College of Arts and Sciences

Chemical Biology

Why Chemical Biology

The major in Chemical Biology addresses the growing interest that many biologists have in the molecular aspects of biology and the increasing emphasis that many chemists place on the significance of chemical interactions and reactions in biological systems. The mission of the major in Chemical Biology is to provide students with an inter-disciplinary and thorough training in both biology and chemistry so that they can understand and investigate the chemical processes that take place at the molecular level in living systems. Chemical Biology majors take a wide variety of chemistry and biology courses with the flexibility to focus on particular areas of their own interest.

All students majoring in Chemical Biology engage in faculty-directed independent research projects as part of the major requirement. This gives students the opportunity to apply the principles that they have learned in the classroom and laboratory to the solution of real world scientific problems. In doing research, students gain hands-on experience in the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation, data analysis and interpretation. Students have presented their research at local and national conferences and in journal publications.

A major in Chemical Biology provides a strong academic background for students interested in pursuing graduate, professional and industrial careers at the interface between chemistry and biology. Students in the major benefit from the presence of pharmaceutical, chemical and biochemical industries, and many strong graduate and professional programs in the Philadelphia region. Chemical Biology majors have gone on to careers in cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacy and pharmacology, medicine, biotechnology, forensic science and neuroscience.