Chemistry
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's chemistry bachelor's degree is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the field of chemistry. The opportunity to pursue a parallel specialization prepares students well for graduate or professional school as well as endless career paths in chemistry, the health sciences and related fields.
Chemical Reactions
Consistently ranked as one of the best undergraduate chemistry programs in the nation, our chemistry major is taught by standout faculty who are eager to share their knowledge. Explore classes in inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, and quantitative analysis. A variety of electives allow you to personalize your education and study the topics that most interest you.
With access to world-class faculty and instrumentation, graduates of our chemistry program quickly find they leave with so much more than just a degree. They take away research experience, professional connections, and publishing opportunities. These types of experiences are unusual at the undergraduate level at most institutions, which is precisely why we offer them. At UW-Eau Claire, we believe that a rigorous education rooted in experiential and real-world learning will provide you with the skills you need to be successful in your chosen field.
Whether you are interested in a career in food science, research and development, pharmaceuticals, chemical analysis, product testing, or countless other options, a chemistry bachelor's degree from UW-Eau Claire can be your ticket to an excellent career.
Program Details
Accreditation Information
The chemistry department is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at UW-Eau Claire is home to a suite of state-of-the-art instrumentation for chemical analysis — and you'll have direct access to it. This includes an X-ray diffractometer, an optical cryostat, a jet-cooled expansion system and a supercomputing cluster (BGSC) — a high-performance computing system that provides resources that are on par with (or above) what is available at most major research institutions. You'll also be able to use specialized laboratories, including a laser spectroscopy lab, a low-temperature spectroscopy lab, a computational lab and a thermal analysis lab.
The Chemistry Department has a long tradition of productive collaborative research partnerships between undergraduate students and faculty. These experiences often lead to published papers in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at regional, national and international meetings. Previous research projects have ranged from work on self-repairing liquid-crystal displays on phones, TVs and monitor screens to mucin peptides and how they might be used as antigens against some cancers.
As a chemistry major, you'll find countless internships, seminars, lectures, and nationally funded summer research opportunities available to you. These experiences allow you to explore career paths, gain valuable career experience, and work with experts in the chemical industry. A series of lectures by faculty and outside speakers will introduce you to chemical and related industries, as well as career opportunities and their qualifications. Participating companies have included organizations like Univar, Ecolab, Hydrite Chemical, 3M, Boston Scientific, and Nestle USA.
While at UW-Eau Claire, you'll learn from expert faculty who have a wealth of knowledge in — and passion for — chemistry. Our professors have received national recognition for supporting and mentoring students, currently hold 16 patents, and work tirelessly to create high-impact learning opportunities for students. In fact, over the last six years, chemistry faculty have brought in over $2 million in external grant funds, directly benefiting UWEC chemistry majors.
Blugold Stories
Student-faculty researchers at UW-Eau Claire conducted research into COVID-19 with teams around the world using one of the most powerful supercomputer clusters in the world.
The chemistry faculty is dedicated to providing quality education in and out of the classroom. The department's small size allowed me to make connections with all of my professors. These relationships were very valuable in my personal and professional development, and particularly helpful when applying for internships, graduate school and fellowships. My successes as a student were due to the time and effort put in by passionate professors.
Biology major Steph Walters understands the importance of loving your smile. While studying in the Dominican Republic, she had the opportunity to create partials or bridges for individuals who wanted them. Seeing the transitions and the joy they brought, Steph was determined more than ever about pursuing dentistry.
Justthe
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Where can the chemistry program lead me after graduation?
UW-Eau Claire chemistry grads take a powerful degree and an impressive set of skills and experiences out into the world — and the job titles of recent grads are proof of that.
Example Careers
- Analytical chemist
- Advanced product quality chemist
- Manager of analytical and technical operations
- Clinical laboratory technician
- Materials analyst technician
- Product development chemist
- Plant operator
- Quality control chemist
- Research technologist
- Technical engineer
Recent Graduates
Research Chemist
Catalytic Combustion Corporation
Presidential Management Fellow
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Advance Product Quality Chemist
3M
Quality and Process Control
Hormel Foods
Analytical Chemist
Covance Chemical Corp.
Stability Chemist
Lifecore Biomedical
Brewing and Technical Director
Octopi Brewing
Students majoring in chemistry experience a rich liberal arts education, with classes and opportunities that go beyond what you might typically expect from a chemistry program. This includes the chance to conduct undergraduate research alongside a faculty member, which can begin as early as your first semester and last throughout your college career. The major is ideal for pre-medicine or pre-pharmacy students who are interested in a chemistry major, as well as those who are looking to pair chemistry with additional majors or minors.
Here are a few courses in Chemistry at UW-Eau Claire.
CHEM 304
Environmental Chemistry
A study of the chemistry of the environment, including the atmosphere, natural waters, and soils. Students will refine chemical knowledge by examining specific problems related to environmental issues.
CHEM 218
Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry
Introduction to inorganic compounds and reactions, with emphasis upon their applications in the environment, in commerce, and in life. Principles of molecular structure, acid-base and redox reactions, and coordination chemistry are applied.
CHEM 325
Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory
Introduces molecular structure and bonding, organic nomenclature, acid/base properties of organic compounds, stereochemistry, resonance, mechanisms, and synthetic reactions illustrating functional group interconversion. Microscale laboratory techniques for the preparation, isolation, purification, and characterization of organic compounds.
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