Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Faculty: Associate Professor Jackman, Chair; Professors Evans-Nguyen, Werner; Associate Professors Ballard, Bronikowski, Carastro, Kanu, Masserini, Theodore, Witherow; Assistant Professors Crosby, Deister, French, Hemric, Longstreet, Perry, Struss, B. Wilson; Associate Teaching Professors Murray, Scharf, M. Wilson, Yanello; Assistant Teaching Professors Calixte, Henchey, Lee, Lopez-Hernandez, Ortega; Instructors Abdel Hadi, Brumfield, Squitieri.

Degrees offered:  B.S. in chemistry, ACS-certified; B.S. in chemistry; B.A. in chemistry; B.S. in biochemistry, ASBMB-accredited; B.S. in chemistry with biochemistry concentration, ACS-certified; B.A. in biochemistry; B.S. in forensic science; B.S. in marine chemistry. A minor in chemistry is also offered.

The Department offers chemistry, biochemistry, forensic science and marine chemistry students a solid foundation in the five major areas of chemistry: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry. Research projects, publishing opportunities, internships and classes with both lecture and laboratory experience give chemistry majors the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical laboratory experience to either enter the job market with a B.S. degree or go on to graduate or professional school.

Each program is a continuum of prerequisites designed to develop the student’s knowledge of chemistry in each of the five major areas. In upper-level classes, the average course size drops to approximately 10 students per class. This small class size gives students the opportunity to work with equipment not often available to undergraduates at larger institutions, and allows for frequent, direct interaction with the faculty.

Given the small class size at the University and the varied research interests of the chemistry faculty, experiential learning opportunities are available and encouraged. Students working with faculty members have completed projects in separation and fluorescence of rare earth elements; environmental analysis; marine nutrient analysis; natural product isolation, structural elucidation and assay for biological activity; astrochemistry; protein chemistry; computational chemistry; and green chemistry reaction discovery.

Each member of the faculty is an expert in at least one of the aforementioned areas. Chemistry majors may request assignment to a faculty member who serves as an advisor and whose specialty coincides with the student’s area of interest. Advisors and students work together to select courses, review academic and professional progress, and discuss career and graduate opportunities.