A degree in chemistry can provide a strong foundation for a wide variety of exciting careers.
Chemists employed by manufacturing companies analyze products as part of the process of quality control. In the medical field they work with doctors, undertaking toxicological studies that assist in treatment. Many are heavily involved in the synthesis of new materials. Some chemists never even step foot in a laboratory; as practitioners of computational chemistry they use modeling software to analyze potential products prior to production. In drug companies especially, such chemists winnow a large number of possible molecules and synthetic pathways down to just a few and predict the properties of a new drug without its ever being manufactured in the laboratory.
Individuals with a solid chemistry background are highly valued in industry – and not just by chemical companies. Chemists who start “at the bench” often move into other areas, such as marketing, sales, and management. While chemistry is one of the preferred majors for admission to medical or dental school, it is also excellent preparation for those interested in studying law. Patent law, environmental law, and occupational health and safety law all require the background that only a technical degree like chemistry can provide.
Get Started
Contact Lawrence Tech's Office of Admissions at 800.CALL.LTU, or admissions@ltu.edu.
For additional information about the chemistry program, contact Dr. Jeffery Morrissette at 248.204.3603 or Dr. Julie Zwiesler-Vollick at 248.204.3616, or send an email to nschair@ltu.edu.
The chemistry laboratories at Lawrence Tech are housed third floors near the offices of chemistry faculty members. The university supports five major teaching laboratories:
- General Chemistry, Science 319
- Analytical Chemistry, Science 313
- Organic Chemistry, Science 309
- Advanced Synthesis, Science 305
- Physical/Instrumental Chemistry, Science 303
In addition, an Advanced Instrumentation Room (Science 325) has recently been established to house the departmental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer and Scanning Electron Microscope.
The award winning Lawrence Tech student chapter of the American Chemical Society occupies Science 327. This room serves as a study room and lounge for our majors. All majors are welcome to use it.
Computer Use
All undergraduates at Lawrence Tech are provided with their own laptops, packed with the specialized software they will need in their education. Introductory chemistry laboratories are fully computerized, as are many of those in more advanced courses. Many of the instruments listed below include dedicated computers that drive them and analyze the output. Others interface directly with student laptops.
Instrumentation
The department is fully equipped with all the instrumentation needed for thorough training in Chemistry. A partial list of major equipment includes:
- X-ray diffraction apparatus
- Digitizing, computer-compatible oscilloscopes
- Temperature-jump fast kinetics facilities
- Computer-controlled automatic bomb calorimeter
- Several visible-ultraviolet spectrometers
- Several infrared spectrometers, including fourier transform devices
- Multiple gas chromatographs, some with automatic sampling and mass spectrometer detection
- High Pressure Liquid Chromatography facilities
- Fourier Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer
- Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer
The department policy is to introduce advanced instrumentation at the earliest opportunity in a student’s education.
The hallmark of the Lawrence Technological University Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program is laboratory training that greatly exceeds the minimum standards of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and is far more extensive than that offered at many of the most prestigious institutions in the country. Introducing advanced instrumentation at the earliest opportunity in your education is another important facet of the program.
Lawrence Tech offers you access to state-of-the-art instrumentation in fully computerized laboratories, providing real-world, hands-on experience. A partial list of major equipment includes:
• digitizing, computer-compatible oscilloscopes
• temperature-jump fast kinetics facilities
• computer-controlled automatic bomb calorimeter
• visible-ultraviolet spectrometers
• infrared spectrometers, including Fourier-Transform Infrared devices
• multiple gas chromatographs, some with automatic sampling and mass spectrometer detection
• high pressure liquid chromatography facilities
• nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
• atomic absorption spectrophotometer
As a chemistry student, you can select from three ACS-certified options: chemistry, chemical biology, and environmental chemistry.
In addition, you may choose engineering chemistry as an option. All offer excellent preparation for a variety of career opportunities or advanced study. The standard program, which requires 125 credit hours, and the 123-credit-hour environmental chemistry option both prepare you for work in laboratories, research, industry, government, medicine, and education. The engineering chemistry option, which requires 130 credit hours, allows you to pursue positions in traditional chemistry fields as well as many of those normally filled by chemical engineers. The 126-credit-hour chemical biology degree prepares you for careers in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, and satisfies the requirements for most medical, dental, or veterinary schools. Whatever your choice, you will receive personal attention and rigorous training that can make your education pay dividends for the rest of your life.
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Flowchart PDF
Your 125-credit-hour program consists of:
First Semester
| Course Number | Subject | Cr. Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| COM 1001 | Pathways to Research Careers | 1 |
| COM 1103 | College Composition (Placement) | 3 |
| CHM 1213 | University Chemistry 1 (Placement) | 3 |
| CHM 1221 | University Chemistry 1 Lab | 1 |
| MCS 1414 | Calculus 1 (Placement) | 4 |
| SSC 2413 | Foundations of American Experience | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
First Semester
| Course Number | Subject | Cr. Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| CHM 3434 | Physical Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| CHM 3441 | Physical Chemistry 2 Lab | 1 |
| CHM 3452 | Intermed. Inorganic Chemistry* | 2 |
| CHM 3403 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHM 3411 | Biochemistry Lab | 1 |
| CHM 3001 | Computational Chemistry 1 | 1 |
| COM 2103 | Technical and Prof. Communication | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
Second Semester
| Course Number | Subject | Cr. Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| CHM 3423 | Physical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHM 3431 | Physical Chemistry 1 Lab | 1 |
| CHM 4632* | Instrumental Analysis Lab* | 2 |
| CHM 4643* | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry* | 3 |
| PSC 3002 | Leadership in Sci. Research (Jr.) | 2 |
| SSC/PSY XXX3 | SSC/PSY Elective | 3 |
| Jr./Sr. General Elective | 3 | |
| TOTAL | 16 |
*These courses are offered every two years. An individual plan of work will be developed in consultation with the student's advisor.
For more information contact the Department of Natural Sciences at 248.204.3600, nschair@ltu.edu, or visit room 322 in the Science Building.
Graduates with a degree in Chemistry have many career options:
Biochemistry
Chemical engineering
Chemistry laboratories
Education
Forensic chemistry
Government
Hazardous waste management
Industry
Medicine
Research and development