Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S., B.A.)
Stated simply, chemistry is the study of matter — its structure, properties and the transformations it undergoes. Biochemistry is a subdiscipline that uses specialized methods and makes use of chemistry to learn about and explain biological systems.
In the B.S. program in chemistry (certified by the American Chemical Society) and B.S. program in biochemistry, you will take required lecture and laboratory courses in chemistry, as well as a number of chemistry electives. In addition, you will take courses in supplementary sciences (physics and biology), mathematics, computer science, and the humanities and social sciences. You will also perform original research, while supported by a chemistry professor. This research, which begins no later than your junior year, culminates with a senior thesis and research presentation at a department seminar. The B.S. programs will prepare you to pursue careers in scientific research (both academic and industrial) and medicine.
In the B.A. program in chemistry, you will take required lecture and laboratory courses in chemistry, as well as a number of chemistry electives. This flexible program, which is less mathematically demanding than the B.S. programs, allows you to take a variety of courses in the humanities and social sciences to supplement your studies in chemistry. Such a broad-based foundation is beneficial if you plan to pursue a career in dentistry, medicine, patent law, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine.
Our faculty pursue active, year-round research, and students are active participants in it. These collaborative research efforts allow you to experience the valuable advantages of our department — ready access to facilities and equipment often found only at large universities combined with the individual, one-on-one attention usually found at smaller colleges.
Our laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, including a high field Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer; Fourier transform infrared, UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectrophotometers; a Raman spectrometer; gas and high performance liquid chromatographs; a differential scanning calorimeter; and a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer system.
Career Opportunities
With a bachelor's degree in chemistry or biochemistry, you will be prepared to pursue a wide variety of careers, including chemical and biochemical research, dentistry, education, forensic chemistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
Many of our graduates continue their education at prestigious medical schools and graduate schools such as Case Western Reserve University, Duke University, Purdue University, Stanford University, University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis and University of South Carolina. Others enter well paying jobs in the chemical industry immediately upon graduation.