Chemistry Major and Minor

Study the composition and behavior of matter. Analyze and synthesize molecules. Apply your chemical knowledge to identify–and then answer–big questions.

Why Study Chemistry at Albion?

As a Chemistry Major, you’ll develop a broad understanding of the five subdisciplines of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and biochemistry) while also being given the freedom to explore and research your particular areas of interest. You’ll design ambitious experiments and collaborate with your peers and faculty on groundbreaking research.

You’ll have all the benefits of a broad liberal arts approach, developing keen research, analytical and communication skills that will enable you to apply everything you learn to advance scientific knowledge–and your understanding of the world.

Research

We believe that involving students in research is as important to their education as classroom work. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has a long history of student-faculty collaborative research. This research is funded through a variety of different sources, including the National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, and the Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA) at Albion College.

Off-Campus Study

Gain real-world experience in another culture by spending a semester studying off-campus. You’ll have the opportunity to earn academic credit somewhere like Ireland or South Africa through Albion’s Center for International Education, participate in an immersive research experience at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), or spend a semester gaining hands-on experience working and studying in one of America’s oldest cities at the Philadelphia Center.

What Will You Learn as a Chemistry Major or Minor?

You'll ground your study in the basic principles of modern chemistry, such as atomic and molecular structure, equilibrium, thermodynamics, and kinetics.

You’ll study the behaviors of organic and inorganic materials, developing analytical and communication skills that will allow you to interpret and share your findings.

You’ll learn how the fundamentals of mathematics and physics enhance your knowledge and understanding when working with chemical theory and problem-solving.

You’ll participate in hands-on research and perform experiments in our state-of-the-art laboratories, manipulating chemicals to study their properties and reactions.