Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major

If you are interested in both biology and chemistry, the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) major may be the one for you. BMB is the study of biology on a small scale, with a focus on ongoing processes within cells. The major provides a comprehensive education at the intersection between biology and chemistry, and Washington College nurtures independent scientists in a rapidly advancing field. Where the biology major focuses on organisms and ecology, the BMB major concentrates on cells and cellular processes. Similarly, you will get more exposure to how chemistry happens inside cells rather than just the chemical reactions discussed through the chemistry major. The BMB major is especially useful for students interested in medical careers.   

Courses focus on concepts, techniques, and lab skills that help you find jobs and pursue your goals after graduation. All required courses have a lab component, getting you into the lab as soon as your first year. In your junior year, you will take a seminar course and prepare a presentation on a research area that interests you, getting a more in-depth understanding of it. That assignment prepares you for your Senior Capstone Experience (SCE), a year-long project in experimental or literature-based research that includes both a written component and oral poster board presentation. When you graduate as a BMB major, you will be able to think like a scientist, have extensive knowledge of biochemistry, and be well-versed in biomedical techniques and technologies.  
 
Students majoring in BMB can study abroad with planning. We recommend taking distribution courses while abroad, but it may be possible to earn and transfer lab credits. It is also possible to double major, though the other major, or a minor, cannot be biology or chemistry due to the number of overlapping classes. Browse our course catalog for descriptions of our offerings for BMB.

Trevor Frederick '22

PhD Candidate, Rutgers University • Hoboken, New Jersey

“The most valuable thing I learned at Washington College was adaptability, personally and career-wise. I started freshman year with baseball as an absolute priority, and then things shifted and people helped to foster that. Then with COVID-19, there were two years where everything was completely thrown off and learning to keep moving and keep your goals in mind was something I experienced at Washington College and can continue through the rest of my life.”