours are in free electives and 15 credit hours are in the Clarkson Common Experience curriculum.

 

Clarkson Common Experience

The following courses are required for all students, irrespective of their program of study. These courses are offered during the fall semester, with FY100 First-Year Seminar being required of only first-year students. Both FY100 and UNIV190 are typically taken during the fall semester of the first year at Clarkson.
FY100 First-Year Seminar (1 credit)
UNIV190 The Clarkson Seminar (3 credits)

 

Biomolecular Science Core Requirements

Students are required to complete the following courses:

  • BY140 Biology I: Inheritance, Evolution and Diversity
  • BY160 Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • BY162 Biology II Laboratory (2 credits)
  • BY214 Genetics
  • BY412 Molecular Biology Laboratory (4 credits)
  • BY450 Biochemistry I
  • BY451 Biochemistry II
  • BY470 Biochemistry & Biotechnology Laboratory
  • CM103* Structure and Bonding
  • CM104* Chemical Equilibrium and Dynamics
  • CM105* Chemistry Laboratory I (2 credits)
  • CM106* Chemistry Laboratory II (2 credits)
  • CM221 Spectroscopy
  • CM223 Spectroscopy Laboratory
  • CM241 Organic Chemistry I
  • CM242 Organic Chemistry II
  • CM244 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
  • CM371 Physical Chemistry I
  • CM372 Physical Chemistry II
  • MA131 Calculus I
  • MA132 Calculus II
  • PH131 Physics I (4 credits)
  • PH132 Physics II (4 credits)

* CM131 and CM132 may be used to satisfy the first-year chemistry requirement for the Biomolecular Science Degree 

 

Professional Experience:

The professional experience can include directed research with any Biology, Chemistry & Biomolecular Science or other university faculty in program-related fields, such as genetics, proteomics, biomaterials, biosensors, and drug synthesis and delivery, including that with nanostructured materials. This requirement can also be met by participating in external internships or co-ops in medical, research or industry environments, such as the University of Massachusetts-School of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Trudeau Institute, Swift Laboratories, Strong Memorial Hospital Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Procter & Gamble, or other similar locations.

Directed research in department research labs with biomolecular science faculty: physical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, materials and colloid chemistryments, other colleges and universities, independent labs and research facilities, privately owned industries.

 

Biomolecular Science Core Electives:

Students must complete 12 professional elective credits. The following courses fulfil this:

  • Biology (BY) or Chemistry (CM) courses at 300-level or higher
  • Business or Biomedical Science course approved by advisor

Statistics and Probability Elective

Students are required to take one Statistics and Probability (STAT) 3-credit course.

Knowledge Area/University Course Electives

Students will have at least 12 credit hours available to use toward Knowledge Area and/or University Course electives to satisfy the Clarkson Common Experience requirements.

Free Electives

Students will have approximately 20 credit hours available to use toward courses of their choice.

Relevant Minors

Biomolecular Science majors have the opportunity to explore minors that will complement the biomolecular science bachelor's degree. View our recommendations below or learn more about all of Clarkson's minors, concentrations and professional advising tracks. 

All Clarkson Minors, Concentrations and Tracks

Chemistry Minor

A minor in chemistry is composed of 8-10 credit hours in a first-year sequence, and at least 15 credit hours from a list of chemistry courses provided below, which totals to about 23-25 credit hours out of the 120 for a bachelor's degree.

All courses are 3 credits unless noted.

 

Chemistry Minor First-Year Sequence

Students are required to take the following courses:

  • CM103 Structure and Bonding
  • CM104 Chemical Equilibrium and Dynamics
  • CM105 Chemistry Laboratory I
  • CM106 Chemistry Laboratory II
  • or CM131 General Chemistry I
  • and CM132 General Chemistry II

 

Chemistry Minor Core Electives:

Students must take five of the following courses, including at least one of the labs:

Courses:

  • CM221 Spectroscopy 
  • CM241 Organic Chemistry I 
  • CM242 Organic Chemistry II 
  • CM312 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry 
  • CM320 Separations and Electrochemistry 
  • CM371 Physical Chemistry I 
  • CM372 Physical Chemistry II 
  • CM460 Biochemistry I 
  • CM461 Biochemistry II 

Labs:

  • CM223 Spectroscopy Lab 
  • CM244 Organic Chemistry Lab 
  • CM300 Instrumental Lab
  • CM345 Advanced Lab (4 credits)
  • CM470 Biochemistry/Biotechnology Lab

 

Medicine & Healthcare Minor

The medicine & healthcare minor provides a curricular framework for Clarkson undergraduates to pursue a course of study that will introduce them to the interdisciplinary range of knowledge and perspectives needed to be an effective health practitioner. The medicine & healthcare minor offers a broad framework of study that will appeal to the many Clarkson undergraduates who aspire to pursue careers in healthcare fields. Required and elective courses relate directly to health professional practice and provide a suitably broad coverage of topics.

The minor includes a seminar to familiarize students with the variety of health professional careers and introduce students to working health professionals. It also includes a mandatory experiential component. Depending on course selection, students can complete most or all of their Clarkson Common Experience requirements while completing this minor. However, the minor does not satisfy all prerequisites for all health profession graduate programs; for example, pre-med students must take additional biology, chemistry and physics courses.

 

Medicine and Healthcare Curriculum:

A minor in Medicine and Healthcare is available to students in all degree programs. To obtain a minor, students must complete 23 credits:

 

Required courses (14 credits):

  1. BY 471 Anatomy and Physiology I [Fall]

  2. PY463 Health Psychology [C1, Fall]
  3. Either PHIL 241 Medical Ethics [UNIV/CGI/IG, Odd Springs]
    Or BIE 400 Responsible Conduct of Research [STS, Spring]
  4. Either HIST 335 History of Medicine in Europe and North America [UNIV/CGI/STS, C1, Fall]
    Or HIST 321 History of Public Health in America [UNIV/CSO/STS, C1, Spring]
  5. HS 220 Medicine & Healthcare Profession Seminar (new course, 1 credit, Spring)
  6. HS 405 Experiential Learning in Healthcare (new course, 1 credit, every semester)

HS220 Medicine & Healthcare Profession Seminar

HS405 Experiential Learning in Medicine & Healthcare

 

Medicine and Healthcare Electives:

Electives (9 credits) include at least three credits from each of the three categories:

Category 1: Biomedical Science & Engineering

  • BY315 Bioinformatics for Disease Research
  • BY324 Parasitology
  • BY383 Molecular Genetics & Human Disease
  • BY416/ EHS415 Principals of Toxicology & Epidemiology
  • BY419 Immunology 
  • BY363 Pharmacology of Infectious Disease
  • BY440 Introduction to Biomedical Rehabilitation Engineering & Science
  • BY448 Medical Microbiology
  • BY452 Pharmacology
  • BY455 Cell & Molecular Biology of Cancer 
  • BY472 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • BY473 Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
  • BY474 Anatomy and Physiology II Lab  
  • BY476 Current Topics in Biology & Medicine 
  • BY485 Neural Engineering
  • BY488 Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine
  • BR200 Intro to Biomedical & Rehabilitation Engineering 
  • CM444 Medicinal Chemistry
  • CM453 Introduction to Biomaterials
  • CM460 Biochemistry I
  • PY462 Abnormal Psychology

Category 2: Healthcare & Social Sciences

  • HS200 Health Coaches I
  • PY310 Human Sexuality 
  • PY317 Psychology of Psychoactive Drugs 
  • PY363 Judgment and Decision Making for the Biomedical Sciences
  • PY411 Counseling Psychology: Theory and Practice
  • SOC330 Health, Wealth, Inequality and the Environment
  • POL431 Health Care Policy

Category 3: Healthcare & the Humanities

  • ANTH330 Men and Masculinities
  • Either PHIL241 Medical Ethics
    Or BIE400 Responsible Conduct of Research – whichever not used to fulfill the required course.
  • HIST270 Introduction to Society, Culture & Biology 
  • HIST338 Women, Gender and Science in American History 
  • HIST353 Medicine & Ethics, 3rd Reich 
  • HIST331 Ancient Medicine and Magic
  • HIST459 Neuroscience & Society 
  • Either HIST335 History of Medicine in Europe and North America
    Or HIST321 History of Public Health in America – whichever not used to fulfill the required course.
  • POL/PHIL380 The Law and Bioethics
  • SS221 Introduction to Sexuality
"I wasn’t quite sure what I should major in coming into the application process, but I loved my chemistry and biology classes in high school. I was fascinated by the way the human body works, but at a molecular level. When I visited Clarkson, my conversations and experiences with the faculty in the Chemistry & Biomolecular Science department really helped me finalize my decision to major in Biomolecular Science."

Ana Witkowski, Biomolecular Science undergraduate student
Ana Witkowski 2

Research Opportunities

Throughout your undergraduate biomolecular science studies, you have access to research laboratories where you can work alongside experienced graduate students and become a valued member of a professor's research group. Invariably, alumni tell us that time spent doing research with faculty turns out to be the most important learning experience of their college careers, and we like to make this the most important experience in your college career as well.

Examples of Biomolecular Science research opportunities include:

  • working alongside Professor Silvana Andreescu using modern spectroscopic and electrochemical instrumentation to study molecular level interactions of nanoscale materials, and designing devices that are inexpensive, easy-to-use and have the required detection sensitivity and selectivity for routine applications.
     
  • focusing on proteomics investigation of various bodily fluids (sera, saliva, breast milk) for identification of biomarker signatures which are indicative of disease and/or disorder detection, or progression with Professor Costel Darie. 
     
  • doing research that develops new polymer chemistries and materials that have potential in many applications, including various nanotechnologies and biomedical materials, and in areas that require polymers with high degrees of chemical and physical specificity with Professor Devon Shipp.
     
  • being at the interface of chemistry and materials science with Professor Mario Wriedt in the design, synthesis, characterization and application of functional metal-organic framework (MOF) materials.

Internship and Co-op Opportunities

On Campus

Chemistry & Biomolecular Science (CBS) and Biology research faculty offer summer internships in their research laboratories to undergraduate students demonstrating interest and ability. Students gain invaluable experience working under the tutelage of professors, experienced graduate students and post-doctoral research associates.

Support and funding for on-site summer research experiences:

David A. Walsh '67 Undergraduate Student Research Fellowship: Awarded to support a summer research experience within the Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science (CBS). The recipient will be an undergraduate student majoring in Chemistry and/or Biomolecular Science who will be returning to Clarkson for at least one full semester. Provides stipend, housing and research materials.

During the summer, Honors Program students can apply to conduct project work in their field of study with the support of a faculty mentor. Depending on the program chosen, the Honors Program can provide on-campus housing, meal support and, in some circumstances, a stipend. <Link to Honors Program for more information>

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): Offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), this is a 10-week summer research program to engage a diverse group of undergraduate students in first-class research projects.

Off-site

With the assistance of their student advisors, students often seek out and obtain valuable and field-relevant work experience away from the Clarkson University campuses with internships in a variety of settings, such as the following:

Medical environments (University of Massachusetts-School of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), other colleges and universities, independent labs and research facilities (Trudeau Institute, Strong Memorial Hospital Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Swift Laboratories), and privately owned industries (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, Mylan Technologies Inc., Procter & Gamble, Corning, Beckman Laser Institute).

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): Other universities also host REU programs, and Clarkson Biomolecular Science students may have the opportunity to attend an REU program at Cornell, Columbia, Syracuse, Binghamton, or Boston University or Boston College, among others.

What's your purpose? Achieve it here.

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