Chemistry, BS
Chemistry is the study of matter, what it is made of, how it is organized, and how it responds to changing circumstances. With a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, you’ll learn how to address challenges in a number of areas, solving problems that impact our daily lives, from food production to energy storage and more.
Program Overview
The Chemistry BS program builds students’ research and laboratory skills in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and polymer chemistry.
Whether you want to pursue a career in industry, go on to graduate school, or specialize in medicinal chemistry, our program offers the flexibility to tailor your coursework to your individual interests. You’ll gain foundational chemistry knowledge, including properties of biological molecules, thermodynamics, and carbon chains.
This program is a great fit for students who want both specialized and broad knowledge across sub-disciplines of chemistry through laboratory-based coursework.
Concentrations
Whether you’re hoping to gain a strong foundation in chemistry or want to specialize in designing, synthesizing, and evaluating new medicinal compounds, our concentrations offer the flexibility to choose the path that best fits your professional DNA.
Our current selection of concentrations includes:
- Chemistry, BS (general)
- Medicinal Chemistry concentration
Minors
If you’re interested in supplementing your primary field of study with knowledge of chemistry, our minor would be a great fit!
Our current selection of minors includes:
- Chemistry minor
Honors
If you’re interested in pursuing more advanced, rigorous coursework, our Honors pathway would be a great fit. You will take Honors-specific courses and complete an Honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty mentor, all while receiving one-on-one mentorship. Students interested in Honors must maintain an overall GPA and a chemistry GPA of 3.25.
Our program offers Honors only for the general Chemistry, BS.
What Sets Us Apart
Ranked #1
in Best Universities for Polymer Science
UT has been ranked the top global university for polymer science in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities.
6,500+
chemistry class attendance
From 2024-2025, 6,500+ undergraduate students took at least one chemistry class.
17,881 +
chemistry hours taught
In the Fall of 2025, over 17,881 chemistry hours were taught at UT, demonstrating our university’s exceptional commitment to building our chemistry workforce.
Why Study Chemistry?
A Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville means you’ll work alongside faculty at the cutting-edge of their fields, all while having the opportunity to work in some of our state-of-the-art research facilities.
With access to spaces like our Biological and Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Core (BSMMSC), the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facilities, the Polymer Characterization Lab (PCL), and so many more, you’ll find no shortage of spaces to gain hands-on skills in biological data analysis, spectroscopy, and polymer materials.
Plus, with our new chemistry building on the way and opportunities to participate in our Undergraduate Research Symposium, you’ll learn to communicate complex ideas with precision and clarity. These unparalleled experiences mean you’ll graduate equipped with skills to excel in your career field, whatever you choose.
New Chemistry Building
On September 5, 2025, UT began construction of what will become the Charles & Julie Wharton Chemistry Building, featuring 162,000 sq. ft. of exceptional spaces for research and teaching. This includes research lab spaces, study rooms, and more, demonstrating UT’s commitment to next-level student experiences.
What Can You Do with a BS in Chemistry After Graduation?
The chemistry program at UT is a resourceful, innovative, hands-on program that prepares students with the experience and knowledge they need to be successful in chemistry careers and beyond. Chemistry is a great foundation for scientific or non-scientific careers because of skills you learn such as complex problem-solving, technical communication, research skills, and data analysis. With classes, lectures and labs in many core foundations of chemistry, this program will prepare you for careers in the multitudes of chemistry fields, education, healthcare and more.
In any chemistry discipline, you could work in product or process development, testing, biotechnology, or environmental analyses. In specific disciplines like agricultural chemistry, you could work in agricultural testing, production, or regulation; in another discipline like analytical chemistry, you could go into quantitative analysis, instrumentation design, or chemometrics and statistics. Other possible career paths include biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. Many chemistry graduates also go on to be chemical technicians, data scientists, environmental science and protection technicians, natural sciences managers, and quality control chemists. With higher education, like a MS or PhD at UT, you could go into even more specialized fields.
Whichever path you choose, the chemistry program at UT will give you the mentorship, research opportunities, and hands-on experience you need to make a real-world impact after graduation.
Featured Courses
CHEM 210 Foundations of Analytical Chemistry
This course introduces students to the principles and practices of wet chemical and instrumental methods of chemical analysis with statistical treatment of acquired data.
CHEM 339 Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
Students will conduct experiments demonstrating the principles and practice of inorganic chemistry; synthesis, characterization and properties of inorganic complexes.
CHEM 312 Drug Pharmacokinetics
Students will receive an introduction to aspects of drug administration including the kinetics of medicinal action and the different phases of drugs (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion).
BCMB 401 Biochemistry I
This course is the first semester of a two-course sequence. It will cover amino acid and protein structure and chemistry, protein folding, enzyme reactions mechanisms, carbohydrate and lipid structure, function and metabolism, photosynthesis and carbon fixation, membrane biochemistry, thermodynamics of biological systems, vitamins and coenzymes, citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, and signal transduction.
Complementary Majors, Minors, and Certificates
Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.
- Statistics minor
- Environmental Science minor
Admissions and Aid
Are you ready to become a Vol? Learn how to apply and explore tuition, cost, and aid below.
Request Information
Want to join us in creating what’s next? Learn more about the Chemistry, BS program and become a Vol-in-Progress!