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UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES


The Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy operate on both the Oxford and Jackson campuses. The Schools of Dentistry, Health Related Professionals and Medicine, and the Health Sciences Graduate School, are based in Jackson only. (Additional healthcare programs are available through the School of Applied Sciences on the Oxford campus.) Other than these exceptions, the schools above are on the Oxford campus.

B.A. in Biochemistry

Investigate the chemistry of the life process.

There are two paths to study biochemistry at the University of Mississippi: Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry or the Bachelor of Science in chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry. The B.S. degree provides a more focused and rigorous math and science curriculum, while the B.A. degree allows more flexibility to combine with other academic interests.

Key Benefits

Students learn about the composition, properties, and reactions of biological substances, and gain enhanced reasoning and problem-solving skills thanks to a curriculum that follows the recommendations of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). They learn to operate sophisticated instruments, interpret data, work cooperatively with diverse groups of people, and communicate complex concepts in clear language--all skills that are highly desirable to employers.

Graduate Outcomes

A liberal arts education prepares students to deal with complexity and change. They gain key skills in communication, problem-solving, and working with diverse groups. Related careers in biochemistry include health care, medical research, public health, higher education, STEM, pharmacy, law, business, and policy.

Experiences Offered

The University of Mississippi's chemistry department is ranked among the top 50 chemistry departments in the country for its production of undergraduate degrees because faculty members take a keen interest in the success of their students. They provide expert career advising and plenty of individual attention.

B.A. in Biochemistry Faculty

The faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Mississippi have a wide variety of areas of expertise. The biochemists have research interests in stability, calcium binding, dimerization of cadherins; DNA binding protein structure and function; metalloprotein design, enzymatic fuel cells, bio-inspired C-H activation, self-assembly, and foldamers for novel structures & functions.

Safo Aboaku
Instructional Associate Professor and Associate Coordinator of Undergraduate Laboratories of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Saumen Chakraborty
Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
James V Cizdziel
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Coordinator of Forensic Chemistry
Walter E Cleland
Associate Chair Emeritus and Associate Professor Emeritus of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Amal Dass
Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Steven R Davis
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Jared Heath Delcamp
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ryan Clifton Fortenberry
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Murrell Godfrey
Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Chemistry
Nathan I Hammer
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jonah Wesley Jurss
Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Daniell L Mattern
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Susan Diane Pedigo
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Jason E Ritchie
Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Emily Bretherick Rowland
Instructional Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Gerald Bobby Rowland
Instructional Associate Professor in Chemistry & Biochemistry
Kerri D Scott
Associate Chair, Instructional Professor, and Associate Coordinator of Forensic Chemistry
Joshua S Sharp
Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Research Associate Professor in Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Liming Song-Cizdziel
Instructor in Chemistry & Biochemistry
Eden Tanner
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Gregory S Tschumper
Chair and Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Randy Mack Wadkins
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
John Franklin Wiginton
Instructional Professor and Coordinator of Undergraduate Laboratories
Yu-Dong Zhou
Principal Scientist

A major in biochemistry for the B.A. degree consists of the following 29 hours of courses: Chem 105, 106, 115, 116; 221, 222, 225, 226; 331 or 334; 471, 472, 473, and either 580 or 581. Students must complete Math 261 and Math 262. Phys 211, 212, 221, 222 or Phys 213, 214, 223, 224 are also required.

The following courses may not be used for major credit: Chem 101, 103, 104, 113, 114, 121, 201, 202, 271, 293, 381, 382, 383, or 393.

To enroll in the program, students must have successfully completed Chem 105 or be eligible to immediately enroll in Chem 105. The pre-requisites for Chem 105 include a minimum ACT mathematics score of 24 (SAT 560 or SATR 580); or math placement test ALEKS PPL 76; or B minimum in Chem 101; or B minimum in college algebra (Math 121) and trigonometry (Math 123); or B minimum in pre-calculus (Math 125) or higher.

Andrew Matrick

Andrew (2013) worked for several years on a novel synthetic compound to treat cancer at the genetic level and presented his research at the American Chemical Society national convention. He was also a researcher in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Department of Surgery (at UMMC), and MS Center for Contextual Psychology. He had wide-ranging interests on campus, including broadcast journalism and choir. After graduating, Andrew enrolled in medical school at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine where he served as Class VP and President, and earned an M.B.A. He is beginning a residency in psychiatry at Northwestern University. Dr. Matrick's goal is to practice psychiatry while taking an increasing administrative role in the healthcare system, especially behavioral health.
Why study biochemistry at UM?
"It is a tightly-knit program with small class sizes that provides the opportunity to have career-shaping relationships with faculty and early undergraduate involvement in research. The B.A. degree offers an incredible opportunity to explore the wonders of the world. It allowed me the flexibility to take classes like Baroque and Rococo Art and Architecture, Philosophy of Mind, and Modern American Literature that broadened my worldview and deepened my curiosity around the study of humanity."

Student Organizations

Join the American Chemical Society and/or the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.