Biochemistry

Program Overview:

Faculty

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

Delivery

In-person

About Biochemistry

Did you ever wonder how Tylenol works to dull a headache or what really happens to the nutrients in your food once you eat it? Do you want to learn how to design new medicines or understand how environmental pollutants can impact human health? If so, then a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a Biochemistry concentration might be the right program for you.

Life ultimately boils down to a series of chemical reactions. Biochemistry is a scientific field that focuses on the chemical processes occurring at cellular and molecular levels. The field combines chemistry and biology for examining chemical reactions and chemical structures in living organisms, with an aim of understanding function and, where possible, to use such information to exert influence over these functions.

This type of information could be used to understand the molecular mechanism of various diseases and/or health inequalities, to develop new vaccines and medical treatments, to genetically engineer crops to withstand changing climate conditions, or to produce sustainable fuels using biological reactions – just to name a few examples.

Why Study Biochemistry at StFX?

You should consider biochemistry if you enjoyed your high school chemistry and biology courses and would like to combine these subjects together. Biochemistry is also a good option if you have an interest in medicine, pharmacology, or food science and would like to gain a better understanding of how our body works.

Our small, primarily undergraduate university offers an intimate and student-centered learning environment. StFX faculty in Chemistry and Biology are actively engaged in research in a variety of fields – from identifying the molecular basis of inflammatory diseases to developing new biosensors for pathogenic bacteria. Opportunities exist for students (particularly B.Sc. Honours students) to become involved in research projects, providing experiential learning in leading-edge research areas of Biochemistry.

Program at a Glance

First year students typically enroll in first year Chemistry (CHEM 101/102 or CHEM 121/122), Biology (BIOL 111/112), Physics (PHYS 101/102 or PHYS 121/122), and Math (MATH 106/107, MATH 121/122, or MATH 126/127).

Starting in second year you can take Introductory Biochemistry, which will introduce you to the various molecules which sustain life in our body and the basics as to how they function. This course is followed in third year by Advanced Biochemistry, which discusses the intricate connections between various biological processes as well as the implications for human health. Senior (4th year) courses in medicinal, bio-inorganic, and bio-organic chemistry allow students to specialize in particular areas of biochemistry and emphasize applying the concepts of biochemistry to solve-real world problems in the field of medicine, industry, and the environment.

These courses can be taken as part of a B.Sc. (Chemistry) degree with Concentration in Biochemistry at the Advanced Major and Honours levels, beginning in Fall 2024. This degree structure provides students with a solid background in chemistry and biology. Students will develop important foundations in Analytical Chemistry (instrumental techniques of analysis, data collection and statistical analysis, experiment design), Organic Chemistry (fundamental organic/biochemical reactions, functional groups), Genetics (DNA structure and function, gene manipulation), and other chemistry/biology areas designed to complement the biochemistry curriculum described above.

Future Opportunities

The B.Sc. (Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration) prepares students well for careers in Health Sciences, Industrial, and Environmental professions, particularly: