The Department of Chemistry and Food Science is unique in that it offers strong majors in both Chemistry and Food Science. The programs complement each other, producing Food Science majors with an exceptionally strong background in chemistry and providing Chemistry majors with the opportunity to take electives in more applied areas such as food chemistry, food engineering, and food analysis. Undergraduate research opportunities are also enhanced by the combination of these program areas.
One of the three chemistry concentrations is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS); the other chemistry concentrations may be taken along with a Secondary Education minor.
The ACS-approved curriculum allows flexibility to specialize in a particular area through choice of the elective, the advanced course, and the senior research project. The two other chemistry options require a minor to be taken concurrently. The General Chemistry concentration requires a minor in secondary education or one of the following areas: business, computer science, earth science, or mathematics. The Biochemistry concentration requires a minor in secondary education or one of the following areas: biology, business, communication arts, journalism, mathematics, or nutrition. Two concentrations are possible with the Food Science major: Food Science and Technology and Applied Food Science; the latter concentration requires a concurrent minor in biology, business, or nutrition. An excellent undergraduate education is provided by the structured curriculum for both the Chemistry major and for the Food Science major coupled with a strong general education component. The strength of these programs is clearly indicated by the excellent graduate school placement and achievement records and by the employment opportunities enjoyed by Department graduates.
Examining colored product synthesized in Inorganic Chemistry lab.
