Program Overview

Chemistry Program Overview

The Chemistry major at Xavier University is a minimum 120-hour degree program that is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum covers the five major fields (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry), the preparation and identification of compounds, and the literature on the subject.

Program Features

• Develop essential research skills
• Gain invaluable hands-on experience with advanced instrumentation, and even have opportunities to present your research findings at conferences.
• Undergraduate research
• Build your unique career path
  • Specializations include Chemistry for Business, Chemical Education, Computational Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Pre-Health focuses.
• Learn from dedicated faculty
  • With small class sizes, you'll benefit from personalized mentorship, direct guidance, and one-on-one collaboration, ensuring you receive the support needed.
• Earn an ACS Certification
  • For a few extra credit hours, your degree can be certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS), giving you a competitive edge in the job market and for graduate school applications.

Curriculum

The sample course sequence for the Chemistry major includes:

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • CHEM 160: General Chemistry I
    • CHEM 161: General Chemistry I Lab
    • MATH 140: Concepts of Calculus
    • CORE 100: First Year Seminar OR THEO 111
    • ENGL 101/115 English Composition/Rhetoric
    • CORE 101: GOA
  • Spring:
    • CHEM 162: General Chemistry II
    • CHEM 163: General Chemistry II Lab
    • CHEM 180: Intro to Chemical Enterprise
    • STAT 146: Introductory Biostatistics
    • PHIL 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy
    • HIST 199: Historical Perspectives
    • CORE 102: GOA
• Second Year:
  • Fall:
    • CHEM 240: Organic Chemistry I
    • CHEM 241: Organic Chemistry I Lab
    • PHYS 160: College Physics I
    • PHYS 161: Introductory Physics Lab I
    • THEO 111: Theological Foundations
    • Second Language Elective I
  • Spring:
    • CHEM 242: Organic Chemistry II
    • CHEM 243: Organic Chemistry Lab II
    • PHYS 162: College Physics II
    • PHYS 163: Introductory Physics Lab II
    • CHEM 226: Quantitative Analysis
    • CHEM 227: Quantitative Analysis Lab
    • Second Language II
• Third Year:
  • Fall:
    • CHEM 220: Biophysical Chemistry
    • CHEM 340: Instrumental Analysis
    • PHIL 200: Philosophical Foundations
    • ENGL 205: Literature and Moral Imagination
    • General Elective
  • Spring:
    • CHEM 300: Research Ethics
    • CHEM 341: Instrumental Analysis Lab
    • Humanities Elective
    • Social Science Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall:
    • Chemistry Elective
    • CHEM 400: Research/Seminar
    • Creative Perspectives Elective
    • Theological Perspectives (E/RS) Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
  • Spring:
    • Chemistry Elective
    • CHEM 400: Research/Seminar
    • E/RS Elective
    • Diversity Elective
    • General Elective
    • General Elective
    • CORE 499

Outcomes

• 98% of Xavier students, including those in the chemistry major, are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2023).
• High Medical School Acceptance Rate: Xavier students have an 86 percent acceptance rate to medical schools (5-year average, Class of 2023), compared to 40 percent nationally.
• Exciting Career Opportunities:
  • Analytical Chemist
  • Biotechnologist
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Chemical Technician
  • Clinical Scientist
  • Dentist
  • Food Scientist
  • Organic Chemist
  • Forensic Lab Analyst
  • Industrial Chemist
  • Pharmacist
  • Physician
  • Research and Development Chemist
  • Synthetic Chemist
  • Toxicologist
  • Water Quality Analyst

Sample Courses

• General Chemistry I /Lab (CHEM 160/161)
• Intro to Chemical Enterprise (CHEM 180)
• Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 240)
• Chemistry Research/Seminar (CHEM 400)
• Biochemistry (CHEM 440)

Clubs

• Alchemyst Club
• Minorities in STEM Succeeding Together
• Physics Club

Related Programs

Related Majors

• BS in Biochemistry
• BS in Biomedical Sciences
• BS in Biology
• BS in Biophysics
• BS in Pharmaceutical Science
• BS in Teaching Integrated Science

Related Minors

• Applied Health Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Clinical Science Management
• Forensic Science
• Environmental Studies
• Population Health
• Pre-Physical Therapy
• Physics

FAQ

• What jobs does the chemistry major prepare students for?
  • A chemistry degree opens up a wide range of career opportunities, thanks to the strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical skills it imparts.
• What are the chemistry labs and facilities like?
  • As a student in the chemistry major, you'll have access to campus labs and instrumentation that include a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer, infra-red spectrometers, gas chromatographs, a multichannel analyzer, a high-performance liquid chromatograph, and more.
• What's the difference between the chemistry and biochemistry majors?
  • Chemistry is the study of matter, its composition, properties, and the changes it undergoes. Biochemistry is a specialized branch of chemistry that focuses on the chemical processes that occur within living organisms.
• Does Xavier offer an honors program for chemistry majors?
  • Yes. The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.