This is a misstatement of what the biochemistry coursework I am familiar with looks like.
Biochem, when offered as an undergrad program, is offered through the biology department and has a number of standard biology department requirements that would be elective at best for chemistry undergrads. Biochem majors also take orgo following gen chem, just like chemistry majors.
I don’t know what “touchy-feely” means in this context, but “chem except you take orgo almost immediately” does not match with my experience at all.
My son is in UIUC's biochem program. It's offered through the Chemistry department, has him in orgo next semester, and has a first year shared with chemical engineers.
At UIUC biochemistry is offered through Molecular and Cellular Biology. It's a good program but distinct from Chemistry. Next semester sounds like sophomore fall, which would be on schedule for chemistry majors as well as biochem majors at most programs I know of.
I have no idea what bringing up ChemE has to do with anything: undergrad ChemE has little to do with chemistry and a lot to do with continuum mechanics and steam tables. It's common for engineering students to do their natural sciences classwork (it isn't called "earth sciences", that is something else) together along with major students.
Biochem, when offered as an undergrad program, is offered through the biology department and has a number of standard biology department requirements that would be elective at best for chemistry undergrads. Biochem majors also take orgo following gen chem, just like chemistry majors.
I don’t know what “touchy-feely” means in this context, but “chem except you take orgo almost immediately” does not match with my experience at all.