Why This Program?

Understand the chemical processes within living organisms.

Chemistry is the study of matter, its properties, how and why substances combine or separate to form other substances, and how substances behave and change. This program combines complex concepts with practical experiments, bringing the study of Chemistry to life in our state-of-the-art chemistry laboratories.

Qualified Faculty: You will work closely with our accomplished program faculty, including accomplished researchers who are known to conduct research right here on campus. Work with professors who know you by your name, not a number. The program is designed to provide a variety of experiences to help set you apart as you to look to apply to graduate schools or begin to pursue a professional career.
Get hands-on experience: Conduct professional experiments and research side-by-side with faculty members in their respective fields. You can even earn a stipend doing it! The practical experience is a great confidence and résumé booster, especially for graduate school.
Learn in state-of-the-art labs: Our facilities include new organic and general chemistry labs with state-of-the-art renovations, and a revamped molecular biology workshop with equipment unparalleled by any institution our size.

Briar Cliff's chemistry program is designed to allow students a variety of experiences, giving them the confidence and tools they need to succeed.

More About the Program

The Chemistry Department offers two programs to accommodate the variety of backgrounds and interests of students with a desire to major in chemistry. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree is designed for students who plan to enter industry or to pursue graduate study in chemistry while the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is often selected by those preparing for the medical or paramedical professions. The B.S. option places a greater emphasis on mathematics and its scientific applications while the B.A. stresses the biological aspects of chemistry. Either degree is quite appropriate for students intending to teach in secondary schools.

The following list of course requirements assumes that for courses having separate lab courses (e.g., CHEM 337 and 337L) this lab course is also required for a major or minor. All chemistry lab courses include a fee for supplies which is billed at the time of registration.

Upon graduating, students majoring in Chemistry will have developed a high level of problem solving ability, particularly with respect to laboratory problems, be able to prepare chemical solutions independently, be able to work independently in lab, be skilled at observing and collecting data, possess an extensive knowledge base in the areas of inorganic, organic, physical, analytical and biochemistry, demonstrate an ability to communicate scientific information in a written format in a coherent fashion, demonstrate an ability to present scientific information to a public, demonstrate knowledge of the organization of scientific literature and ability to collect and organize such information, possess a historical appreciation for some of the major developments in the field, and have conducted independent research under the mentorship of a faculty member and/or worked as an assistant in the preparation and delivery of courses in the chemistry laboratory.

Career Options

High School Chemistry Teacher

Chemist

Analytical Chemist

Chemical Engineer

Forensic Scientist

Geochemist / Hazardous Waste Chemist

Materials Scientist

Pharmacologist

Applied Research and Product Development

Cheminformatics

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Technology

Crystallography

Industrial Management

Laboratory Management

Patent Attorney

Chemistry

Why This Program?

Understand the chemical processes within living organisms.

More About the Program

Career Options

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