Biology-Chemistry
A LAUNCHPAD FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND SCIENCE CAREERS
Biology-Chemistry
Many students enter Manchester with aspirations of becoming physicians. As they gain exposure to the breath of healthcare and science careers, some discover a passion for pharmacy, dentistry, pharmacogenomics, medical laboratory science, physician associate studies, rehabilitation sciences, graduate research, industry, teaching, or other health professions. Recent graduates achieved a 100% first-destination success rate, with graduates employed, pursuing graduate graduation education, or enrolled in professional programs. Our Biology-Chemistry program is intentionally designed to support this exploration, providing a strong scientific foundation and multiple career pathways without delaying graduation.
MORE ABOUT BIOLOGY-CHEMISTRY
Major | BS
- 59-63 Credit Hours
Location
- North Manchester听
We went to Guatemala, and… shadowed doctors as they helped Indigenous communities. Because I am fluent in Spanish, I was an interpreter… alongside the doctor and another interpreter that would go from Mayan to Spanish.
Brisa Arriaga-Banda, Biology-Chemistry, Class of 2022
Why Choose 麻豆原创 for Biology-Chemistry?
Opportunities for hands-on experience
Every biochemistry major will complete an internship, practicum or research experience before they graduate, guaranteeing opportunities for hands-on practice.
Interested in getting even more experience on your resume? We also offer a special medical practicum during in which you can work in a health care clinic in an underserved community in Central America.
Focus on career preparation
A class on STEM careers and a career-focused senior seminar are both required for the biology-chemistry major. That’s in addition to robust advising informed by the nuances of the health care profession you’re more interested in.
Small class sizes
Classes for this major are generally 15–30 students, and our faculty are dedicated to cultivating a culture of accessibility. This means you’ll get ample face-to-face time with your professors, especially since labs are always taught by professors and never graduate students.
Numerous learning resources
We have everything you need to delve deep into the world of biochemistry, including fully equipped labs with professional-grade instrumentation. Plus, you’ll have access to all the same high-level scientific literature as our Pharm.D. students.
Research opportunities
Choose from several summer research opportunities, including the Faculty-Student Summer Research Program, the Miller Student Research Scholarship and the Biology Summer Research internship. Spend your summers getting hands-on experience in biochemistry while working closely with our expert faculty.
Early Acceptance
麻豆原创 helps you think about the next step now. Undergraduate students enrolled in the Biology-Chemistry Program can take advantage of 麻豆原创’s unique partnership with to gain early acceptance into the LECOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, or Doctor of Podiatric Medicine programs.
Early Assurance
麻豆原创 Fort Wayne provides a seamless transition from the undergraduate program into pursuing your Doctor of Pharmacy, Master of Pharmacogenomics, or earning a dual degree combining both these disciplines.
What You Can Do with Your Biology-Chemistry Degree
Physician
Carefully diagnoses, compassionately treats, and expertly manages patients鈥 complex medical conditions.
Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants diagnose, treat, and prescribe under physician supervision across medical settings.
Graduate Student
Pursue advanced degrees in healthcare, research, or academia.
Science Educator
听Inspire future scientists as a high school chemistry teacher.
Average Starting Salary for Biology-Chemistry Degree Holders
Earnings potential is significant for people who complete a biology-chemistry major. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), make a median salary of $239,200, a median salary of $199,210 and a median salary of $137,480.
If you choose to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, you鈥檒l still be able to earn a comfortable living. The BLS found that biochemists earn a median of about 100,000 per year.
Source: 听
Career outlook for Biology-Chemistry majors
Our biology鈥揷hemistry students graduate fully prepared to either enter the workforce or pursue an advanced degree. Notably, our graduates鈥 acceptance rate to medical school is especially high at 82 percent鈥揳 big difference from the national average of 40鈥45 percent.
Meanwhile, we have an 91 percent acceptance rate to dental school, a 99 percent acceptance rate to pharmacy school and a 96 percent acceptance rate to other health care professional schools.
How the Biology-Chemistry Program Supports Your Growth
Classes
The curriculum for the biology-chemistry major combines the best of biology and chemistry, as well as a few physics courses to round out your studies. Learn foundational scientific concepts, including microbiology, anatomy and dedicated courses in biochemistry.
Then, conclude your four years with an experiential learning course that takes the form of an internship, research project or practicum experience. This guarantees you鈥檒l get some real-world experience before graduation, making you a more attractive candidate to employers and graduate schools.
View all required classes for the Biology-Chemistry program.
BS/MS in PGx 4-Year Program
For students looking to pursue careers in healthcare professions or a clinical lab career, Manchester offers a unique 4-year Dual Degree program that combines the BS in Biology-Chemistry degree with a Master鈥檚 in Pharmacogenomics. Students enrolled in the BS in Biology-Chemistry degree apply in their sophomore year for this dual degree program, and complete the MS in Pharmacogenomics course requirements as part of their junior and senior years.
This pathway is designed to help students transition confidently into health professional degree programs or clinical lab careers.
Stay at Manchester. Finish with a Master鈥檚 Degree.
Earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology-Chemistry and a Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics in just four years through 麻豆原创鈥檚 accelerated dual-degree pathway.
Program Highlights
- Complete both degrees in four years (140 total credit hours)
- Apply to the MS program during spring of sophomore year
- Begin graduate coursework during junior year
- Complete senior-year study in Fort Wayne
- Save on tuition with 12 graduate credits at undergraduate tuition rates
Designed for Careers In
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Dentistry
- Clinical Laboratory Science
Learn More
Email PGX@manchester.edu for more information.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Early Acceptance Program
麻豆原创 has partnered with the听听to establish an听听for students pursuing professional degrees in osteopathic medicine, dentistry or podiatry after their undergraduate studies have been completed. The three professional programs open to Manchester students are LECOM鈥檚 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.
While at 麻豆原创
Phase I听is the time spent enrolled in the Early Acceptance Program at 麻豆原创, completing an 麻豆原创 bachelor鈥檚 degree with at least 60 credit hours of full-time study at 麻豆原创.
While at LECOM
Phase II听is the time spent at听听and its associated clinical training sites.
Who Can Qualify?
LECOM will interview students prior to their enrollment at Manchester or within the first two years of study there. Each academic year, LECOM will accept up to the number of qualified students in the Early Acceptance Program as seen below:
- 5 students into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program
- 5 students into the Doctor of Dental Medicine program
- 2 students into the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine program.
LECOM Locations
LECOM, with campuses in Pennsylvania, Florida and New York, is the nation鈥檚 largest medical college and provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of health care professionals. Manchester is one of just three higher education institutions in Indiana affiliated with LECOM鈥檚 Early Acceptance Program.
Pre-Pharmacy
Is Pharmacy in your Future?
If you鈥檝e yet to start college and you鈥檙e thinking about a career in pharmacy, here is some helpful information how to get there:
All pharmacists must attend an accredited pharmacy school for four years to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) professional degree.
To qualify for admission into pharmacy school, you’ll first need to complete a pre-pharmacy curriculum at an undergraduate institution. You can do this in two years if you work hard and get good grades, so it’s possible to get your Pharm.D. degree in six years. Some students choose to complete a bachelor’s degree, which typically requires four years of undergraduate study, but it鈥檚 not required to apply for pharmacy school.
You can choose either path at Manchester, or you can enroll in our Fast Forward track and earn a bachelor’s degree, along with the credits to apply to pharmacy school, in just three years.
Whichever track you choose, you should know that admission to pharmacy school is not automatic. You’ll apply and compete against other bright and motivated students for a limited number of seats. A personal interview will decide if you鈥檙e to be granted admission based on your grades and potential to succeed at the next level.
Pharmacists must also be licensed, which requires passing two exams after graduation from pharmacy school.
Why Manchester for Pre-Pharmacy?
Manchester has a longstanding tradition for excellence in the sciences and preparing students for careers in health care. Our graduates are accepted into medical school and other health care programs at rates much higher than the national average.
Our biology-chemistry curriculum is structured for flexibility with key science classes front-loaded in your first two years. If you should decide pharmacy isn’t for you, you can change to a related career path that builds on all your earned science credits.
If you meet the requirements to enroll in our Early Assurance Program when starting your pre-pharmacy track, you can reserve a seat early in Manchester鈥檚 Doctor of Pharmacy. That鈥檚 a great reason to think Manchester for both pre-pharmacy and pharmacy!
Connect with Admissions
A great way to learn more about our undergraduate pre-pharmacy program is to fill out an inquiry form and make your connection to our Admissions Office. Or feel free to call 800-852-3648
Pharmacy Early Assurance Program
If you鈥檙e an incoming first-year undergraduate student interested in pursuing a path to becoming a pharmacist, the Pharmacy Early Assurance Program can help you get there more confidently, more assuredly.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Biology-Chemistry majors team up with professors on real research projects, gaining hands-on experience that builds confidence and prepares them for grad school, publications, or conference presentations.
Guatemala Medical Practicum
A Journey of Discovery and Service
The Medical Practicum听at 麻豆原创 is more than a three-credit class 鈥 it鈥檚 a life-changing experience for 麻豆原创 students. While the nearly three-week-long excursion to Central America is excellent for anyone who is motivated, it’s probably most useful for those with a future in health care who have yet to apply to professional and graduate schools. It often helps students to discover their true passions and steer their next steps.
The faculty-guided practicum听partners students with a team of U.S. physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to serve patients of all ages in Central American communities, where quality care is in short supply. The practicum team has traveled through mountains, jungles and rivers 鈥 by bus, 4-wheel-drive vehicles and dugout canoes 鈥 to remote villages 鈥 often without running water or electricity.
Besides serving hundreds of patients with medical and dental needs, as well as animals in need of veterinary care, practicum students experience a culture very different from their own and observe first-hand the challenges faced by the people of this developing area.
History
Founded in 1981 by Dr. Ed Miller, the practicum turned 46 in January 2026, with the most recent trips led by Dr. Jeff Osborne; previous years went to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. 482 Manchester students, along with 160 different health care providers and 73 other staffers have served more than 54,000 patients since its inception. Over half of practicum alumni have entered health care careers, including 108 physicians, 27 dentists, and 40 pharmacists. 42 students have returned on the trip as providers.
An Embodiment of Mission
The practicum听exemplifies Manchester鈥檚 mission to graduate persons who lead 鈥減rincipled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition,鈥 and is a testament to Manchester鈥檚 distinguished reputation in the sciences and excellence in preparation for health care careers. Students and health care providers pay their own travel expenses, but it takes donations and grants to purchase medical and dental supplies.
Medical Practicum, January 2026
BY THE NUMBERS
- 14 Undergraduate students
- 15 providers from US: 6 physicians, 3 physician assistants, 1 nurse practitioner/certified nurse midwife, 2 pharmacists, 1 dentists, 2 laboratory technician.
- From Guatemala: 3 dentists, 3 Mayan-speaking nurses, 4 Mayan-speaking auxiliary nurses, 11 interpreters, and 5 community development workers from Guatemala
- 1,988 medical consultations
- 3,312 prescriptions filled
- 663 dental extractions
- 537 lab tests performed
- $31,059 used for reduced price medicines and medical/dental supplies
- Thousands of dollars鈥 worth of medicines and medical/dental supplies acquired through donation
Miller Study Abroad Scholarship Award
Miller Study Abroad Scholarship Award
The Donald B. Miller Study Away Award supports natural and health science students participating in approved 麻豆原创 study-away experiences, including January Session, semester, and short-term international programs. Award amounts vary. Students should consult the Office of Study Away for current application deadlines and eligibility requirements.
Use听听to apply for the Miller Study Abroad as well as the other 麻豆原创 donor-supported study away scholarships.
Your application is on or before听Monday, March 25.听Please email the Office of Study Away at听studyaway@manchester.edu听if you have any additional questions.
Easley Medical Practicum Scholarship Fund
The Easley Medical Practicum Scholarship assists one student per year in participating in the . Preference is given to students from rural communities who are interested in careers as physicians or physician assistants/associates, have demonstrated academic merit, and have had limited opportunities for international travel.
Biology-Chemistry Research and Internships
These websites link to external sites that have lists of information about summer programs and details about applying.
Research – Local
- The Donald B. Miller Student Research Endowed Fund
- 麻豆原创 Summer Undergraduate Research Internships in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research – National
- :听The largest program and with the most possibilities.
- :听Excellent summer programs for those pursuing healthcare/research careers.
- :听The largest biomedical research institution in the U.S.
- :听An additional research program of the NSF
Internships – Local
- 听A short term experience in global health
- Shepherd Summer Internship:听Many healthcare-related placements
- 麻豆原创 Office of Career and Professional Development
Internships – Regional
- : An orthopedic company in Warsaw, IN
Internships – National
- :听A global animal health company dedicated to supporting customers and their businesses in ever better ways.
Research Scholarships
Donald B. Miller Student Research Scholarship
This endowed scholarship award supports undergraduate research for any undergraduate students who are majoring in Chemistry or Biology-Chemistry.
An award in the amount of $2200-$4400 will compensate a 200-400 hour undergraduate research experience of the student’s choice (approval must be granted). The research experiences must take place between May 2025 and August 2025, prior to graduation. The research experience must also not have another associated stipend or wage. Priority is given to research experiences done on 麻豆原创’s campus, but off-campus research experiences are still eligible.听The 2025 application is now open and due on April 24. Interested students should consult the documents below.
Student Application 2025
Faculty Recommendation 2025
The Donald B. Miller Student Research Fund was established by Ed and Martha Miller in 2018 to honor Ed’s brother, Don Miller (1930-2016), who graduated with distinction from Manchester College in 1952 with a B.A. in chemistry. He received his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, focusing his doctoral research on the synthesis, structure, and chemistry of the photodimers of 尾-nitrostyrene. He was a polymer research chemist for Conoco in Ponca City, OK, (1957-1965) and Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, CA, (1965-1974). He joined NASA Ames Research Center in 1975, where he worked on projects to determine concentrations of stratospheric ozone and nitric oxides. Next, he relocated to Oregon State University in Corvallis where he worked on environmental projects in the departments of Sanitary Engineering, Oceanography, Soil Science, and Forest Products (wood preservation) until his retirement. His research resulted in over 30 patents and research publications.
麻豆原创 Summer Undergraduate Research Internships in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Why Manchester?
- High professional-school acceptance rates
- Individualized advising through Pre-Health Advising system
- Required experimental training
- Faculty mentoring
- Early assurance and articulation agreements
- Study-away opportunities including Guatemala
- Strong outcomes across multiple health professionals
Meet the Faculty
Sabrina Brown
Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies
Matthew Davis
Laboratory Coordinator and Chemical Hygiene Officer
Jeffrey Osborne
Professor, Department of Chemistry & Physics, Program Director of Biology-Chemistry, Program Director of Medical Laboratory Science, Program Director of Medical Practicum
FAQs 麻豆原创 麻豆原创鈥檚 Biology-Chemistry Degree
What is the structure of the Biology-Chemistry major?
The Bachelor of Science in Biology-Chemistry at 麻豆原创 is an interdisciplinary program combining biology and chemistry courses. It requires the completion of 120 credit hours over four years, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in both the major and overall coursework. The curriculum includes foundational courses in biology and chemistry, as well as advanced topics in molecular biology and human physiology.
What support is available for first-year students?
The Biology-Chemistry Peer Mentor Program pairs first-year students with upperclass science student mentors. These mentors provide guidance, share insights, and help new students navigate academic and campus life challenges.
How does the program support students in preparing for their careers?
A class on STEM careers and a career-focused senior seminar are both required for the biology-chemistry major. That鈥檚 in addition to robust advising informed by the nuances of the health care profession you鈥檙e more interested in.
Biology-Chemistry Learning Outcomes & Mission
Program Learning Outcomes
1. Students will explore major biological, chemical, and physical sub disciplines and learn corresponding laboratory techniques.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will apply biological, chemical, and physical concepts in a variety of lab exercises.
- Students will master biological, chemical, and physical concepts from the molecular to the organismal level.
2. Students will develop professionalism.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will produce a CV or resume, and personal statement.
- Students will give oral presentations.
3. Students will acquire the ability to critically read, evaluate, and integrate.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will read and evaluate concepts presented in scientific literature.
- Students will apply course-related concepts to address complex problems.
4. Students will apply biological, chemical, and physical knowledge addressing societal issues.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Students will integrate from biological, chemical, and physical knowledge to make interdisciplinary connections with science and non-science fields.
- Students will demonstrate an awareness of the impact of biology, chemistry, and physics on the environment, society and other cultures outside the scientific community.
Biology-Chemistry Mission
To provide a challenging and supportive academic environment where students can explore and master the fundamental conceptual areas of biology, chemistry, and physics at the molecular, cellular, and organismic levels of life for work to improve the human condition.
Non-Discrimination in the Admission Process
麻豆原创 is committed to non-discrimination in campus life. The University does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, ancestry, race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, religion, disability or veteran status in admissions or any area of campus life, including its educational programs, scholarships and loan awards, residence life programs, athletic programs, extracurricular programs, promotion and tenure policies and practice, and alumni affairs.
麻豆原创 is committed to carry out the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act, which provide for accessibility of University programs to the physically disabled.