Chemistry

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Why study Chemistry at Westminster College?

Westminster's chemistry program provides you a comprehensive curriculum for careers in which chemical knowledge plays a central role. Two distinct major programs are offered: Chemistry and Biochemistry with chemical emphasis. You will study organic, analytical and physical chemistry along with biochemistry, math and physics.

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Students performing experiment
Chemistry Lab

Build a solid foundation in modern lab technologies via experimentation

Partner with Professors

You don't have to wait until graduate school at Westminster to get involved in research projects. You can work directly in partnership with your professors, gaining valuable experience with top-notch equipment in Westminster's new facility. You can also co-author publications for major journals and make presentations at professional meetings.

“Westminster College's classes allow one-on-one interaction with faculty members. The professors really try to personalize your experience to help you succeed. I think this is one of the most amazing aspects Westminster has to offer.”

Mike Cermac '20
Exciting Opportunities
This program gives you experience in small, modern classroom settings with lectures, seminar-styled discussions, and modern experimentation. You will work directly with professors conducting hands-on research with top-notch equipment in Westminster's new state-of-the-art science facility. This helps build a solid foundation in chemical theory and modern lab techniques that enables you to pursue a career as a professional chemist or enter a graduate school program that leads to a research-oriented career.
Where Our Grads & Interns Go

Chemistry Minor

Courses in chemistry furnish a sound foundation for graduate and professional study and careers in chemistry and other scientific, technical and professional fields. The objectives of course work and programs in this department are to give you a clear insight into the underlying principles of chemical phenomena and to introduce you to the analytical and reasoning skills that produce this insight.

Introduction to Chemistry/Lab (CHM 105/106) satisfies the general education requirement for a laboratory science course. Students intending to major or minor in chemistry must earn a letter grade of C or better in all required chemistry courses. Students planning graduate study in chemistry are strongly encouraged to take PHY 223 Physics III, MAT 215 Linear Algebra, MAT 312 Differential Equations, and CSC 111 Fundamentals of Computer Science I. 

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Freshmen start with two-semester series course in General Chemistry, CHM114/115 (Fall) and CHM 124/125 (Spring).
Physics I (PHY 201), Physics II (PHY 212), and Mathematics through Calculus III (MAT 224) are required courses for the majors.
Yes! The biochemistry major is an interdepartmental program between the Biology and Chemistry Departments. If you are interested in becoming a biochemistry major, then you should begin planning immediately since the major has a large number of required courses and therefore needs careful planning to complete the curriculum in four years.
Yes, chemistry students in CHM 345 (Analytical Chemistry Laboratory II: Instrumental Analysis) are required to do a half-semester research project that develops a protocol with the instrumentation that we have. Chemistry students are also encouraged to sign up for CHM 398 (Independent Research) and find a professor to sponsor their work. Additionally, the faculty will recommend students for summer research projects either here at Westminster or at a participating university with a thriving Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.
Yes! Research is not required for the major, but the department strongly encourages students to consider participating in a faculty-supervised research project. You may enroll in Independent Research to earn credit.
Recently, a student wanted to get familiarized with an EPA methodology used to determine pollutants in water. We ultimately decided to do a comparison of methods and used our gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer to measure select pollutants. A portion of this research was done outside the laboratory due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other research projects involved the use of IR spectroscopy to identify the components of polymers and over-the counter analgesic drugs.
  • Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
  • Fluorimeter
  • Infrared Spectrometer
  • Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometer
  • Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Potentiostat/Galvanostat
  • NMR Spectrometer
  • Spartan Molecular Modelling
  • DSC Thermal Analyses System