Chemistry

Overview

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry's faculty at Saint Joseph's University is diverse in their interests, facilitating courses in both the traditional and interdisciplinary areas of chemistry.

WHAT IS A CHEMISTRY MAJOR?

Throughout your coursework, chemistry is emphasized as a laboratory science. As a chemistry major, you will learn basic chemical theories as well as current experimental techniques, using modern instrumentation and computational methods to solve chemical problems.

WAYS TO STUDY CHEMISTRY

You can pursue chemistry as a major or minor at Saint Joseph's University. Some students often decide to double major or add minors to their studies. Education is a popular addition for students who wish to pursue a career in teaching chemistry.

4+1 Option

Starting in Fall 2021, students can enroll in a 4+1 option, allowing them to start working on their master's degree during their undergraduate years and graduate with an M.S. by year 5. The five-year B.S./M.S. chemistry-education program is designed for students who wish to become certified secondary school (grades 7-12) science teachers. The program incorporates the four-year B.S. degree in chemistry with additional work during the summer and a fifth year to complete the M.S. in secondary education to become certified.

Dual Degree Option

You have the option to double major in chemistry and education. With careful planning, this double major can be completed in four undergraduate years. Given the numerous course requirements for dual degrees and certification, it is important to speak with your chemistry education advisor about this program early on to ensure you are taking appropriate courses.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A CHEMISTRY MAJOR?

The chemistry program will prepare you for a wide range of career paths. Our graduates pursue graduate study in chemistry, biochemistry, business, government and law as well as finding employment in the following fields:

Medicine
Health science
Pharmacology
Research
Forensic science

HOW WILL SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY PREPARE YOU FOR A CAREER IN CHEMISTRY?

Chemistry students at Saint Joseph's University have many opportunities to become involved in faculty-directed independent research that investigates areas of current interest. These experiences help you develop a chemist’s analytical skills, critical thinking, creativity and the ability to work as a team. Chemistry majors at Saint Joseph’s University regularly publish their findings in scientific journals and make presentations at regional and national meetings, where many have received recognition and won awards.

The American Chemical Society certifies the bachelor of science degree program in chemistry, and special advisory options are offered for majors interested in the premedical, pre-dental and chemistry and business curriculums.

Course Catalog Information

Education - Secondary Education (Grades 7-12)

The secondary education major at Saint Joseph's prepares future high school teachers (grades 7-12). Earn a dual major and become a teacher of English, biology, chemistry, history, mathematics, physics, French, Italian, classical studies (Latin) or Spanish. This program leads to Level 1 Teaching certification in Pennsylvania.

Biology

A biology degree from Saint Joseph’s University exposes you to all levels of biological organization, from the sub-cellular to the broad ecosystem. Our program is built with core courses covering the fundamentals of biology, a distribution of upper-level course across the major areas of biology and free electives.

Chemical Biology

The chemical biology major at Saint Joseph’s University, offered by the departments of biology and chemistry, will provide you with the tools needed to understand the chemical processes that occur at the molecular level.