About the Department
Mission
Our Department is committed to rigorous and innovative curriculum that focuses on developing problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills, and provides high quality education in chemistry and biochemistry. We offer a B.S. Chemistry degree program, which is accredited by the American Chemical Society; a B.A. Chemistry program for those with broad or interdisciplinary interests; a B.S. Biochemistry degree that is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; a B.A. Biochemistry program for those planning to enter the medical or health professions; and a research-intensive graduate program leading to M.S. Chemistry and M.S. Biochemistry degrees.
Program Learning Outcomes
Undergraduate Programs
- Develop an understanding of the physical and chemical behavior of matter, including the chemical basis of biological phenomena.
- Acquire mastery of the basic concepts of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry and biochemistry.
- Develop a knowledge of how to setup, and how to operate, various scientific apparatus used in the study of chemistry and biochemistry.
- Learn how to obtain and interpret data from various scientific instruments.
- Develop an ability to think logically and clearly, to articulate their thoughts, and to critically evaluate experimental data and the scientific literature.
Graduate Programs
- Receive professional training to enhance employability and success in a doctoral or professional degree program.
- Carry out independent laboratory investigations of research problems.
- Contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the chemical sciences.
- Learn to search and use the chemical literature to acquire up-to-date information about current problems in the chemical sciences and to critically analyze current work.
