Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration, B.S.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of North Carolina Charlotte

Program Overview

The Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration, B.S. at UNC Charlotte combines a strong chemistry foundation with biochemistry-focused study, preparing students for careers in chemistry, biochemistry, research, healthcare and related scientific fields. The program is particularly suited to students interested in laboratory science, medicine, molecular biology, pharmaceuticals or graduate study, with opportunities to gain research experience alongside their coursework.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through courses such as CHEM 1251 General Chemistry I, CHEM 1252 General Chemistry II, and their associated laboratory courses. Mathematics and physics are also introduced, with MATH 1241 Calculus I and PHYS 2101 Physics for Science and Engineering I forming part of the quantitative and physical-science preparation for later chemistry study.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into more specialized chemistry with CHEM 2131 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 2132 Organic Chemistry II, and CHEM 3111 Quantitative Analysis. Students continue developing laboratory and analytical skills while progressing through calculus, physics and other supporting scientific coursework.

Year 3: Students deepen their understanding of advanced chemical principles through CHEM 3141 Physical Chemistry I, CHEM 3142 Physical Chemistry II, CHEM 4133 Methods of Organic Structure Determination, and CHEM 4165 Principles of Biochemistry I. The program also introduces students to professional scientific communication through CHEM 3695 Chemistry Seminar and provides opportunities to begin undergraduate research.

Year 4: The final year emphasizes advanced chemistry, biochemistry and independent research, including CHEM 4111 Instrumental Analysis, CHEM 4695 Chemistry Seminar, CHEM 4696 Chemistry Seminar, and CHEM 4900 Directed Undergraduate Research. Students completing the ACS-certified pathway also complete the required advanced chemistry curriculum and two semesters of undergraduate research, giving them a strong foundation for professional or graduate-level scientific work.

Focus areas

Biochemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, molecular science, laboratory science, chemical research, biomedical and healthcare applications, scientific research

Learning outcomes

Students develop a strong understanding of chemical principles, laboratory and analytical techniques, molecular and biochemical processes, quantitative scientific reasoning, chemical structure and reactivity, scientific research methods, and professional scientific communication.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry is available as an American Chemical Society (ACS)-certified degree. UNC Charlotte states that its two B.S. degrees, including the B.S. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry, are ACS-certified, while also offering non-certified versions with a slightly reduced course load.

Reputation (employability rankings / official statistics)

UNC Charlotte reports that 94% of its 2025 bachelor's degree graduates were fully employed or continuing their education six months after graduation, with an average annual salary of $67,679. The university also reports that 80% of graduating seniors engage in internships, experiential education and/or workplace-based skill development, providing useful context for the career preparation available across the university. These figures are university-wide rather than specific to the Biochemistry concentration.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UNC Charlotte gives Biochemistry students opportunities to move beyond classroom theory into hands-on laboratory research and scientific investigation. Undergraduate research can be completed for academic credit through CHEM 4900 Directed Undergraduate Research or, in some cases, for salary, with students developing experimental skills, working as part of research teams and contributing to original scientific work.

The Chemistry Department also provides access to substantial scientific instrumentation and computational resources, allowing students to develop practical experience with analytical, spectroscopic, separation and computational techniques. Students can work with equipment and resources used for areas including biochemical analysis, molecular characterization, materials research and chemical research.

Students can build practical experience through:

CHEM 4900 Directed Undergraduate Research: Students can conduct faculty-supervised research for course credit, with opportunities to develop experimental techniques, contribute to original research and present findings through seminars or professional poster presentations.
Research teamwork: Undergraduate research projects can involve students working as part of a research group, helping them develop independence, creativity and collaborative problem-solving skills.
NMR instrumentation: Departmental facilities include 500 MHz and 300 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers for molecular analysis.
Mass spectrometry: Students have access to instruments including electrospray mass spectrometers, MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometry and GC/MS systems.
Separation and analytical equipment: Facilities include HPLC, gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, chromatography systems and other separation technologies.
Optical and spectroscopic tools: Departmental instrumentation includes UV-Vis, fluorescence, Raman, circular dichroism and atomic absorption spectrometers.
Computational chemistry resources: The department maintains computer resources for computational chemistry and provides software including PC Spartan Pro and access to the Cambridge Crystallographic Database.
ACS SciFinder Scholar: Departmental computers provide access to ACS SciFinder Scholar for electronic scientific literature searching.
Regional Analytical CHEmistry Laboratory (RACheL): This facility uses NMR, GCMS, LCMS, FT-IR, ATR and other analytical techniques and supports academic, environmental and industrial research in the Charlotte region.
Faculty research: Students can explore research areas including biochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, analytical separations, mass spectrometry, organic synthesis and other molecular sciences.
Scientific presentations: Undergraduate researchers can present their results in seminars and at professional meetings, with students also having opportunities to become co-authors on faculty research publications.
Internships and co-ops: UNC Charlotte's Career Center provides access to internship and co-op opportunities, with employer connections, career events and job/internship resources available through Hire-A-Niner.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration, B.S. is designed for students who want to enter scientific careers or continue into graduate and professional education. UNC Charlotte specifically identifies careers in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, medicine, pharmacy, industrial and government research, and related fields, while its Chemistry Career resources list occupations across research, healthcare, industry, government and education.

Typical career directions include chemist, biochemist, research and development professional, laboratory scientist:

Career coaching: UNC Charlotte Career Center career coaches support students with career exploration, career decision-making, internships, resumes, cover letters, interviewing and job or graduate-school searches.
Hire-A-Niner: Students and alumni can use Hire-A-Niner to access off-campus and on-campus jobs, internships, career fairs, career events and on-campus interviewing opportunities.
Internships and co-ops: The Career Center connects students with internship and co-op opportunities and works with employers to provide experiential learning pathways.
Career destinations: University career resources identify opportunities such as research and development, microbiology, chemistry, toxicology, laboratory work, environmental science, crime-lab analysis, FDA inspection, drug-application review, medical technology, pharmacy, quality control, pharmaceutical sales and chemical engineering.
Employment outcomes: Across UNC Charlotte, 94% of bachelor's graduates in 2025 were fully employed or continuing their education six months after graduation, with an average annual salary of $67,679. These figures are university-wide and should not be interpreted as Biochemistry-specific salary or placement data.
Workplace preparation: 80% of graduating seniors at UNC Charlotte reported engaging in internships, experiential education and/or workplace-based skill development.
Industry-facing analytical research: UNC Charlotte's Regional Analytical CHEmistry Laboratory supports academic and industrial research in the region and provides companies with analytical services involving techniques such as NMR, GCMS, LCMS and FT-IR.
Professional value of ACS certification: Students choosing the ACS-certified B.S. complete a more extensive chemistry curriculum, including the ACS-required biochemistry component and two semesters of directed undergraduate research. The university states that its B.S. Chemistry programs with the Biochemistry concentration are ACS-certified.
Graduate preparation: The Chemistry Department states that students in its B.S. programs are well-prepared for future graduate study, with undergraduate research incorporated into the curricula.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into graduate study in chemistry, biochemistry and related scientific fields. UNC Charlotte also offers an Early Entry Program through which exceptional Chemistry undergraduates can begin work toward a Chemistry M.S. before completing the bachelor's degree.