Eastern Illinois University

The chemistry major at Eastern is built upon and fosters strong student-faculty interactions through small classes and collaborative research opportunities as well as through substantial hands-on learning experiences using state-of-the-art instruments, equipment, and software. Courses in the major are taught by a well-trained and dedicated cohort of PhD. faculty with a strong record of research. Chemistry faculty have high expectations for chemistry majors and they are equally committed to their success. Effective communication is stressed throughout the curriculum in written lab reports as well as our seminar program, and a number of our majors present their research work at local, regional, or national meetings in the field.

Our goal is to help you become a well-trained chemist and prepare you for the next step in your chosen career path. Whether you are planning to pursue a graduate or professional degree, to teach, or to seek employment in the chemical or related industries upon graduation, our programs are designed to help you achieve your goals.

The department offers five different degree programs:

• BS chemistry with chemistry concentration (ACS Certified)
  This program introduces students to all five classical subdisciplines of chemistry (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical). This program provides students with needed skills for entry level chemist positions in industry or government and prepares students for advanced study in chemistry or related disciplines. This program can also serve as gateway to health professional schools (medical / physician's assistant, pharmacy, dental, veterinary, etc) after graduation.
• BS chemistry with management concentration
  This program is unique in that it combines chemistry with a business-oriented curriculum. Students in this program complete undergraduate pre-requisite courses for the MBA program and do not take the full chemistry curriculum. This program competitively prepares students for careers related to sales, marketing, or management in chemical industries.
• BS science teacher licensure chemistry specialization
  This prepares students to become high school chemistry teachers who will prepare and inspire future chemists.
• BA chemistry
  This program offers the flexibility to be paired with existing pre-professional programs (e.g. pre-health) or minor programs (e.g. criminology, environmental sciences, pre-law, professional studies) in other disciplines, by reducing the number of required chemistry courses. This program also allows for students to complete a second major, and with careful planning, still within in 4 years.
• Accelerated BS/MS (or BA/MS) dual degree program
  This program allows motivated students to earn both Bachelor's and Master's degrees within a five-year period.

Students who are more interested in the interface of biology and chemistry should consult the BS Biochemistry page, though switching from one BS program to the other (or from the BS to the BA degree) is not difficult within the first five semesters of study.

All five chemistry programs are built upon a common set of chemistry foundation courses plus ancillary courses in math (calculus) and physics. These courses are typically completed in the first two years of study.

Students with a high GPA and have a passion for research can add departmental honors to their degree, which involves a honors seminar course, taking a graduate-level course, and presenting & defending an undergraduate thesis.