The BS in medicinal biochemistry program offers a unique interdisciplinary curriculum, outlined with advanced level biochemistry as well as medicinal chemistry courses. Course offerings such as biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biophysical chemistry, will provide students with a solid foundation of various biochemical and physical concepts of medicinal biochemistry. The students will also be trained in cutting-edge research and problem-solving skills. The program is tailored to provide students with opportunities to innovate new synthesis, fabrication, characterization, and theoretical methodologies so that they are well prepared to pursue their professional careers or advanced degrees in the field of healthcare. The objective of this program is to equip the targeted student population with an adequate biochemical background with the relevant clinical aspects to excel in the fields of medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical science, forensic science, neurobiology, and other healthcare areas. The students with BS in Medicinal Biochemistry will be able to: Demonstrate a sound understanding of the chemical, biological and physical principles and achieve high scores in premedicine, predentistry, prepharmacy and other entrance exams in healthcare areas. Demonstrate and attain excellent preparation for all health related fields. Demonstrate the foundational knowledge of the clinical aspects of biochemistry. Demonstrate the knowledge of concepts important for the design, repurposing, and evaluation of molecules with therapeutic applications. Demonstrate an understanding of diverse roles of metallic and other inorganic compounds in medicine, diagnostics, and other health-related applications Demonstrate the knowledge of the underlying physical framework for understanding the properties and reactivity of biomolecules. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic elements of intercellular signal transduction pathways, including nuclear receptors and cell surface receptors. Who Should Enroll? The B.S. in Medicinal Biochemistry program enrolls high-quality students and address a currently unmet need to tailor a degree program at the interface of biochemical sciences. The students whose academic and career goals reside at the interface of science and healthcare are encouraged to apply in this program. The course work in this program is an excellent vehicle for preparing students who will perform and achieve higher scores in preprofessional programs such as premed. Thus, this program enrolls students whose are seeking admissions to M.D., M.D. Ph.D. Pharm.D., D.D.S. and graduate programs (MS and Ph.D.). This program is also pertinent for students whose career goals involve work in health fields in clinical and/or R&D settings. Why Enroll in BS in Medicinal Biochemistry? The key role that biochemical research and development can play across a variety of industries has created an acute demand for prepared and trained biochemists who will be able to innovate in these industries. This degree leverages this demand for incoming first year, as well as transfer students, who are seeking to convert their STEM degree into a lucrative career. Simply put, prospective students and their parents who are looking for a degree that will unlock a valuable career path, the B.S. in Medicinal Biochemistry is answer to that. This industrial demand is substantiated by the United States department of labor projects 10-year growth in employment in Biochemistry to outpace growth in the life sciences (e.g. Biology), as well as the average projected decadal growth across all industries (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Projected growth of employment in Biochemistry vs Life Sciences and All Occupations. All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections: [1] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists.htm#tab-6 In addition to the high projected growth in employment for Biochemist, New Jersey is currently the top employer of Biochemist in the Nation, currently employing 6,350 biochemist, more than 1,000 more than are employed in the state of California, which is ranked number 2 in the nation in employment of Biochemist (see Figure 2 and Table 1). Additionally, New Jersey leads annual mean wage for employment of Biochemist, with a mean wage that is nearly $40,000 higher than the next highest paying state of Massachusetts (see Table 1). [2] https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes191021.htm Figure 2: Concentration of jobs for Biochemist in the Nation; the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions are both highly dense areas of employment, and New Jersey leads the nation in employment of Biochemists [2]. Table 1: Fact-sheet on jobs for biochemists compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showing New Jersey leads both in total employment and in annual mean wage in the industry [2]. Curriculum SUGGESTED SEQUENCE OF COURSES:
