Criminal Justice Minor
Advantages
Expand your knowledge of the court system and hone your research skills to assist in solving criminal cases.
Outcome
Forensic Science Technician
Explore the dynamic interface between biology and chemistry when you major in biochemistry. From a rigorous foundation in the sciences, you'll complete cutting-edge research and explore the world around you analytically and creatively.
Major & Minor
On Campus
The biochemistry major explores the cross-disciplinary link between the natural world and artificial chemical processes. Biochemistry helps increase our understanding of disease, genetics, DNA, and evolution. Supported by professors with vibrant industry connections, you'll graduate with strong, marketable skills and distinguished research projects that will set you on the inside track in a variety of industries ranging from research, health, biotechnology, chemical, and agri-food.
While at Widener, your education begins in small, rigorous classes and labs where you'll train in the theoretical and practical aspects of biology, chemistry, and their interconnections. As a biochemistry major, you'll get involved in research as early as your freshman year, collaborating with distinguished faculty members on diverse projects. You'll even have the chance to present your findings at professional conferences.
New, incoming students and transfer students with a few completed college credits will join the full-time, traditional undergraduate biochemistry major track.
Program Details
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College is about exploration. At Widener, you'll complete a general education curriculum that supports just that. You'll have the flexibility and freedom to dive deep into the topics that spark curiosity, challenge your mind, and power your personal and academic growth.
Along the way, you'll cultivate critical, meaningful skills employers seek, including:
It all starts with ASC 101: Thinking Through — a selection of around 40 course topics that will encourage you to go deeper and examine complex issues that shape our world and our ways of relating to one another. When you dive into the possibilities, you're sure to find multiple courses that inspire and intrigue you, regardless of whether they align with your major! Think of it as an opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and truly learn something new. Then, in your senior year, you'll come full circle with a capstone course that takes your Thinking Through topic to new heights strengthened by everything you've cultivated along your college journey.
Widener's pre-professional pathways give you the flexibility to follow your interests while preparing for a professional career.
Biochemistry majors can participate in the following pathways:
Through Widener’s Accelerated Advantage program, you can earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree with only one additional year of study—saving you valuable time and money. Master's degrees can be earned in allied health education (MEd), business administration (MBA), criminal justice (MCJ), organizational development and leadership (MA), and public administration (MPA).
While Widener does not offer a master’s degree in the same field as this major, you can still select from a variety of powerhouse master’s programs that will enhance your job opportunities and prepare you for rapid career growth.
Interested in gaining real-world work experience before you graduate? As a student, you can tap into powerful networks of faculty mentors, alumni, and Career Design & Development professionals to find your perfect fit.
You'll have multiple opportunities to gain internship or externship support, including the Widener Works program—an externship program that takes place over winter break. Widener also offers an Experience MORE program which helps financially support students who have unpaid or low-paying internships.
Expand your knowledge of the court system and hone your research skills to assist in solving criminal cases.
Forensic Science Technician
Elevate your writing skills to target various audiences: consumers, administrators, practitioners, and researchers.
Science Writer
Examine how evolutionary mechanisms at cellular and molecular levels affect information flow in living systems.
Bioanalyst
Develop your understanding of how evolution by natural selection drives adaptations and the complex interactions we see in ecological systems.
Environmental Scientist
Complement your scientific skills with an understanding of the links between environment, culture, and economy across local and global communities.
Sustainability Manager
Employment in life and physical science careers is expected to increase 8% from 2020-2030 as the demand for expertise in the sciences grows, particularly in biomedical research and energy management.
2020 median pay for biochemists and biophysicists
Grads have attended:
Undergraduate research is the hallmark of a biochemistry education at Widener. You'll have the opportunity to get involved in research as early as your freshman year, presenting your work at local and national conferences and co-authoring publications in peer-reviewed journals. Join the summer research program to even further your studies.
You'll have access to professional-grade instrumentation in both biology and chemistry labs. Additionally, the sciences at Widener operate under Green Chemistry principles, so you'll always be working with sustainability in mind. In fact, Widener was the first institution in Pennsylvania to sign the Green Chemistry Commitment in 2014.
Biochemistry majors have the opportunity to join various clubs and organizations across and outside of campus to expand their network, including the Biochemistry Club, the Beta Beta Beta - Biological Honors Society, and many more.
We want to get to know you and see you succeed. Professors will pay attention to how you learn and what you want to accomplish. Your Personal Student Success Team—faculty and peer mentors and liaisons for campus resources—will make sure your first year runs smoothly.
Without skipping a beat, you’ll have what you need to make Widener your second home. And you’ll know how to invest in the greater community, from professional opportunities in Philadelphia to volunteer experiences in your new backyard.
Lean more about faculty mentorship
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Widener is known and valued for its powerful inside track, and Widener’s professors are at its heart. Get to know seven professors from across the university and the alumni they mentored who exemplify the life-changing impact of the inside track.
Where can you use Nobel Prize-winning “genetic scissors” to research the impact of heat stress on commercial chickens or fat formation in fruit flies and humans? In Widener’s undergraduate biology and biochemistry labs.
As part of a new partnership with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc., a student-faculty chemistry team are testing detergents to determine which is most effective at cleaning oil from the feathers of affected wildlife.
Our admissions and financial aid teams are here to support you every step of the way. Have a question? Ask away!
Applying to Widener is easy—and free! Simply complete our Widener Application or the Common Application. You'll also need your official high school transcript and either an admissions essay or your SAT/ACT scores. We're a test-optional school, so there's no need to submit both.
Know you're interested in applying to Widener but unsure if you're ready to zero-in on a major? You can apply as an Exploratory Studies student with an undecided major. This program will help you start your college journey on the right foot while you explore which undergraduate program is the right fit for you.
We accept applications on a rolling basis—there are no hard deadlines. Apply when you're ready and we'll take a look as soon as we receive your app.
Key dates to keep in mind:
Once we receive your application and all materials, you can expect to hear back from us quickly. Along with your application decision, you'll also find out about any merit-based scholarship awards. You're automatically considered for merit scholarships as soon as you apply—you don't need to apply separately.
If you apply before November 1, you are considered an Early Action applicant which comes with benefits like:
All applications are non-binding, so why wait? Apply today!
Our admissions team will help you make the most of college-level credits earned after high school. We maintain strong partnerships and articulation agreements with numerous local community colleges and also accept a wide range of course credits earned at accredited colleges and universities.
Curious about how many credits may transfer? Email your transcripts to transfer@widener.edu and our transfer coordinator will personally review your coursework as an unofficial credit evaluation. Applicants are given priority during busy seasons, but you don't have to apply to work with our transfer coordinator.
Transferring doesn't have to be a guessing game—share your stats and we'll take it from there!
Widener University serves as a "second home" for students from around the world. We are located just outside of Philadelphia and close to New York City and Washington, D.C.—offering many unique professional and personal opportunities to explore.
Want to know what it's like to be an international student on campus or need assistance navigating English proficiency requirements? We're here to help, and our international admissions director will support you through the application process.
This support doesn't end with admissions—our International Student Support team will serve as a valuable resource throughout your Widener journey—meeting Visa/immigration requirements, getting acclimated to campus, and much more.
Learn more about applying as an international student
Learn more about life at Widener as an international student
Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings an exceptional education within reach. Complete your admissions application today to determine your financial aid package, including scholarships and grants.
Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to getting you the financial assistance to make the cost of college—an investment in your future—affordable. This free, online application is the gateway to grants, loans, and other forms of financial aid. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education offers billions of dollars in financial aid to eligible students. Widener gets in on the action, too, annually awarding aid to students with need.
You and at least one parent or caregiver will need a separate FSA ID to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and serve as your legal signatures. Make sure to create your unique FSA IDs before you get started. Our school code is 003313.
Nearly 100% of new full-time undergraduate students receive significant financial aid offers that reduce out-of-pocket costs and make a Widener education not only affordable, but well worth the investment. In fact, once your total financial aid is calculated, the cost of a Widener education is often equal to if not lower than other competitive universities–but with far superior outcomes for your career and earning potential.
The first step to see how much aid you qualify for is submitting the FAFSA.
Funding you don't have to pay back after graduation? That's a win-win! Scholarships and grants are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.
In the Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you can save up to a year of tuition by pursuing a master's degree—resulting in thousands of dollars in savings. During your fifth year of study, you can also apply for graduate-level scholarships and assistantships to further reduce education costs. To learn more about graduate scholarships and assistantships, please speak with your academic advisor during the spring semester of your senior year.
To visit Widener is to fall in love with the place. But don't take our word—experience it for yourself. Plan a visit to connect with our students, faculty, and staff.
Have a question about Widener? Drop us a line and an admissions counselor will be in touch. We're always happy to help!
Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings an exceptional education within reach. Complete your admissions application today to determine your financial aid package, including scholarships and grants.
Applying online has never been easier—and it’s free! We also accept the Common Application. Take the next step toward joining the Widener Pride.
Muller Hall
University Pl
Chester, PA 19013
Kirkbride Hall, Room 562
Kirkbride Hall
Room 562C