Chemistry Major (BS)

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As a chemistry major, you make exciting discoveries and get hands-on experience working alongside your professors and peers to develop a strong foundation in chemistry that can be used to address issues in many areas, such as materials science, medicine, drug design and discovery, environmental science, and many, many more.

Through our curriculum, you develop as a scientist through substantial exposure to the five fundamental areas of chemistry: organic, physical, analytical, inorganic, and biological chemistry, honing thought processes and problem-solving skills that are sought after by employers and graduate and professional schools.

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Career Paths

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Multiple Career Options

From research and academia to medical school and the workplace, our program prepares you to become a versatile chemist. Recent graduates are working:

  • Pfizer
  • Bayer
  • EAG Laboratories
  • Federal Drug Administration
  • Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Some of the graduate schools our graduates are attending include:

  • University of Illinois
  • University of Minnesota
  • Stony Brook University
  • University of Delaware

Regardless of your career goals, Truman offers a high level of preparation. In data collected by the National Science Foundation of baccalaureate origins of Ph.D. graduates (2000-2020), Truman ranked number one for all Masters-level schools (about 1,000 schools) and number 32 for schools at all levels (about 2,000 schools).

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Featured Courses

Study topics including thermodynamics (enthalpy, entropy and the Gibbs energy), kinetics, basic equilibrium, quantum mechanics and simple approaches to bonding (Lewis dot structures and VSPER theory).

Learn about gas laws, equations of state, thermodynamics, homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria, kinetics theory, and chemical kinetics.

Explore modern biochemical laboratory techniques including protein assays, enzyme kinetics, gel electrophoresis, chromatography such as gel exclusion, affinity, ion exchange and HPLC, extraction and cloning of DNA, and analysis of lipids.

Investigate current analysis techniques; spectral methods, electroanalytical methods, chromatography, multistage separations, and other modern chemical methods.

Learn about fundamental organic chemistry including nomenclature, synthesis, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms on a molecular level, theoretical aspects of chemical bonding, and introductory chemical phenomena through alcohols.

Explore inorganic chemistry topics focusing on the relationship between structure, bonding and chemical reactivity.
Chemistry Field Guide

Student Opportunities

Chemistry student

ACS Certification

Upon graduation, you will meet the American Chemical Society (ACS) requirements for certification.

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Seminar Programs

At Truman, you can develop professional skills while considering ethical issues and special topics through chemistry seminar courses during your undergraduate education.

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Research

Undergraduate research builds your confidence as an independent chemist. Working closely with your professors, you can earn research awards for advanced contributions.

Chemistry students

Student Organizations

Get involved with our national award-winning chemistry student organizations to start building professional connections.

Chemistry Lab

Facilities and Equipment

Our teaching and research laboratories provide you with opportunities to gain hands-on experience with equipment and industry methods.

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