Students who wish to major in chemistry may take courses which will prepare them for industrial or governmental laboratory work, for graduate study in chemistry, biochemistry, or allied fields, or lead toward professional training in medicine or dentistry.
The department offers three traditional degree programs and a combined BS/MS program which is designed for highly motivated students who wish to progress more rapidly. The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for students who desire a flexible program so they can develop more interdisciplinary competence. The Bachelor of Science degree places greater emphasis on chemistry. It is designed to lead to American Chemical Society (ACS) certification upon graduation. The Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry is a joint program with the Department of Biological Sciences. It is directed toward future work in the field of molecular biology. Students may be admitted to the combined BS/MS program at the beginning of their junior year. This program allows the student to receive the ACS certified Bachelor of Science degree and the Master of Science degree at the end of the fifth year.