Enter a Student, Graduate a Scientist
The UNC Asheville Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers degrees in Chemistry with concentrations in Chemistry and Biochemistry, both of which are approved by the American Chemical Society. Courses and labs are taught only by UNC Asheville faculty. All chemistry majors have hands-on opportunities to use chemical equipment, instrumentation and theoretical software.
As a chemistry major, you will:
- understand the interdisciplinary nature of science
- solve research problems from the atomic level to the earth’s environment
- analyze and interpret data to expand chemical understanding
- analyze molecular structures and reactions experimentally and computationally
- understand the use, function and design of chemical instrumentation
Degrees & Concentrations
The student may pursue either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Bachelor of Science degree is accredited by the American Chemical Society and fully prepares students for graduate studies in chemistry or professional careers in the chemical industry. ACS approved degrees are often highly valued by employers of chemists and by graduate schools. The Bachelor of Arts degree allows the student more flexibility in course selections and is advantageous for some pre-professional programs. Students seeking teacher certification must complete, at a minimum, the B.A. requirements, listed under Teacher Certification in Chemistry, but may elect to complete the required courses listed under the Bachelor of Science degree.
A minor in chemistry can be earned by a student who takes at least 23 credit hours of CHEM courses.
Curriculum Design & Course Requirements
The Chemistry and Biochemistry curriculum is designed using the guidelines of the American Chemical Society’s Committee for Professional Training. The department is assessed for compliance with these regulations on a five-year cycle and is currently approved by the American Chemical Society.
Courses cover the five foundation areas of chemistry:
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Please consult UNC Asheville’s current course catalog for all chemistry degree and course requirements.
Declaration of Major or Minor
Students can declare their major or minor online.