Program Overview

Introduction to the Chemistry Program

The Department of Chemistry offers two degrees: a B.S. degree for students whose primary major is chemistry, and a B.A. degree designed to be a second major for students majoring in another chemistry-related field. Both paths meet the curriculum guidelines approved by the American Chemical Society for the training of professional chemists.

Program Overview

The department offers a wide range of courses from the introductory to the doctoral level. Undergraduate courses are designed for students planning careers in chemistry, medicine, business, and other professions, and for students taking chemistry as part of the foundation for another discipline. Faculty members serve as both scientists and teachers, bringing to the classroom the results and excitement of their research.

Courses

The Chemistry department offers courses in the areas of analytical, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry, with a special emphasis on emerging cross-discipline sciences. Students can also select from introductory courses, survey courses, and specialized lecture and laboratory courses. Some recent examples include:

• Introduction to Bioorganic Chemistry
• Instrumental Analytical Chemistry
• Molecular Modeling Methods
• Forensic Analytical Chemistry
• Drug Design and Development
• Computational Structural Biochemistry

Advanced Placement

Students with chemistry AP scores of 5 may skip the first-year introductory chemistry sequence and begin their studies in organic chemistry. The department offers an organic chemistry course sequence specifically for these students.

Special Opportunities

Many chemistry majors are involved in the Student Members of the American Chemical Society. This group hosts guest seminar speakers, organizes student-faculty picnics, participates in community outreach programs, visits industrial or research sites, and provides an opportunity to network with other students in chemistry or chemistry-related fields. Additionally, many students are also active in the Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science, a university effort supporting primary and secondary Nashville schools through science outreach programs.

Honors Program

Students with a strong interest in basic research, including those who wish to pursue graduate studies leading to the Ph.D. or the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree at prestigious institutions, may enter the Honors program. The Honors program provides strong independent research experience as well as training in critical thinking and scientific writing. Students must have a 3.3 GPA overall and a 3.4 GPA in courses that count toward the major. Honors students will write and defend an Honors thesis.

Undergraduate Research

The department encourages significant independent research for all students, not just Honors students. Most of our majors conduct independent research for 1 to 3 years, either for credit towards the major or through summer research programs. Eight credits of chemistry, fulfilled by either general chemistry or AP/IB credit, is the prerequisite for conducting research in the department.

Career Paths

Our alumni pursue a variety of career paths, including:

• Teaching
• Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing and sales
• Chemical research and development
• Graduate education in chemistry and chemical biology
• Government and regulatory agencies, including forensic chemistry laboratories, the military, and national laboratories
• Chemistry also provides a useful background for technical writing, consulting, public analysts, and patent law
• Finally, chemistry effectively prepares students for careers in medicine and other health-related professions

Faculty

The Department of Chemistry is composed of faculty doing research at the interface of chemistry with other disciplines such as physics, medicine, engineering, computer science, and biology. The department collaborates closely with the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, the Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology, and the Vanderbilt Center in Molecular Toxicology.