Chemistry

Fundamentally, chemistry is the study of the matter in the universe and how it changes. Modern chemistry is central to our lives and impacts diverse fields such as medicine, energy generation, cosmetics, food production, and more.

Allison Eberly, Class of 2014

“I have had two different internships over three summers... I could talk about the internships for hours."

Why CHC?

“I chose CHC because the instant I walked in the door, it felt right. I love the environment that has been established here, you can’t walk through the hall without saying hello to someone. The small class size was another great benefit, and at CHC you can really do it all: you can be a student, an athlete, an RA, and be involved in clubs.”

Allison's Internships

“I have had two different internships over three summers. The summers after my freshman and sophomore year, I participated in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program in Chemistry at Boise State University. There, I worked 40 hours in a biochemistry laboratory with pathogenic E. coli studying new potential targets for antibiotics. This internship was the greatest experience for me, I am so fortunate to have been a participant. I could talk about this internship for hours. Currently, I am working on a bioinformatics project with Dr. Soprano through SEPCHE STEM Undergraduate Research."

Allison's Activities:

Volleyball
Cross Country
Resident Assistant
Chestnut Hill Activities Team (CHAT)
Chemistry Club
Student Athletic Advisory Committe (SAAC)

Major and Minor Requirements

Click here to read the course catalog for more information.

Class Experiences

At Chestnut Hill College, you are going to get a lot more than just an understanding of molecular structures. Along with your classroom and laboratory instruction - by highly qualified and experienced professors - you are also going to get a well-rounded liberal arts education. This education will help you think for yourself and overlay your scientific decisions with an ethical perspective.

And geographically, you'll be in just the right place. Chestnut Hill College is centrally located near several major pharmaceutical, chemical, and forensic science companies such as Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, National Medical Services, Centocor, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth-Ayerst, Dupont and many more. We are also close to several public and private schools that are committed to developing more and better science teachers. All of this provides an exceptional learning opportunity for our students - not to mention a great location from which to launch a career.

Internships

There are many opportunities in pharmaceutical, biotechnological, agricultural, and forensic research throughout the Philadelphia region - and Chestnut Hill College is close to all of them. This increases the opportunities for chemistry majors to gain valuable real-world experience through internships. Some of these internships even lead to full-time employment after graduation. Several of the places at which our majors have held internships are the following:

Jefferson Medical College
Georgetown University
Purdue University
Boise University
The ME's Office of Philadelphia
The Research Center of the US Dept of Agriculture

After Graduation

Majoring in chemistry opens students to a wide range of exciting and fulfilling career choices post-graduation. These include:

going to graduate school
going to medical, dental or veterinary school
working in a laboratory in a pharmaceutical company, an industrial chemical company, or a medical examiner's office
becoming a high school chemistry teacher
becoming a patent attorney

Teacher Certification/Secondary Education Minor

Teacher Certification in Chemistry (Grades 7 -12) is available to Chemistry majors.

The undergraduate program in Secondary Education integrates educational theory and practice with field experiences that include practicum and student teaching, and includes opportunities to develop teaching competence through innovative and effective approaches to the educational process with focus on students at the secondary level of education. See the Education Department section of the catalog for additional information.

Students in the minor are expected to complete all courses for Secondary Certification including student teaching. Students may complete student teaching after graduation but the minor will not be included on the transcript unless student teaching is successfully completed. Students must earn a grade of C- (1.70) or better in courses required to successfully complete the requirements for the minor.

Following formal acceptance into the minor, students need to complete the following 12 courses (39 credits) in addition to all major requirements:

CHEM-317: Special Methods in Chemistry
EDSC-201: Adolescent Psychology and Development
EDSC-202: Educational Psychology (WOK: Behavioral)
EDSC-203: The Foundations of High School
EDSC-315: General Methods & Assessment
EDSC-316: Content Reading for Diverse Learners
EDSC-420: Student Teaching in Secondary School (6 credits)
EDSC-421: Student Teaching Seminar/Secondary School
EDSP-340: Introduction to Special Education
EDSP-345: Assessments and Adaptations
EDSP-355: Instruction in Inclusive Environment
EDSP-390: ESL Foundations and Methods