Department of Chemistry

For information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.  

Students obtain a thorough working knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry, supplemented by study in mathematics, physics, and biology. The curriculum is further enriched by the requirement of general education courses. Students can choose either the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree programs. The different curricula and concentrations are designed to prepare students for an active career in chemistry or other professions, including the health fields, such as medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. Students interested in education will also earn a secondary teaching certificate through the LSU GeauxTeach program.  Chemistry majors must select one of available concentrations for the degree programs, preferably by their junior year.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program provides students with a comprehensive and robust foundation in all major branches of Chemistry with the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research. The Bachelor of Science degree is ideal for students aspiring to pursue a career in the chemical industry or to enter graduate and professional schools. With several available concentrations, students can select electives for career trajectories in biological chemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry, and polymer chemistry. Most concentrations in this degree program also satisfy the certification requirements of the American Chemical Society.

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry program offers students a broadly-based training in chemistry, supported by a wealth of elective options that provide the flexibility to pursue supplementary educational objectives. The versatile program is designed for students interested in using chemistry as a foundation for various careers, including patent law, science policy, teaching, business, and medicine. For students planning to enter medical, dental, pharmacy, or physician assistant schools, the BA degree in chemistry with a pre-health concentration fulfills the prerequisite requirements for these programs.

The curricular difference between the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degree programs for the Chemistry concentration can summarized below.

Chemistry for Other Professions • The Pre-Health concentration is designed primarily for students who will apply for graduate education in another profession, such as medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine. The Chemistry and a Second Discipline concentration allows students to develop their interests and abilities in other disciplines outside of chemistry. Both the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts degree programs offer flexibility for students to pursue a second major or a minor. The secondary education concentration leads to certification as a chemistry teacher in grades seven through 12.

Programs

• Chemistry, B.S.
• Chemistry, BA

• Chemistry Minor