Chemistry is the “Central Science.” Such diverse subjects as art, anthropology, geology, biology, materials science, environmental science, engineering, nursing, and psychology have areas in which fundamental principles and process details are understood in terms of chemistry. Though these kindred sciences cannot be completely reduced to chemistry, it is true that in order to comprehend these sciences one must understand the appropriate principles of chemistry. This fact is recognized by the various departments and programs comprising the Division of Science and Mathematics at Harpur College. Of the 16 degrees offered in the Division, 10 require at least introductory chemistry. Some of the most significant developments in science have come at the interface between chemistry and kindred sciences. Examples of these interfacial sciences are biochemistry, molecular biology, geochemistry, materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, neurochemistry and chemical physics.
The four traditional sub-disciplines of chemistry have had a long history – some predating the development of alchemy in the Middle Ages. The roots of Inorganic chemistry are in the ancient arts of metallurgy and ceramics, those of Organic chemistry are in the study of substances important to the domestic arts which are involved in or derived from life processes. As chemistry developed, the questions of which substances were present and in what amounts led to the emergence of Analytical chemistry, and the questions of quantitative measurement and prediction of the physical properties of matter became the focus of Physical chemistry. Other aspects of chemistry cut across these traditional divisions, e.g., electrochemistry and polymers.
Important interfaces have developed in recent years between these traditional areas and kindred sciences: biophysical chemistry, bio-organic and bio-inorganic chemistry, inorganic and organic materials chemistry (including polymers). In modern life, chemistry is involved in the rational design of drugs, the development of new materials (including the new superconductors and materials for microelectronics applications), and in dealing with environmental problems, including measurement of levels of pollutants and their elimination.
Even though most chemists specialize in organic, inorganic, analytical chemistry, physical, polymer, materials, or biological chemistry, a thorough grounding in the first four “traditional” areas is necessary for any career in chemical science. The requirements for the BA and BS chemistry majors reflect this necessity in that certain courses are required of all majors. If all chemists were trained exactly alike, chemistry would lose much of the diversity of its impact. For this reason, there is a measure of flexibility in course requirements once the basic requirements have been met. Hence the student may develop some focus within chemistry or in an interface area, even as an undergraduate. In the section which follows, the requirements for the baccalaureate degrees in chemistry are presented and discussed briefly.
One of the most common questions is "Which degree should I get - a BS or a BA?" This is an important question, but also one that does not have a simple answer. Even among the Chemistry Department faculty, there is a difference of opinion. At the same time, the following guidelines may help in your decision.
In the final analysis, the choice of BA or BS is yours to make. Consult with your Chemistry major advisor early in your undergraduate career about which pathway would be most beneficial to you. Also, it is worth noting that you can change your mind. If you are initially pursuing a BS degree, then the change to a BA is very simple and usually results in no delays as far as graduation is concerned. Changing from a BA to a BS, on the other hand, can be simple early on, but may result in you having to spend an extra semester or two if you make the change late (junior or senior year). Remember, either the BA or the BS degree in Chemistry opens the doors to a wide range of career opportunities.
The BA and BS degree programs in Chemistry share a common core set of requirements as seen in the following chart, although the BS degree is more prescriptive and has more required chemistry courses.
| Core Courses in Chemistry | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Displine | B.A. Degree | Additional Courses for B.S. Degree |
| General | Chem 111 (or 107-108) and Chem 496 | |
| Analytical | Chem 221 | Chem 422 |
| Inorganic | Chem 341 | Chem 442, 443, 444, 445, or 484 |
| Organic | Chem 231 and Chem 332 | Chem 335 |
| Physical | Chem 351 (or for BA only, Chem 361) | Chem 455 and Chem (451 or 452) |
| Math | Math 221 and 222 | |
| Physics | Physics 121 (or 131) and 122 (or 132) | |
Beyond the core, the BA degree requires 3½ elective courses in chemistry. Of these electives, 1½ courses (6 credit hours) must be selected from a list of laboratory courses (Chem 335, 422, 445, 455, 462, and 497/498). The other 2 electives can be any courses offered by the Chemistry Department. These courses can include Chem 397 and Chem 497 (independent research), although only 4 credits of Chem 397 can count toward the BA degree. The BA degree also requires that one additional course in the Division of Science and Mathematics (for example, Biol 113, Psyc 111, Math 223, or another chemistry elective) be taken. If Chem 107-108 is chosen as the introductory course, the additional course in the Division of Science and Mathematics is not required.
The BS core degree requirements are more specific and extensive. In addition to the BA core, this program requires Organic Chemistry Laboratory (Chem 335), Instrumental Methods (Chem 422), a second course in inorganic chemistry (Chem 442, 443, 444, 445, or 484), a second course in physical chemistry (Chem 451 or 452), and Physical Chemistry Laboratory (Chem 455, 4 credits). In addition to the chemistry core courses, the BS degree requires four elective courses selected from the Division of Science and Mathematics or which are professionally related.
The Chemistry Department also offers a five-year program in Chemistry and Materials Science. Upon completion of this program, students receive a BS in Chemistry and a MS degree in Materials Science. Students interested in this program should consult Professor Stan Whittingham in the Chemistry Department.
Starting in 2007-2008, the Chemistry Department is participating in a five-year program resulting in the combined Chemistry BA degree and Graduate School of Education MAT degree. Students who are interested in pursuing a high school teaching career should consider this option. Interested students should consult the Undergraduate Program Director in the Chemistry Department. For the 2010-2011 academic year, the Undergraduate Program Director is Professor Eriks Rozners.
The Chemistry Department offers two physical chemistry courses: Chem 351 (Physical Chemistry) and Chem 361 (Biophysical Chemistry). Chemistry BA majors can take either Chem 351 or Chem 361. Chem 351 is a required course for the Chemistry BS majors. Chem 361 is a required course for Chem BS with Biophysical Emphasis. Chem 351 and 361 are essentially equivalent courses, so that credit is not given for one course if the other has already been taken.
A BS degree can also be certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS) by taking either Inorganic/Materials Chemistry Laboratory (Chem 445) or at least 2 credits of Independent Research (Chem 497) involving work in the Inorganic or Materials areas and at least 2 addition credits of Independent research (Chem 397, 497, or 498) in any area of Chemistry. Biochemistry (BCHM 302) is also required for ACS certification.
There are also three more specialized programs in Chemistry: BS with Emphasis in Materials and BS with Emphasis in Biological Chemistry and and ACS certified BS degree. The BS with Emphasis in Materials is program targeted at those students with an interest in the area of solids, polymers, ceramics, and similar materials. This program requires four courses in the area of materials chemistry, one of these courses must be a laboratory course relevant to materials. If you are interested in these degree programs, you should consult faculty associated with the Institute for Materials Research in Room 120, Science II.
With the type of degree and general course requirements in hand, the obvious question is "When do I need to take all of these courses?" The answer is that there is a great deal of flexibility in building a schedule leading to a degree in Chemistry. The first year, in particular, can vary a lot depending upon your background. A student with a strong high school Chemistry background and AP credit may not need to take General Chemistry (Chem 107/108 or 111) at all and can start in Organic Chemistry (Chem 231)..
There are four "typical" courses sequences outlined in the following charts (depending upon choice of BA or BS and Chem 111 or Chem 107/108). It is important to bear in mind that not all of the upper level Chemistry courses are offered every semester. As a result, you need to plan carefully to make certain that you fulfill the prerequisites in time to take certain courses in the semester in which they are offered.
All of the required courses for the Chemistry degree are guaranteed to be offered. However, some of the elective courses (particularly the Topics courses Chem 481-486) might not be offered. The Chemistry Department has a good idea which electives will be offered by the time of pre-registration and this information can be obtained from either of the Chemistry Department offices (Room 226 or 236, Science II). As always, you should talk with your chemistry advisor regarding course scheduling.
| When Chemistry Courses Are Offered | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Semester Offered |
| 100 | Basic Chemistry | every spring |
| 101 | Introduction to Chemistry I | every fall |
| 102 | Introduction to Chemistry II | every spring |
| 107 | Introductory Chemistry I | every fall, summer term I |
| 108 | Introductory Chemistry II | every spring, summer term II |
| 111 | Chemical Principles | every semester |
| 108 | Freshman Chemistry Semester | every fall, summer II |
| 221 | Introduction to Analytical Chemistry | every spring |
| 231 | Organic Chemistry I | every semester, summer term I |
| 332 | Organic Chemistry II | every semester, summer term II |
| 335 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | every semester, summer term II |
| 341 | Inorganic Chemistry | every fall |
| 351 | Introduction to Physical Chemistry | every fall |
| 361 | Biophysical Chemistry | every fall |
| 391 | Practicum in College Teaching | every semester |
| 397 | Independent Work | every semester, occasionally summer term I & II |
| 411 | Techniques for Studying Solids | alternating years, usually fall |
| 421 | Advanced Analytical Chemistry | every year, spring or fall |
| 422 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis | every fall |
| 431 | Physical Organic Chemistry | occasionally |
| 432 | Chemical Synthesis | occasionally |
| 434 | Bioorganic Chemistry usually | usually every spring |
| 442 | Introduction to Physical Inorganic | occasionally fall |
| 443 | Molecular Photochemistry | usually every fall |
| 444 | Chemistry of Solids | every spring |
| 445 | Inorganic/Materials Chemistry Lab | occasionally |
| 451 | Quantum Chem, Spectroscopy, Kinetics | fall |
| 452 | Thermodynamics Statistical Thermodynamics | spring |
| 455 | Experimental Physical Chemistry | every fall |
| 481 | Topics in Materials Chemistry | every year if possible |
| 482 | Topics in Analytical Chemistry | every year if possible |
| 483 | Topics in Organic Chemistry | every year if possible |
| 484 | Topics in Inorganic Chemistry | every year if possible |
| 485 | Topics in Physical Chemistry | every year if possible |
| 486 | Topics in Biophysical Chemistry | occasionally |
| 488 | Special Topics in Chemistry | occasionally |
| 496 | Senior Seminar | every semester |
| 497 | Advanced Independent Study | every semester |
| 498 | Advanced Independent Research - Honors | every semester |
| Sample Course Sequence for BA Degree with Chem 107-108 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 107 Math 221 |
Chem 108 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 231 Phys 131 |
Chem 332 Phys 132 Chem 221 |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 351 or 361 |
Chem Elective Chem Elective |
| Senior | Chem 496 Chem Elective |
Chem Elective |
| Chem electives must include 1½ courses selected from Chem 335, 422, 445, 455, 462, 497/498 (these are lab courses). Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) | ||
| Sample Course Sequence for BA Degree with Chem 111 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 111 Math 221 |
Chem 231 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 332 Phys 131 |
Chem 221 Phys 132 |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 351 or 361 |
Chem Elective Chem Elective |
| Senior | Chem 496 Chem Elective |
Chem Elective Science Elective |
| Chem Electives must include 1½ courses selected from Chem 335, 422, 445, 455, 462, 497/498 (these are lab courses). The Science Elective can be any course within the Division of Science and Mathematics (e.g., Biol 113, Psyc 111, Math 323 or chemistry elective). Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) | ||
| Sample Course Sequence for BS Degree with Chem 107-108 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 107 Math 221 |
Chem 108 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 231 Phys 131 |
Chem 332 Chem 335 Chem 221 Phys 132 |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 351 Chem 422 |
Physical Chem II Inorganic Chem II Science Elective |
| Senior | Chem 455 Chem 496 Science Elective |
Science Elective Science Elective |
| Physical Chem II can be Chem 451 or Chem 452. Inorganic Chem II can be Chem 442, 443, 444, 445 or 484. The Science Electives can be any course within the Division of Science and Mathematics (e.g., Bio 113, Psyc 111, Math 323, or chemistry elective). Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) |
||
| Sample Course Sequence for BS Degree with Chem 111 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 111 Math 221 |
Chem 231 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 332 Chem 335 Phys 131 |
Chem 221 Phys 132 Science Elective |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 351 Chem 422 |
Physical Chem II Inorganic Chem II Science Elective |
| Senior | Chem 455 Chem 496 |
Science Elective Science Elective |
| Physical Chem II can be Chem 451 or Chem 452. Inorganic Chem II can be Chem 442, 443, 444, 445 or 484. The Science Electives can be any course within the Division of Science and Mathematics (e.g., Bio 113, Psyc 111, Math 323, or chemistry elective). Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) |
||
| Sample Course Sequence for ACS Certified BS Degree with Chem 107-108 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 107 Math 221 |
Chem 108 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 231 Phys 131 Biol 118 |
Chem 332 Chem 335 Chem 221 Phys 132 |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 351 Chem 422 |
Physical Chem II Inorganic Chem II Bchm 302 |
| Senior | Chem 455 Chem 496 |
Science Elective Lab Elective |
| Physical Chem II can be Chem 451 or Chem 452. Inorganic Chem II can be Chem 442, 443, 444, 445 or 484. The Science Electives can be any course within the Division of Science and Mathematics (e.g., Bio 113, Psyc 111, Math 323, or chemistry elective). Lab Elective can be either Chem 445, or two credits of Chem 497 or 498 involving inorganic chemistry and two credits of Chem 397, 497, or 498. Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) |
||
| Sample Course Sequence for ACS Certified BS Degree with Chem 111 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 111 Math 221 |
Chem 231 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 332 Biol 118 Phys 131 |
Chem 221 Chem 335 Phys 132 |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 351 Chem 422 |
Physical Chem II Inorganic Chem II Bchm 302 |
| Senior | Chem 455 Chem 496 Lab Elective I |
Science Elective Lab Elective II |
| Physical Chem II can be Chem 451 or Chem 452. Inorganic Chem II can be Chem 442, 443, 444, 445 or 484. The Science Electives can be any course within the Division of Science and Mathematics (e.g., Bio 113, Psyc 111, Math 323, or chemistry elective). Lab Elective I is two credits of laboratory work. Lab Elective II can be either Chem 445, or two credits of Chem 497 or 498 involving inorganic chemistry and two credits of Chem 397, 497, or 498. Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) |
||
| Sample Course Sequence for BS Degree with emphasis in Biological Chemistry with Chem 107-108 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 107 Math 221 |
Chem 108 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 231 Phys 131 Biol 118 |
Chem 332 Chem 335 Chem 221 Phys 132 |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 361 Chem 422 |
Physical Chem II Inorganic Chem II Bchm 302 |
| Senior | Chem 455 Chem 496 Science Elective |
Chem Elective |
| Physical Chem II can be Chem 451 or Chem 452. Inorganic Chem II can be Chem 442, 443, 444, 445 or 484. The Science Electives can be any course within the Division of Science and Mathematics (e.g., Bio 113, Psyc 111, Math 323, or chemistry elective). Chem elective to be selected from a list of biologically-related chemistry courses including Chem 434, Chem 424, and Chem 485K. Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) |
||
| Sample Course Sequence for BS Degree with emphasis in Biological Chemistry with Chem 111 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| Freshman | Chem 111 Math 221 |
Chem 231 Math 222 |
| Sophomore | Chem 332 Biol 118 Phys 131 |
Chem 221 Chem 335 Phys 132 |
| Junior | Chem 341 Chem 361 Chem 422 |
Physical Chem II Inorganic Chem II Bchm 302 |
| Senior | Chem 455 Chem 496 Science Elective |
Chem Elective |
| Physical Chem II can be Chem 451 or Chem 452. Inorganic Chem II can be Chem 442, 443, 444, 445 or 484. The Science Electives can be any course within the Division of Science and Mathematics (e.g., Bio 113, Psyc 111, Math 323, or chemistry elective). Chem elective to be selected from a list of biologically-related chemistry including Chem 434, Chem 424, and Chem 485K. Additional all-college elective courses would be taken to complete a full course load. Physics with calculus (Phys 131 and 132) is strongly recommended but not required (Phys 121 and 122 can be taken instead.) |
||
AP Credit - Binghamton University recognizes good performance on the Advanced Placement (AP) exam in Chemistry. For a score of 5 on this exam, Binghamton University gives 8 credits of Chem 107/108, thereby fulfilling the General Chemistry requirement. For a score of 4, the Chemistry Department will grant credit for Chem 111, Chem 107, or unspecified chemistry credit. The assignment of credit will be made after a student consults a chemistry advisor. For a score of 3, 4 credits equivalent to Chem 101 is awarded, which can be counted toward the number of credits required for graduation, but does not count toward the Chemistry major.
Pre-Health Curriculum - Most students interested in a health career major in one of the sciences. Chemistry students interested in Pre-Health Curriculum should choose the Chem 107/108 sequence. For those who major in Chemistry, all of the science requirements are fulfilled with the exception of two courses in Biology - Biol 117 and 118. Fortunately, these courses can be used to fulfill the science elective requirements of the BS degree. Students interested in a pre-health curriculum should contact the Pre-Health Advisor in the Harpur College Advising office.
A lot of students do not know what major they want to choose right away and take a general mix of courses in the first couple of semesters. That works fine for the Chemistry major, provided that General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Math and Physics have been taken in the first couple of years. Fortunately, these are the same basic requirements for majoring in a number of the sciences so there is still a lot of room for changing majors in the first two years without much problem.
If you have not completed all of those courses by the end of your sophomore year, Summer school is the ideal way to catch up. At Binghamton University, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus are all offered during the summer. You can also take these courses at another college or university over the summer as well. If you take courses outside of BU, you must fill out the appropriate Binghamton University transfer credit form before you take courses at the other college or university. This will require a copy of the catalog description of the course that you wish to take and an approval from instructor who teaches the course at Binghamton.
To obtain a baccalaureate degree at Harpur College, you must complete the writing requirement. Courses satisfying this requirement are designated composition (C) or writing (W). The requirement can be satisfied by of the following three combinations: 2 C and 3 W courses, 3 C and 1 W courses, or 4 C courses. The Chemistry Department offers several courses that can be used to satisfy the writing requirement as seen in the following table. Although it is possible to satisfy the writing requirement by using all Chemistry courses, this is not necessarily the best option since the Chemistry courses are all upper level courses that would normally be taken as a junior or senior. To obtain early instruction in writing (and to avoid delays in graduation), it is wise to take some writing (W or C) courses early in your career at Binghamton University.
| Writing Courses Offered by the Chemistry Department | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Name | Writing Requirement | Chemistry Requirement |
| Chem 422 | Instrument Methods of Analysis | C | Required for BS; Elective for BA |
| Chem 445 | Inorganic/Materials Lab | C | Elective for BS and BA |
| Chem 455 | Physical Chemistry Lab | C | Required for BS; Elective for BA |
| Chem 496 | Senior Seminar | O, W | Required for BS and BA |
There is another exciting aspect to pursuing at degree in Chemistry that many students find the most interesting and satisfying part of their studies - independent research. There are three courses that fall into this category - CHEM 397, 497, and 498. In any of these courses, you will be working directly in the research group of one faculty member on a real research project. This gives you the chance to obtain real research experience and to more fully understand what all goes into a well planned and executed series of experiments.
The details of the independent study courses in the Chemistry department are described in greater detail in another handout (The Guide to Undergraduate Research), but a few of the highlights are outlined below.
CHEM 397 - this is the typical first course for independent study and requires no advance preparation other than finding a faculty member who is doing research that you think is interesting and obtaining permission from them to do research in their group.
CHEM 497 - this is a more advanced level of independent study and requires you to write a brief outline of what research project you intend to pursue and what some of the key experiments will be. This course can be repeated several times.
CHEM 498 - this is a special independent study course for students who decide (with their faculty advisor's consent) to pursue honors in Chemistry by writing and defending an honors thesis. Successful completion of these requirements will result in the honor "Distinguished Independent Work in Chemistry" being awarded.
As for what research the different faculty members in the department are pursuing, a brief guide follows, but more details can be found in the "Guide to Undergraduate Research" or on the different faculty members web sites (http://chemistry.binghamton.edu/). Note that only a maximum of 4 credits of Chem 397 can count toward chemistry degrees, and a maximum of 12 total credits of independent study can count toward chemistry degrees.
The following list describes briefly each faculty member’s research. For a more detailed description, refer to the “Guide to Undergraduate Research” available from the department office or visit our web site at: http://chemistry.binghamton.edu/
| Faculty Member | Room | Phone | Research Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ming An | 229 | 72517 | Organic, bio-organic, biological, and pharmaceutical chemistry, as well as chemical biology |
| Susan L. Bane | 320 | 72927 | Bioorganic and Biophysical Chemistry; ligand receptor mechanisms |
| Nikolay G. Dimitrov | G37 | 74271 | Electroanalytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry |
| James A. Dix | 808 | 74271 | Biophysical Chemistry; Computational Chemistry |
| David C. Doetschman | B28 | 72298 | Materials and Physical Chemistry; molecular reorientation, interactions and reactions in porous aluminosilicates, photochemistry, electron paramagnetic resonance and dielectric spectroscopy |
| John J. Eisch | 328 | 74261 | Organic Chemistry; synthetic and mechanistic studies of organometallic and heterocyclic compounds |
| Jiye (James) Fang | G33 | 73752 | Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, Nanotechnology |
| Christof T. Grewer | 816 | 73250 | Biophysical Chemistry |
| Wayne E. Jones, Jr. | 609 | 72421 | Inorganic Chemistry; materials science, inorganic photochemistry and photophysics |
| Alistair J. Lees | 815 | 72362 | Inorganic Chemistry; synthesis, photophysics and photochemistry of transition metal organometallic complexes |
| Zhitao Li | 332 | 74825 | Organic Chemistry; carbohydrate chemistry and natural product synthesis |
| Eriks Rozners | 315 | 72441 | Organic, Bioorganic and Biophysical Chemistry of Carbohydrates and Nucleic Acids; Organic Synthesis and Assymetric Catalysis |
| Omowunmi A. Sadik | 708 | 74132 | 74132 Analytical Chemistry; environmental chemistry, interfacial molecular recognition processes, chemical sensors |
| Eugene S. Stevens | 128 | 74244 | Biophysical Chemistry biophysical chemistry of saccharides and polysaccharides |
| M. Stanley Whittingham | 120 | 74623 | Materials and Inorganic Chemistry; synthesis and properties of new materials |
| Chuan-Jian Zhong | 713 | 74605 | Analytical Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Nanotechnology |
Undergraduates often wish to work during the summer months on a research project in chemistry. There are several ways that this can be accomplished. A faculty member may have a grant which includes summer support for undergraduates. Typically, these openings are filled by students who have done independent research with the particular faculty member during the academic year. A second possibility for summer research is to apply to other universities to work in a research laboratory. Many universities have federally-funded programs which encourage applications nation-wide (An easy way to learn about these opportunities is to do an internet search for REU, SURF, and SURP + the year, e.g. REU 2011.) A third possibility is to apply to industrial chemical companies that often have a summer internship program. Notices of summer research opportunities are also posted on department bulletin boards.
The Undergraduate Chemistry Society offers a way for interested students to become an integral part of the SUNY Binghamton Chemistry Department. One vital function of the Undergraduate Chemistry Society is to represent student interests in the operation of the Department of Chemistry. The organization chooses representatives to departmental committees such as the Undergraduate Program Committee and coordinates student evaluation of faculty members who are candidates for contract renewal or tenure.
The Undergraduate Chemistry Society also offers to students new to Harpur College and the Chemistry Department the experiences of upper-class members.
Finally, members of the Undergraduate Chemistry Society enjoy the privileges of belonging to a chartered organization of the Student Association (SA). SA affiliation enables the Undergraduate Chemistry Society to sponsor trips to industrial laboratories such as Proctor & Gamble, Norwich.
One of the attractive features of a chemistry degree is the flexibility it gives one in terms of career paths. It will allow entry into many types of graduate and professional schools, as well as provide immediate entry into an industrial position.
The major employers of BS chemists are the pharmaceutical, petroleum, and large chemical industries, as well as private laboratories and small industries. Depending upon the industry, the responsibilities of the bachelor degree chemist range from being completely independent to functioning as a technician. In general, regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals will utilize Ph.D chemists as group leaders, heading teams of 3-10 BS, MS and PhD chemists on specific projects. In such industries, your career path to management will be limited without a PhD. The jobs available can be extremely challenging. You will often learn entirely new skills, and utilize specialized state of the art instrumentation.
Another major career path for baccalaureate chemists is sales and marketing. The size of the instrumentation, chemicals, and supplies market is very large. In these jobs, a BS or BA degree will not limit your career path.
The job market for BS or BA chemists is excellent. There is currently a shortage of good BS and BA chemists, and that this situation will continue into the foreseeable future. The unemployment rate for chemists of all types tends to be well under the national average.
In terms of finding a job, there are a few good resources that are readily available. One is Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN). In every issue (weekly), there are a number of job advertisements in the back section. A second source of information about jobs is your Chemistry advisor or any other faculty member. The Chemistry Department also maintains a bulletin board posting of current job openings. Finally, this University also has an excellent Career Development Center (LSG-500, Ext. 7-2191) which can help you in your search as well as in preparation of a resume and interview training.
Summer employment during your sophomore or junior years is also an excellent way to gain experience, and to develop a relationship with a potential employer. If you are from the metropolitan NY/NJ area, you should be aware that there are numerous summer job positions in major pharmaceutical companies. Even in the Binghamton area, many potential opportunities exist, such as Proctor & Gamble, Norwich, several private laboratories, NYSEG and others. One of the best sources of information on such jobs is through your professors, who often have professional contacts with other scientists in various industries. These summer jobs often lead to permanent employment.
If you’ve had four years of undergraduate school, perhaps the last thing you want to do is start all over again and commit yourself to graduate school. At the same time, your opportunity for advancement is limited with a BA or BS, so you will want to decide if you will be doing chemistry as a profession for a number of years and how high you wish to go. If you love the field and want to advance beyond the bench, then why not continue to learn in graduate school, do truly independent research, and be paid for studying at the same time?
That’s right. In the sciences, you are in the enviable position that graduate school will usually be “free.” Almost invariably, you will be offered a stipend, ranging from about $15,000 to $25,000 per year (plus a tuition waiver) for a Teaching Assistantship (TA) or for a Research Assistantship (RA). Most universities will support a graduate student for up to four years, usually as a TA. However, typically you will join a research group by your second year, and if the group is well funded, you will be supported by an RA through a grant and be able to work full time on your research without the teaching responsibilities. In addition, there are usually fellowships available, through the university or through agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), although some fellowships like the NSF fellowships are very competitive.
The average time required to obtain an MS degree should be two years. A Ph.D. usually takes about five years.
You have more control (and responsibility) over the direction of your graduate career than you did with your BS or BA degree. Probably the most important decision you will make will be to select your research advisor. A graduate degree is much like an apprenticeship, and the research group you choose will influence your career for many years. However, there is no crystal ball to help you select the school and the group where you wish to pursue your degree. Some people know exactly what area of specialization they wish to pursue, perhaps by undergraduate research in a given area. If so, selecting a graduate school will be easier, since various universities tend to have strengths in the various fields. If you are not sure of your specific interests (like most people) you should at least be able to narrow your interests to broad areas like organic, inorganic, physical, analytical chemistry or some interdisciplinary area such as nanotechnology or environmental chemistry. Selecting a school with a strong representation in any of these areas is much easier, and can usually be narrowed to two to three good choices. A good source of information on graduate departments is the ACS Directory of Graduate Research. Talk to your professors, who can help guide you in matching your personality and interests to those of the departments you are considering.
The procedure is similar to applying to an undergraduate school. Scores from a Graduate Record Exam (GRE), consisting of Verbal, Quantitative and Specialized sections, will usually be required, along with the admissions application (it is best to have these GRE exams completed by October of the year prior to the fall your expected admission). The career development office can assist you in locating where and when GRE’s will be given. Given the paucity of undergraduates wanting to attend graduate school in chemistry, you may be given an all-expense-paid trip to visit the graduate school, once you have been accepted. You should also talk to the professors in the department who do research in areas that match your interests.
The criteria for acceptance to graduate school vary. Your undergraduate record, consisting of courses taken, grades, undergraduate research, extracurricular activities, etc., weighted by the general strength of your school, will be a strong consideration. A second consideration will be your GRE scores. Finally, letters of recommendation count very strongly. The admissions committee will be looking not only for strong grades. They will also try to determine your motivation and perseverance, since these qualities, probably as much or more so than academic skills, will determine your success both in graduate school and in your career.
When choosing which of the 64 Harpur College degree programs is suitable for your particular interests, you may want to consider what other students in the chemistry degree program have done.
Over a recent three year period, graduating seniors have been accepted into doctoral programs in chemistry and material chemistry at the following institutions: Binghamton University, Georgia Institute of technology and the University of California. Some of the graduating seniors are on a Masters program at the graduate school of education, University of Buffalo (IMS at Roswell Park Cancer Institute), Stony Brook University (MAT Sec. Ed. Chemistry) and interdisciplinary masters program at Buffalo University.
A third of the graduating seniors have been accepted into the following school of medicine and health-related fields: SUNY-Stony Brook University SDM, SUNY-Buffalo SDM, New York University SDM, Temple University SDM, New York Institute of Technology, Ross University, St. Georges University, University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS), Rochester Institute of Technology, Hofstra University, University of California at Berkley, Long Island Pharmacy School, Hofstra University, Aldelphi University, Cleveland Chiropractic college in Los Angeles and the Southern California University of health sciences. The fields of specialization range from, doctoral degree in pharmacy at Long Island University, D.D.S. degree, at SUNY-Buffalo, Stony Brook university (dental), Boston University (dental), New York Institute of Technology (medical), University of Pennsylvania (dental) and the University of Massachusetts at Boston (dental). One student participated in a chemistry internship over the summer at the Oakridge National Lab. A student who graduated three years ago works as a biochemist in an industry.
This Handbook was written by the Chemistry Department Undergraduate Program Committee (UPC) in 1992 and revised by the UPC in 2011.
