Chemistry Emphases
Customize
Your Degree
Seven emphases help you on the path to your professional goals.
Choose one or more specialized emphases to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals. Each emphasis provides focused coursework and training in a specific area of chemistry, preparing you for success in research, industry, healthcare, graduate programs and professional schools.
Choose Your Emphasis
Though each emphasis focuses on specific coursework, you'll also gain solid foundational skills in chemistry, including lab safety, kinetics, thermodynamics and scientific writing.
General Chemistry
Discover more about the world around you. Our emphasis helps you gain invaluable insights from courses spanning lab safety to quantum theory, and watch as your understanding transforms not only your personal career but also the world at large.
ACS Chemistry
ACS Chemistry signifies that our chemistry program adheres to ACS rigorous standards. Most classes in this emphasis are paired with a lab to learn theory and operation of modern instruments, and use those instruments to solve real chemical problems. You’ll also complete a research assistantship so you can apply what you’ve learned and gain experience before you graduate. Because ACS is a nationally recognized organization, this track is especially beneficial if you want to pursue further education.
Biochemistry
Simply put, biochemistry is the study of chemical interactions in living things. But nothing about biochemistry is simple. It seeks to ask instead of answer. We’ll never know exactly why life exists, but biochemistry studies the precise workings of life. You’ll learn about biochemical structures, heredity and variation, RNA processing, genetic control of development and more.
Environmental Chemistry
Study, protect, improve. Your research on how chemicals affect our planet will help inform better decisions. With an emphasis in environmental chemistry, you can find employment with regulatory agencies and land management agencies. You could also work for environmental consulting companies and remediation firms.
Environmental Engineering Chemistry
Like environmental chemistry, environmental engineering chemistry gives you the tools to improve the environment. But the key difference is environmental engineering chemistry uses the principles of engineering to do it. You’ll help improve proper sustainable design and construction, proper waste management and environmental regulations. You could work for government agencies, architecture and urban planning firms, and nonprofit environmental groups.
Food Chemistry
Food chemists are charged with the goal to improve the taste and quality of food, develop packaging to safely preserve food and study effects of industrial processing. Your courses reflect the need for a strong background in biochemistry, along with specific instruction in nutritional science.
Process Engineering Chemistry
Develop and optimize industrial processes through this emphasis. You’ll learn concepts like programming for engineers, the behavior and processing of materials, electrical circuits and project management. Possible employment includes work in pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and energy.
Let's Connect
Wondering which emphasis is right for you? As the chair for our department, Professor Julie Wondergem can help.