Chair and Coordinator: Dr. Fred R. Clayton Jr.

Faculty: Clabo, Clayton, Hankinson, L. Peterson, Varazo, Williams

MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Chemistry offers lower-level courses appropriate for general education and upper-level courses for major and minor programs in chemistry. These courses also serve as foundation courses for majors in other areas such as biology, mathematics, and preprofessional programs. Topics and concepts on the fundamental laws of nature that govern the physical universe and on the methods of scientific inquiry used to investigate and develop those laws are the foundations of course content. A basic understanding of the fundamental laws of nature and a basic understanding of the process of scientific inquiry are essential parts of a liberal arts education.

The Chemistry program seeks to offer courses in chemistry that are taught by full-time faculty members with appropriate advanced degrees dedicated to science education at the university level. The courses offered in the department range in level from introductory courses that expose non-science majors to scientific thought to advanced courses that cover current and complex topics in modern chemistry. The laboratory experience is required in appropriate courses to illustrate the importance of experimentation to the scientific endeavor. For the majors in chemistry, the opportunity to undertake undergraduate research is offered. Since part of research is the interpretation and communication of results, majors graduating from those programs in the department are expected to be proficient in oral and written communication, to be familiar with the scientific literature, and to be aware of the importance and usage of computers in science.

Those students completing either of the two major tracks offered by the Department of Chemistry are prepared to enter into any number of career choices. These include science education at the secondary level; work in local, regional, and national industries and with governmental agencies; and entrance into graduate or professional schools.

The current Chemistry curriculum consists of two tracks. The first is the track leading to the basic or minimal Chemistry major. The second track is the curriculum leading to the American Chemical Society (ACS) certified degree. The ACS-certified degree requires additional advanced course work in Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.