Western Carolina University

Transfer Guide

Western Carolina University
Chemistry, BS

Transfer Guide for Associate in Science

2025-2026

Concentration(s): Premedical/Biomedical Science and Technology
Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

Transfer students should apply to Western Carolina University at applynow.wcu.edu. A minimum 2.2 GPA is required for consideration, however, this does not guarantee admission. We recommend that you aim for an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 12+ hours of college credit for competitiveness with other incoming transfer applicants.

Please note that admission to the institution does not guarantee admission to specific programs, and some programs do require a supplemental application. Check the program website at WCU.edu for supplemental application details and instructions, or reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 828.227.7317.

Contact:

Advising Center
transferadvising@wcu.edu

Revised: April, 2025

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

No foreign language requirement for this program.

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the North Carolina Community College (NCCC) course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended university and major.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
CHM 151: General Chemistry I 4 CHEM 139: General Chemistry I UGETC Natural Sciences Required Course, General Education
CHM 152: General Chemistry II 4 CHEM 140: General Chemistry II UGETC Natural Sciences Required Course, General Education
MAT 271: Calculus I 4 MATH 153: Calculus I Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
BIO 111: General Biology I 4 BIOL 140: Principles of Biology I Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
BIO 112: General Biology II 4 BIOL 141: Principles of Biology II Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
CHM 251: Organic Chemistry I 4 CHEM 241: Organic Chemistry I Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
CHM 252: Organic Chemistry II 4 CHEM 242: Organic Chemistry II Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
BIO 250: Genetics 4 BIOL 240: Intro to Genetics Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
MAT 171: Precalculus Algebra 4 MATH 130: Precalculus I & MATH 19A: Lower Level Electives UGETC Math Suggested Course, General Education
MAT 172: Precalculus Trigonometry 4 MATH 146: Precalculus II UGETC Math Suggested Course, General Education

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended NCCC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENGL 101: Writing and Rhetoric English Composition General Education
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENGL 202: Writing and Critical Inquiry English Composition General Education
COM 231: Public Speaking 3 COMM 201: Foundations of Communication UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 3 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 ELEC 19A: Lower Level Electives Academic Transition Elective
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 3 University Equivalencies Elective/Pre-Major Courses Elective

Additional Information From Western Carolina University:

This concentration is intended for those students wishing to pursue a career in the biomedical or biotechnology fields, including students wishing to pursue a degree from a medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, or optometry school.  Specific courses within the concentration should be chosen carefully, based on the intended career path.  Students anticipating obtaining a professional degree (such as an MD or PharmD.) should also judiciously choose their electives to satisfy admissions preferences and fully prepare for entrance exams.

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
Chemistry Core Requirements 23
  • CHEM 232 - Quantitative Analysis Credits: 4 (CHM 263: Analytical Chemistry)
  • CHEM 321 - Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 352 - Physical Chemistry: Chemical Thermodynamics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 361 - Principles of Biochemistry Credits: 3 (CHM 271: Biochemical Principles)

OR

  • BIOL 361 - Principles of Biochemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: 4
  • CHEM 372 - Chemical Thermodynamics Laboratory Credits: 1
  • CHEM 495 - Seminar in Chemistry Credits: 1
  • PHYS 130 - Introductory Physics I Credits: 4 (PHY 151: College Physics I)

and

  • PHYS 131 - Introductory Physics II Credits: 4 (PHY 152: College Physics II)

OR

  • PHYS 230 - General Physics I Credits: 4 (PHY 251: General Physics I)

and

  • PHYS 231 - General Physics II Credits: 4 (PHY 252: General Physics II)
Premedical/Biomedical Science and Technology Concentration Requirements 12
  • BIOL 333 - Cell and Molecular Biology Credits: 4 (BIO 265: Cell Biology)

Plus 8 hours selected from the following (at least 3 hours must be CHEM):

  • BIOL 313 - Microbiology in Health and Nutrition Credits: 4
  • BIOL 411 - Animal Physiology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 412 - Cellular and Molecular Immunology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 413 - Principles of General Microbiology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 414 - Methods of General Microbiology Credits: 2
  • BIOL 418 - Advanced Techniques in Microscopy Credits: 4
  • BIOL 419 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 421 - Principles of Biotechnology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 424 - Pharmacology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 461 - Molecular Medicine Credits: 3
  • BIOL 467 - Biostatistics Credits: 3
  • BIOL 474 - Virology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 478 - Parasitology Credits: 3
  • CHEM 411 - Industrial Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 421 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 422 - Organometallics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 435 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: 3
  • CHEM 440 - Synthetic Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 441 - Physical Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 442 - Introduction to Organic Polymers Credits: 3
  • CHEM 445 - Structural Determination Credits: 3
  • CHEM 450 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 453 - Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Credits: 3
  • CHEM 455 - Chemometrics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 462 - Molecular Bioinformatics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 463 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: 3
  • CHEM 464 - Genomics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 465 - Forensic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CHEM 471 - Inorganic Syntheses Credits: 1
  • CHEM 472 - Organic Syntheses Credits: 1
  • CHEM 473 - Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Laboratory Credits: 1
  • CHEM 475 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1
  • CHEM 493 - Topics in Chemistry Credits: 1-3, R6
  • HSCC 322 - Medical Terminology Credits: 3
  • HSCC 330 - Legal and Legislative Aspects of Health Care Credits: 3
  • PAR 332 - Biomedical Ethics and Social Justice Credits: 3
  • PAR 333 - Environmental and Animal Ethics Credits: 3
General Electives 30

To complete 120 hours, students may need to take additional General Electives (the number depends on how many Liberal Studies courses also count toward the major).

Pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary, and pre-optometry students should discuss with their advisors the most appropriate electives for their intended professional school.  Some examples of electives that may aid in professional school entrance exams and/or satisfy admissions preferences are included below:

  • BIOL 241 - Introduction to Ecology and Evolution Credits: 4
  • BIOL 291 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
  • BIOL 292 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4
  • CS 150 - Problem Solving and Programming I Credits: 4
  • MATH 255 - Calculus II Credits: 4
  • MATH 270 - Statistical Methods I Credits: 3
  • PAR 230 - Legal, Scientific, & Critical Reasoning Credits: 3