Best Chemistry Majors and Programs at Small Liberal Arts Schools TKG

Best Chemistry Majors and Programs at Small Liberal Arts Schools Chemistry is a science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and the transformations that they undergo. Chemists inquire into how matter is composed and combined, and chemistry is sometimes referred to as the central science, and the foundation of all fields of scientific knowledge.Career options for students who study chemistry include becoming an analytical chemist, chemical engineer, forensic scientist, materials scientist, pharmacologist, agricultural chemist, and more. We’ve compiled a list of the top programs at small liberal arts schools below:Harvey Mudd: In addition to coursework in the traditional fields of chemistry (Analytical Chemistry,  Biochemistry,  Inorganic Chemistry,  Organic Chemistry,  and Physical Chemistry,) the curriculum at HMC offers elective courses that allow for specialization in the areas of Bioorganic Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry,  Computational Chemistry,  Industrial Chemistry,  Lasers in Chemistry,  Materials S cience,  Organometallic Chemistry,  Surface Science,  and Synthetic Methods. PhD faculty teach all courses and labs, and each faculty member has their own dedicated research space. Within the department, you’ll also find state of the art instrumentation rooms and computational facilities. Carleton: The Chemistry curriculum at Carleton is built on an apprenticeship model: there are multi-week inquiry projects in lower-division labs, advanced projects for upper-level courses, and research projects with faculty and senior integrative exercises for upperclassmen. In terms of choosing which courses to start with, students are encouraged to take a self-administered placement exam; and there are options for students who want to major in Chemistry and options for those who would like to use chemistry to fulfill a science lab course. The list of course offerings is robust (Carleton has a very user-friendly website) but it is often mentioned on the website that careful planning is required for all Chemistry majors. All students, especially those who would like to participate in an off-campus studies program, are encouraged to plan their schedules out in advance and meet with advisors to ensure that they’re on track. Swarthmore: Swarthmore offers a major in Chemistry, a minor in Chemistry, and a major in Educational Studies and Chemistry with a teaching certificate. If you’re interested in teaching Chemistry, the program is worth looking into. You can submit an application to join a research group, which are constantly evolving. You’ll also find Alchemist Workshops, which are drop-in study sessions with high performing peers. And then there is the colloquium schedule, which are meetings for students to learn about new research in the field. Pomona: Pomona offers both a Chemistry major and minor, and students can enroll in a pre-professional chemistry curriculum that is certified by the American Chemical Society. The school also offers a chemical engineering track . 90% of chemistry majors do a summer undergraduate research project, and students at Pomona can take elective courses at other Claremont Colleges. Pomona also hosts the 5C Chemistry Seminar Series, where guest speakers come to campus and hold lectures and plan activities for students. Barnard:A liberal arts education is often associated with program flexibility. While there is some flexibility at Barnard, students adhere to a stricter (and well-thought-out) approach to studying Chemistry. There is a three-year sequence of core courses, in which students familiarize themselves with inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, and biological chemistry.  And no matter what, you’ll start out by taking BC2001x:General Chemistry I, which is the entry-level Chemistry course offered at the school. Barnard themselves calls the sequence “untraditional,” but they stand by their unique approach.  Hamilton: Chemistry students at Hamilton spend the first three years taking classes and workin g towards the Senior Program: an intense two-semester project that combines scientific research with reading and understanding of scientific literature. It’s then turned into a senior thesis that is presented publicly and defended in front of the Chemistry department.   A standout course at Hamilton is 348 S Science, Technology, and Society; the course look into the assumptions and hierarchies that have long been embedded into science and technology, and sheds light on inequalities of opportunity in the STEM field. Half of Hamilton’s chemistry alumni go on to do graduate study, and the flexible curriculum allows students to follow their passions, not a fixed course structure. Bowdoin:There is a heavy focus on research at Bowdoin (they call the students “investigators”) coupled with a focus on collaboration, whether that’s with fellow students or faculty members. There are numerous fellowships available, and faculty members hold an open house to discuss their upcoming resea rch projects. The emphasis on small classes, discussions, and one-on-one work with professors means that students can form relationships with faculty, which can lead to increased research opportunities, stellar letters of recommendation, and long-term commitments to passion projects. Amherst: The Chemistry program at Amherst has similar offerings to the rest of the schools on our list. But additionally, many students take part in paid internships with faculty during their time at Amherst. The Summer Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program is an 8-10 week program, and fellows stay on campus, and the research topics change yearly. While most schools offer research opportunities, a majority of them are unpaid. Attending Amherst also gives you access to the rest of the schools in the five-college consortium.  If you need help breaking down the research and figuring out where to apply, contact us here.