Chemistry
Transform curiosity into discovery through hands-on science, guided research, and career-ready skill building.
Chemistry is a dynamic and hands-on discipline intended for the innately curious that explores the nature of matter through discovery; asking questions, solving problems, and understanding how the world works at the molecular level. Our program emphasizes hands-on learning, faculty-mentored research, and intentional skill-building experiences to cultivate scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills needed for success in graduate study or today’s workforce.
Catawba College offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry, allowing you to tailor your experience to your academic and professional goals. Both pathways emphasize hands-on laboratory work, close faculty mentorship, and opportunities for undergraduate research, internships, and applied learning.
The Bachelor of Science degree provides an intensive scientific preparation for students planning careers or graduate study in chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, and related fields.
The Bachelor of Arts degree offers strong options for students interested in interdisciplinary careers such as education, business, technical communication, law, or industry roles that benefit from a strong scientific foundation. Students pursuing a BA in Chemistry may choose to focus their studies through applied concentrations in:
- Forensics Science - Apply chemical principles to the analysis of physical evidence, preparing for careers in crime laboratories, law enforcement support, and investigative science.
- Environmental Chemistry - Study chemical processes in air, water, and soil while building skills for careers in sustainability, environmental protection, and regulatory science.
- Food & Fermentation Science - Explore the chemistry of food and beverage production, including fermentation processes used in brewing, biotechnology, and food innovation industries.
Each major connects classroom learning with real-world applications, helping students build specialized knowledge while strengthening core scientific skills needed for graduate study or immediate entry into the workforce. Across all pathways, students are encouraged to engage in undergraduate research, internships, and experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for competitive careers in scientific, industrial, and professional settings.
Program Highlights
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Undergraduate Research
Alongside a faculty mentor, students engage in hands-on research by exploring scientific questions, designing and conducting experiments, and analyzing data. Students also have opportunities to present their work at regional and national scientific conferences, gaining valuable experience sharing their research with the broader scientific community.
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Student Science Travel Award
Catawba’s Chemistry majors may apply to receive the James M. Beard Student Science Travel Award. This travel scholarship provides a maximum of $500 that a student recipient can use for fall or spring semester scientific conference travel to present their research.
Chemistry at Catawba
Learn about the Chemistry program at Catawba College.
Program Details
Justin Burroughs '17 Chemistry Graduate; Biology MinorChemistry at Catawba not only prepares you for a career in chemistry but it also lays a firm foundation for those pursuing the medical field.
Honor Societies
Foster relationships with your peers. The American Chemical Society (ACS) and Gamma Sigma Epsilon Honor Society welcome students with a passion for Chemistry, while Catawba’s Tau Eta Chapter of Tri- Beta, Catawba’s Biological Honor Society, is for students whose root passions lie in biological studies. As a Chemistry undergraduate, enjoy the challenge of both.
Pre-Health Club
If a career in Health Services is part of your long-range plan and part of the reason you choose to pursue a Chemistry degree, join the Catawba Pre-Health Club. It will align you with like-minded students serious about achieving academic success as an undergraduate to prepare for the next steps in their professional futures.
Undergraduate Research in Chemistry
Undergraduate Research in Chemistry
Catawba College Chemistry majors regularly conduct and present their research at the annual campus Interdisciplinary Creativity and Research Symposium, the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Research Symposium, and at state, regional and national conferences of American Chemical Society.
Next-Generation Resources
The Graham Genomics Lab allows students to engage in vital research, gaining broad and deep knowledge in a particular field, enabling them to put that knowledge to work for the common good. It features next-generation sequencing platforms from leading technology providers, including Illumina® and Pacific Biosystems. Catawba students acquire hands-on skills as they conduct research projects and work with innovative sequencing equipment, participating in multi-disciplinary, multi-platform research from concept through to data delivery and interpretation.
Net Price Calculator
Net Price Calculator
We know that a college education is one of the most important investments a student will make in their lifetime.
Catawba College's Net Price Calculator is a tool used to provide students with an estimate of the financial aid they might qualify for prior to receiving their official Financial Aid Award.
Outcomes
Outcomes
Jobs - Our Chemistry majors have found their element in the following positions:
- Organic Chemist
- Chemistry Teacher
- Renewable Fuels Researcher
- Pharmacist
- Director of Product Development
- Chiropractor
- Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Physician
- Forensic Scientist
Graduate Schools - Many of our alumni have pursued graduate degrees at the following:
- University of Notre Dame
- Campbell College Physician Assistant Program
- School of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina
- UNC-Chapel Hill
- Wake Forest University
- New England College of Optometry
- Albany Medical College
- Clemson University
- Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University
- Florida International University
- Eastern Carolina Medical School
Catawba College celebrated the official installation and induction of the Neon Chapter of Iota Sigma Pi, the national honor society for women in chemistry, on April 24, 2026.
Catawba College announces Dr. ChaMarra Saner, associate professor of chemistry and director of the Science and Mathematics Academic Resource Center, has been named an American Council on Education Fellow for the 2026-27 academic year.
Catawba College students and faculty returned from the 87th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists with major honors, including chapter recognition, a faculty leadership award, and top prizes in both poster and oral research competitions.
