Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Degree Program

A flexible interdisciplinary program with a focus on research

Cornell College biochemistry and molecular biology students work in the Russell Science Center in one of the chemistry labs

Why major in biochemistry and molecular biology at Cornell College?

Our interdisciplinary program in biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) is designed to prepare you well for graduate school, professional school, or a technical career in the field.

Want to completely immerse yourself in scientific discovery? Step into our newly constructed 45,600-square-foot Russell Science Center, where you will have access to dedicated STEM spaces, new chemistry and biology labs and classrooms, new research rooms, and study areas.

Our One Course At A Time curriculum gives you the opportunity to truly focus without the distractions of other classes. In the lab, you’ll have the time you need to conduct more complex and in-depth investigations. And you’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of research experiences beyond our campus.

With a well-rounded liberal arts foundation, you’ll set yourself apart with your exceptional communication and critical-thinking abilities.

Experiential learning and internships

Learn without boundaries

Interested in going on a diving expedition in the Caribbean to study coral bleaching? Want to conduct research with doctors at a prestigious urban medical center? You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in your field.

Cornellians have recently completed internships or Cornell Fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas; the Children’s Hospital in Aurora, Colorado; and the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland; to name a few.

Back home on the Hilltop, our faculty will gladly take you under their wings and involve you in collaborative research projects on a diverse range of topics.

Courses and degree requirements

With our Ingenuity Curriculum, you will gain the critical-thinking skills that will provide you with a solid academic foundation as you work toward your degree.

Using the tools you’ve acquired, you will be immersed in a biochemistry and molecular biology curriculum that you’ll find both challenging and rewarding. In your courses, you will learn at the interface of biology and chemistry and explore how each discipline influences the other. You’ll dive into different topics—atoms, genes, enzymes, cellular pathways, and organic synthesis.

You’ll put an exclamation point on your education by conducting an independent Capstone research project. You can create your own study or take on a problem covered in an off-campus trip. You will review literature, collect and interpret data, and write a research report. Learn more about the biochemistry and molecular biology degree requirements by exploring our course catalog.

Student outcomes

Cornell College prepares you for success, whatever your ambitions in science may be. From the Peace Corps to the corporate world to the medical field, our graduates have made their mark on science and on the world.

Allison Eikenberry

Class of 2021, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

“One Course At A Time has prepared me to adapt quickly to change and also to produce high-quality work in a short timeframe. These are both skills that will help me as I prepare to enter pharmacy school.”

Read Allison's story

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology News