The Department of Chemistry offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry. Within the B.S. degree, the department offers two options: 1) in Chemistry, which fulfills the requirements for professional training established by the American Chemical Society, a national certifying agency, and 2) in Biochemistry (also fulfills requirements of the American Chemical Society), which prepares students for careers in biochemistry and various related fields. These curricula are designed to prepare students for research positions in industry and governmental agencies. The B.S. degree also prepares the student who intends to continue his/her study into the graduate level. The B.A. degree provides less specialization in chemistry and greater opportunity for studies in other fields. This curriculum is recommended for those who wish to obtain a Standard Teaching Credential with Specialization in Secondary Teaching. The Department of Chemistry emphasizes hands-on learning. Our instruction and facilities are top-notch, with a modern computational chemistry laboratory available to majors, as well as other analytical and applied instrumentation, including GC-MS, AA, FT-IR, HPLC and a modern multi-nuclear FT-NMR.

A major factor influencing employability is preparation. How well a student investigates job alternatives, gains additional educational and experiential background to qualify for areas of increasing employability, and goes about applying for these position openings has a pronounced influence on employability. The student who is aware of, and interested in, speciality areas with increasing employment opportunities can benefit by preparing himself/herself for those employment areas. By looking into what course work, skills, and experiences an employer looks for, students can better prepare for forthcoming position openings. In general, the chemistry student with additional skills or a highly specialized emphasis has special advantages in the job market. Students also have a strong chance of increasing employability by strengthening their skills with additional course work from related disciplines.