BSCH, concentration in Biochemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Memphis

Program Overview

The University of Memphis B.S.Ch. in Chemistry with a Biochemistry concentration combines advanced chemistry with biology, mathematics and physics to give students a strong understanding of chemical processes in living systems. It is designed for students interested in professional chemistry careers, scientific research and advanced study, with the ACS-approved curriculum providing substantial laboratory and undergraduate research experience.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through CHEM 1110/1111 General Chemistry I and Laboratory, CHEM 1120/1121 General Chemistry II and Laboratory, and BIOL 1110/1111 General Biology I and Laboratory. Mathematics through Calculus I and II begins the quantitative preparation needed for later chemistry and biochemistry study.

Year 2: Students progress into the core chemistry sequence with CHEM 3311/3301 General Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory, CHEM 3312/3302 General Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory, and CHEM 3411 Foundations of Physical Chemistry. Biology and physics courses continue alongside chemistry, helping students connect molecular structure, chemical reactions and biological systems.

Year 3: Students develop deeper analytical and biochemical knowledge through CHEM 3211/3201 Foundations of Analytical Chemistry, Lecture and Laboratory, CHEM 3111 Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry, and CHEM 4511/4501 Biochemistry I, Lecture and Laboratory. Applied statistics and additional upper-division chemistry strengthen students' ability to interpret experimental results and approach complex scientific problems.

Year 4: The final stage emphasises advanced chemistry and research through additional upper-division chemistry coursework, an advanced chemistry laboratory and CHEM 4901, 4902 and 4903 Chemical Research I, II and III. Students also complete CHEM 4999 Senior Survey, bringing together their laboratory, research, scientific communication and professional preparation.

Focus Areas

Biochemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, biological chemistry, molecular science, laboratory analysis, chemical research, applied statistics and scientific research.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop knowledge of core analytical, organic, physical, inorganic and bioorganic chemistry; practical laboratory skills; problem-solving abilities; scientific communication skills; basic computer and computational skills; and preparation for entry-level chemistry positions or graduate and professional school.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S.Ch. Chemistry programme is approved by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training (ACS CPT), and graduates of the programme are certified by the American Chemical Society. The Biochemistry concentration is part of this ACS-approved B.S.Ch. structure and includes additional chemistry coursework and undergraduate research.

Reputation (Employability)

The University of Memphis identifies chemistry graduates as prepared for entry-level positions or graduate and professional school. Official university graduate follow-up data for the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry—which is a broader degree category and not specifically limited to the B.S.Ch. Biochemistry concentration—reports a $43,946 median salary one year after graduation for graduates in the available Tennessee employment dataset.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The programme gives students substantial laboratory and research exposure through required chemistry laboratories and the three-course CHEM 4901/4902/4903 Chemical Research sequence. Students can work with faculty mentors on research projects on campus or off campus, use advanced chemical and biochemical instrumentation, and present research findings at campus, regional or national meetings.

Students can build practical expertise through:

Chemical research sequence: CHEM 4901, CHEM 4902 and CHEM 4903 allow students to undertake supervised chemical research with a faculty mentor and can be completed through on-campus or off-campus research.
Biochemistry laboratory: CHEM 4511/4501 Biochemistry I, Lecture and Laboratory gives students dedicated biochemical laboratory experience within the concentration.
Analytical chemistry laboratory: CHEM 3211/3201 Foundations of Analytical Chemistry, Lecture and Laboratory develops practical analytical chemistry skills.
Advanced instrumentation: Department facilities include 500 MHz and 270 MHz NMR spectrometers, LC-MS, GC-MS, HPLC systems, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Biochemistry research techniques: Faculty research includes enzyme kinetics, high-throughput screening, site-directed mutagenesis, mass spectrometry and computational methods, providing potential research directions closely related to the biochemistry concentration.
Cell culture facilities: The department has a dedicated cell culture laboratory equipped with a plate reader, FPLC system, electrophoresis equipment, PCR thermocycler, centrifuges, CO₂ incubator and bacterial and insect-cell culture equipment.
Computational resources: Chemistry students have access to University-maintained high-performance computing resources and departmental computational chemistry facilities, with software including ADF and ADFGUI.
Research presentation: Undergraduate researchers can present their results at University of Memphis events and regional and national scientific meetings.
Funded research opportunities: Some faculty research projects receive government, industry or University funding that can provide undergraduate students with hourly wages or small stipends.
Internships: University of Memphis Career Services supports academic internships, which may be paid or unpaid and can carry academic credit, allowing students to connect chemistry knowledge with workplace experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S.Ch. Biochemistry concentration prepares students for professional chemistry careers while providing the scientific foundation needed for advanced chemistry and related postgraduate study. The University of Memphis specifically states that its chemistry undergraduate programmes prepare students for entry-level positions and admission to graduate or professional school, while the biochemistry concentration is particularly relevant to students developing advanced biochemical and laboratory expertise.

Typical job roles include Biochemist, Analytical Chemist, Laboratory Chemist and Research Chemist.

Students can develop their career pathway through:

Career Services: University of Memphis Career Services provides career advising, career fairs, résumé and cover-letter support, mock interviews, networking guidance and assistance with internship and job searches.
TigerLink/Handshake: Students can use the University's Handshake-powered TigerLink to access 1,000+ internship and career opportunities, register for career events and schedule career advising.
Internship experience: Academic internships can connect classroom learning with workplace projects and may be completed for academic credit; University data reports that more than 56% of surveyed graduating seniors participated in at least one internship, although this is an institution-wide historical figure rather than a chemistry-specific outcome.
Research experience: The required CHEM 4901/4902/4903 Chemical Research sequence provides structured faculty-mentored research experience and opportunities to present findings at scientific meetings.
Employment and salary data: The University's available graduate follow-up dataset reports a $43,946 median salary one year after graduation for the broader Bachelor of Science in Chemistry category. This figure is not specific to the B.S.Ch. Biochemistry concentration and covers graduates employed in Tennessee.
Industry and research connections: Department research is funded by organisations including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and Department of Defense, while faculty research spans analytical chemistry, biochemistry, computational chemistry, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.
Professional recognition: ACS CPT approval and ACS certification provide a recognised professional framework for the B.S.Ch. degree and its chemistry curriculum.
Graduation outcomes: The chemistry programme is structured to prepare graduates for entry-level chemistry employment as well as graduate and professional education, with the department offering M.S. and Ph.D. pathways in chemistry and biochemistry-related areas.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into the University of Memphis M.S. in Chemistry, including biochemistry study, or the Ph.D. in Chemistry, which offers concentrations in areas including analytical, computational, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. The University also offers an Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Chemistry, allowing outstanding undergraduates to begin master's coursework during their senior year.