Take a look at what past grads from Witt have done with their majors – internships, grad school programs, and first jobs after graduation.  It’s not always as cut and dried as you think; a Liberal Arts degree has a lot of flexibility!

Solid preparation for the future

Wittenberg’s chemistry program will provide you with comprehensive training across the spectrum of the discipline: biochemistry, analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Certified by the American Chemical Society, our program produces graduates known by businesses and graduate schools to have excellent preparation.

To complement this strong technical background, you will also hone your written and verbal communication skills by writing lab reports, discussing problem-solving in class, and making formal presentations in the Junior and Senior Seminars. You will work with classmates in the lab, gaining teamwork skills that are essential to working in successful organizations. Our lab safety training in first- and second-year courses will prepare you for future lab work in research labs or industry.
One of the strengths of our chemistry program is the partnerships you will build with the faculty members. Unlike large, impersonal introductory courses at many colleges and universities, the chemistry classes at Wittenberg have a maximum enrollment of 32, and upper-level courses usually range from five to 10 students. Small classes and labs make certain that you get individualized attention and ensure your success in chemistry.

Degrees offered

B.A.: Chemistry
B.S.: Chemistry
Minor: Chemistry
B.A.: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
B.S.: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minor: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Courses

• 100: Chemistry and Society
• 121: Models of Chemical Systems
• 162: Chemical Structure and Analysis
• 201: Introduction to Organic Chemistry
• 271: Biochemistry I
• 281: Analytical Chemistry
• 282: Qualitative Organic Analysis Laboratory
• 290: Introduction to Research
• 300: Junior Seminar
• 302: Intermediate Organic Chemistry
• 303: Advanced Organic Chemistry
• 311: Physical Chemistry I
• 321: Inorganic Chemistry
• 352: Physical Chemistry II
• 372: Biochemistry II
• 380: Topics in Chemistry
• 382: Advanced Instrumentation
• 400: Senior Seminar
• 491: Internship
• 492: Directed Research
• 499: Honors Thesis/Project

Resources

Wittenberg has beautiful, state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, opened in 2003 as part of the $22 million addition to the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center. The open design and natural light make this an appealing place to learn chemistry.

Our focus on undergraduate teaching and our small class size ensure that all majors get hands-on experience with modern equipment. You will have access to a wide array of instrumentation, including Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible, Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance, and atomic absorption spectrometers, a gas-chromatograph/mass spectrometer, lasers, gas and liquid chromatographs, and an electrochemical workstation.

You will learn how to use computers for scientific word processing, data collection and analysis in spreadsheets, and how to perform sophisticated theoretical calculations using molecular modeling software. The chemistry department houses more than 50 computers and makes use of a 30-processor parallel computing cluster.

Gain experience

We encourage students to include research experience or an internship in their undergraduate education. Our flexible curriculum also makes it possible to study abroad for a semester or year. The department has several active research groups, which majors can join for academic-year experiences or paid summer positions, including:

• Protein investigations using computer simulations
• Synthesis and electrochemistry analysis of modified electrodes
• Laser spectroscopy studies of silver nanoparticles
• Synthesis and study of antioxidants
• Synthetic, spectroscopic and theoretical investigations of chemical processes

Students also take advantage of internship opportunities nearby at:

• Wright Patterson Air Force Base Materials Lab
• Springfield Crime Lab
• Bureau of Criminal Investigation

Our students have been selected for summer research positions at:

• University of Minnesota
• Purdue University
• Duke Medical School
• University of Southern California
• University of Michigan
• Proctor and Gamble
• Case Western Reserve
• Scripps Institute

Placement

Chemistry graduates have qualities and skills that are applicable to many careers. Thirty percent of our recent graduates entered Ph.D. or M.S. programs in chemistry at schools such as:

• Ohio University
• Purdue University
• Rice University
• The Ohio State University
• University of Illinois
• University of Michigan
• University of Notre Dame
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California
• University of Virginia

Thirty-five percent of our recent graduates attended other graduate programs such as:

• Indiana University School of Dentistry
• The Ohio State University Veterinary School
• Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Toledo College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Tulane University Law School
• University of Cincinnati Medical School
• University of Cincinnati Pharmacy Program
• University of Kentucky School of Public Heath
• University of Washington Medical School

Thirty-five percent of our graduates take positions in business, industry or education, including:

• Eli Lilly and Co.
• Procter and Gamble
• Bureau of Criminal Investigation
• Bath & Body Works
• Applied Sciences, Inc.
• Mallinckrodt Baker
• Advanced Testing Laboratory
• Akron Public Schools
• Forest Hills School District, Hamilton County, Ohio