Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Stephen Opoku-Duah, Langford Professor of Chemistry and Chair
Ryan Bowen, Assistant Professor
T. Brian Cavitt, Professor
C. Kent Clinger, Professor

John D. Smith, Professor
Joseph Weinstein-Webb, Assistant Professor

The mission of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is to provide a general knowledge of chemistry for the student desiring a liberal arts education. Chemistry offers to the student an appreciation and understanding of great discoveries, laws and theories that relate to the composition of matter. It also offers insight into and training in the type of reasoning which brought about these discoveries. For chemistry and biochemistry majors, the department introduces students to the five major divisions of chemistry (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical) and helps prepare students to enter the chemical profession and medically related professional schools. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry allows students an opportunity to be involved in scientific research using current instrumentation and methods. Students make presentations within the university community and the larger scientific community; training in logical analysis, interpretation of research results, and the written and oral communication of these results is provided.

Distinctives of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department

The training provided by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is intended to meet the diverse needs of students interested in chemistry and/or biochemistry. The majors in the Department aim to prepare students for graduate school, professional school, or the workplace by providing experiences and training in the five major areas of chemistry which include: organic, inorganic, biological, analytical, and physical. The goals of majors in the Department are to build a strong foundation of chemical knowledge and skills through lecture and laboratory components that can be expanded upon in the students’ training and career. The Department also offers advanced specialty courses that are based on student interest that aims to expose students to cutting-edge work in chemistry fields. Aside from training in the five major areas of chemistry, the Department helps connect students to research opportunities on-and off-campus while providing students with tools to discuss ethics and faith in the context of science.

Career Opportunities

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers five majors, each intended to prepare students for a different path:

The Chemistry (B.S., B.A.) and Biochemistry (B.S., B.A.) majors are intended to prepare students for graduate schools and/or the chemical industry. Students will have the opportunity to take additional lecture courses and laboratories that enrich their training in the five major areas of chemistry. Students within these majors are heavily encouraged to do research, and they will be connected with opportunities in-and off-campus.
The Applied Chemistry (B.S., B.A.) major is intended for students who want to couple their chemistry training with another academic area, such as business, math, computer science, environmental science, and many others. Students interested in professional school (medical school, pharmacy school, dental school, etc.) may choose this major over Biochemistry for Health Professions if they want training in other areas outside of the chemistry and biology curricula. This major is intended to be flexible, and the Department is open to building an Applied Chemistry major for students that provides them with the necessary training they are seeking.
The Biochemistry for Health Professions (B.S., B.A.) major is primarily intended for students who are planning to go to professional school, including medical school, pharmacy school, dental school, and other health-related programs. Students within this major will be able to complete their prerequisite coursework for professional school admissions while working toward a chemistry degree.
The Chemistry Teaching (B.S., B.A.) major is intended for students interested in teaching at secondary level (middle and high school). Students within this major will receive training in all major areas of chemistry as well as specialized practice courses on teaching chemistry.

Future steps for graduates of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry largely depends on the major they choose. Students interested in a major in the Department are invited to open a conversation with one of the professors to determine which major is best suited to their interests and aspirations.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Distinctives of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department

Career Opportunities

Program of Study Requirements

Courses