Undergraduates

The Chemistry major offers a flexible degree that will prepare you for diverse opportunities, including entry to top graduate programs, the chemical industry, and health-related careers. Undergraduate research is a strongly encouraged option, particularly for students who plan to pursue graduate studies in chemistry or a related field, but is not a requirement for this major.  Chemistry is often referred to as the “central science” because atoms and molecules are the foundation of all phenomena – from climate change to COVID vaccines to cosmic events. Chemists are working in diverse fields, helping achieve environmental justice, health equity, and addressing climate change. Chemists in our department are synthesizing advanced materials for renewable energy storage, developing new methods to access medicines, and documenting changes in the Arctic atmosphere, among many other impactful projects. Chemists use sophisticated instrumentation to analyze and understand the living world as well as how complex chemical processes proceed.

The Biochemistry major is ideal for students who are interested in learning about life from a chemical perspective. Students will gain a solid foundation in chemistry through traditional sub-discipline courses, but will also take a number of chemistry courses that are focused on the role of chemistry in biological systems. Students will also have the option to take elective courses in molecular biology, and also may pursue undergraduate research in lieu of, or in addition to, one of the traditional laboratory courses. Students that pursue this degree will be well equipped for graduate studies in biochemistry, chemical biology, and many other fields of inquiry in the life sciences. The degree will also provide excellent preparation for students intending to pursue professional careers in the Biotechnology Industry as well as the Health Sciences.

The Biomolecular Science major provides students with the core knowledge necessary to understand the chemical principles underpinning biology and the option to explore other courses in chemistry, biophysics, and molecular, cellular and developmental biology. This degree provides exposure to all of the core topics in the area of biochemistry, but also provides more flexibility in course selection than the B.S. Major in biochemistry. This degree provides a good foundation for students planning to attend graduate school in an interdisciplinary field related to chemistry and biology, and also provides good preparation for those who intend to pursue graduate studies in biochemistry. This degree also provides a solid foundation for students who plan to pursue degrees in the health sciences by providing opportunities for broad exposure to chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, and related fields.

The Interdisciplinary Chemical Sciences (ICS) major allows students the flexibility to supplement a core study of chemistry with courses in complementary fields. This major can be effective preparation for graduate study in the sciences, graduate studies in an interdisciplinary area that might benefit from a strong science background, for medical, law, and business schools, or for direct entry into the job market. Because students pursuing the ICS degree have a wide variety of career goals, advising from a chemistry departmental advisor is especially important.