About The Program
As a student in the NSU biochemistry bachelor's degree program, you’ll receive the foundation and skills that will give you an edge and prepare you to succeed in in a host of well-established, continually evolving fields. Biochemistry merges the chemical, biological and physical sciences to explain biological processes on a molecular level, preparing you for immediate employment in medical, industrial, and government positions (scientists, lab technicians, research assistants, and chemists), a professional degree program (medical, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical, genetic counseling, and other clinical or health professions), or a graduate degree program (biochemistry, chemistry, and biology).
Studying biochemistry at Northern will maximize your opportunities for hands-on lab experiences and undergraduate research in our state-of-the-art $25 million Jewett Regional Science Education Center. Research skills are emphasized, combining comprehensive laboratory exercises with the independent nature of real-world, applied novel research.
The curriculum for Northern’s B.S. in biochemistry includes core requirements with an overall objective of providing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary learning opportunity to bridge the physical sciences with biology and chemistry. Biochemical skills and required content include a holistic understanding of general, organic and physical chemistry together with general biology, genetics, microbiology and developmental biology.
The knowledge you gain from this program will prepare you to succeed in fields including:
- Medical, industrial, and government positions (scientists, lab technicians, research assistants, and chemists)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Plant and animal agriculture
- Biotechnology
- Biochemical, biomedical and chemistry research
- Environmental and energy fields
- Food industries and professions
- Entry into a professional degree program (medical, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical, genetic counseling, and other clinical or health professions), or a graduate degree program (biochemistry, chemistry, and biology)
- Northern's placement rate the past five years was 82 percent for medical school and 83 percent for dental school - see what our graduates have to say about the advantages of earning their undergraduate degree at Northern!
We'll work closely with you and our connections to find internships and field experiences that accord with your scientific interests.
For more information about this degree, contact Jessica Ness, or call 605-626-2272 or 605-626-7900. Or, contact NSU Admissions at 605-626-2544 or admissions@northern.edu.
Our Faculty
Ph.D. University of California, Santa Cruz
B.Sc. Mills College
Dr. Susan Citrak joined the faculty at Northern in 2020. She grew up in the northern California Bay area and spent 26 years in San Francisco before moving to Aberdeen. She earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Mills College in Oakland, Calif., and then went on to the University of California, Santa Cruz, for doctoral work. At Mills College, she conducted undergraduate research in physical organic chemistry studying unimolecular solvolysis reactions involving carbocationic intermediates in ionic liquid solvent systems. During her tenure at UCSC, she moved into inorganic materials chemistry and studied the exchange capabilities, structure, stability and anion properties of metal-organic coordination polymers, as well as ionothermal synthesis of metal-substituted aluminophosphate molecular…
Ph.D. Montana State University
M.S. Montana State University
B.S. State University of New York
Dr. John Long joined the NSU faculty in the summer of 2015. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the State University of New York, a master’s degree in environmental and ecological statistics and a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental sciences, both from Montana State University. His area of expertise is the mathematical and physical aspects of the environment.
Dr. Long is a part of the SEA-PHAGES team trained by Howard Hughes Medical Institute to discover new viruses in environmental samples and to sequence their genome. Dr. Long is a retired U.S. Air Force major with 21 years of service as a B-52 electronic warfare officer.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Physics I and II
University Physics I and II
Biological Statistics I and II
R Programming
Geographic Information…
Dr. George Nora began at Northern State University in 2010 and has been promoted to associate professor of chemistry.