Academic Programs in Chemistry
Whether you wish to conduct research, enter professional school (medical, dental, chiropractic, optometry or podiatry as well as pharmacy), teach, or do something else entirely, the
Department of Chemistry has a number of in-depth undergraduate and
pre-professional programs to provide you the education and hands-on experience
you need to be successful.
Bachelor of Arts in
Chemistry
If you’re interested in a career
as a high school teacher, a chemical librarian, chemical salesperson, medical
doctor, pharmaceutical salesperson or chiropractor, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in
Chemistry may be the right option for you. You may pursue a non-specialized degree program or choose
from specializations for teacher education or environmental chemistry.
Your advisor will help you supplement
your major program of study with substantial courses in other subject areas. Supplementing
your chemistry courses with studies in areas such as agriculture, biology,
geosciences, physics or business gives you the opportunity to tailor your
program to individual interests and vocational goals.
Learn more
about the Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry program of study, including the
specializations in teacher education and environmental chemistry.
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is American Chemical Society Approved
If you are interested in a
career in the chemical industry or wish to pursue graduate study in chemistry,
you should enroll in the Bachelor of Science program. Depending on your career
goals, you can pursue a general chemistry degree program or focus your studies
in one of three areas:
- biological chemistry
- forensic science
- environmental
Typically, students planning to
go to medical school or pursue graduate study follow the biological chemistry
emphasis. The Bachelor of Science
in Chemistry offers you the flexibility to work closely with your adviser to
develop a program of study that meets your specific needs.
Learn more
about the B.S. in Chemistry, including the program of study and course
requirements for each of the three emphasis areas.
Pre-Professional Programs in Pharmacy and Health Professions (medical, dental, chiropractic, optometry or podiatry as well as pharmacy)
Health professions such as medicine,
dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, podiatry, pharmacy and chiropractic require
college courses as listed below. They usually include one full year of
laboratory courses in general/inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics
and biology. One year of courses in English and mathematics is generally
expected. Additional course work from the areas of biochemistry, chemistry,
biology, psychology, applied statistics, computer science, and the humanities
is frequently recommended and sometimes required.
Most schools expect students to
have a baccalaureate degree before beginning professional study. Less
frequently students matriculate without a baccalaureate degree. Professional
schools do not usually suggest a major course of study. The most prevalent
major is biology and the next most common major is chemistry. Overriding
influences in selecting a major should include (a) choosing an area of study that
you enjoy, and (b) preparing for alternate careers in the event that you do not
ultimately attend a profession school.
Learn more about the suggested program of study leading to careers in Medicine, Dentistry and Optometry, as well as Pharmacy.
B.S. in General
Science – Concentration in Chemistry
The B.S. in General Science offers you a flexible,
broad-based education in the core disciplines of biology, chemistry,
geosciences and physics, while allowing you to deepen your knowledge and skills
in one or more of those concentration areas. This degree program is ideal for
students who have wide-ranging interests in the physical and life sciences who wish to
pursue a variety of career fields, such as lab assistants, pharmaceutical
representatives, medical equipment sales representative, or manager in a technical field. This degree is not recommended
for students interested in pre-medicine, pre-veterinary or pre-pharmacy majors,
but may be appropriate for pre-dental and pre-OT/PT majors .
Learn more about the program of study for the B.S. in General Science – Concentration in Chemistry.