Chemistry at Purdue University has a ratio of 1 faculty member for every 8 undergraduates, which allows students to enjoy a great deal of individualized attention. It also offers opportunities for mentoring programs and cutting-edge undergraduate research in a wide range of fields from drug discovery to climate change. Chemistry majors can pursue one of two degrees: B.S. in chemistry, accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS); or the more flexible B.S. with chemistry as a field of study, which allows for specializations in ACS-accredited biochemistry or chemistry education.
Chemistry (ACS accredited) is designed primarily for students planning professional careers as chemists in industry, universities, or research institutes. This degree program fulfills the recommendations of the Committee of Professional Training of the ACS and graduates will be certified by the ACS as having fulfilled its recommended requirements.
By concentrating advanced elective credit hours in biochemistry and by taking biology courses for the laboratory science requirement, this degree provides an excellent preparation for medical, dental, or veterinary schools. This program would particularly benefit those planning careers in medical research.
There is also the opportunity to complete in five years a dual degree with chemical engineering or material science engineering, after acceptance into the College of Engineering.
Points of Pride:
- Professor Ei-ichi Negishi was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling in the mid-1970s. He met Purdue chemistry professor Herbert C. Brown and greatly admired his research, predicting, “Brown will change the whole world of organic chemistry and that is why I came to Purdue.” With Brown as a mentor, Negishi arrived in West Lafayette as a postdoctoral researcher in 1966.
- Herbert C. Brown was awarded the 1979 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on boron.
- Purdue's analytical chemistry specialization has been ranked #2 in the nation, and the chemistry department as a whole regularly ranks in the top 20 nationwide.
- 70% of all our undergraduates complete at least one semester of undergraduate research.
- Immediate Past President of the ACS is Prof. Joseph Francisco, faculty member and associate dean of the College of Science.
- Highest percentage of female faculty members in a Chemistry Department in the United States. (C&EN News March 2010)