Chemistry, ACS Certified - Biochemistry Emphasis
Designed for students interested in working as practicing chemists. The program is proudly certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
A Chemistry Program Designed to Set You Apart
This major is a great fit for students interested in agricultural research and development, nutrition, and drug discovery. The curriculum throughout the program features course-embedded research, with many projects leading to conference presentations and co-authored manuscripts. And thanks to growing partnerships with local organizations, our students also have the chance to work directly with experts in the field — including those at Mayo Clinic Health System. These experiences allow our graduates to make important connections, as well as use an impressive array of modern instrumentation, leaving them exceptionally well prepared for graduate studies and careers in the industry.
Classes within the major include those related to chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology. Coursework explores a variety of topics, ranging from atomic structure to acid-base reactions to nucleic acids, bioenergetics, mechanics, electricity and the use of metals in medicine. An advanced, project-oriented laboratory capstone course in physical and analytical chemistry reinforces fundamental concepts in these sub-fields and will improve your technical writing and laboratory skills.
Graduates leave our biochemistry program with real-world experience, exceptional career preparation and an impressive set of technical and communication skills. These are just a few reasons why UW-Eau Claire is nationally recognized as one of the top universities in chemistry education. Are you ready to be a part of it?
Program Details
Accreditation Information
The department of chemistry and biochemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) to certify the ACS Chemistry degrees.
Here, you can master a number of specialized research instruments, including 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, and a thermal analysis lab.
The Chemistry and Biochemistry 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 LC 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 speakers from industry will introduce you to various 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.
This degree is proudly certified by the American Chemical Society, which speaks to the quality of the program. The extra rigor and additional requirements found in a certified degree program — including the breadth and depth of curriculum, the qualifications of the faculty, the campus facilities, the department instrumentation, and the opportunities for students to conduct meaningful research — are highly regarded by potential employers and graduate schools.
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Your education will come to life through research opportunities offered in all areas of study. No matter your interests, the opportunity to explore and discover is available to you.
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Where can the chemistry, ACS certified - biochemistry program lead me after graduation?
The UW-Eau Claire chemistry department is nationally recognized for its innovative teaching practices and undergraduate research opportunities, which prepare students well for their next chapter. Graduates of our chemistry, ACS certified - biochemistry emphasis major go on to work as practicing chemists working in government or industry labs, or pursue graduate study in biochemistry, biophysics, or medicinal chemistry.
Example Careers
- Chemist
- Biochemist
- Biophysicist
- Lab technician
- Medicinal chemist
- Environmental chemist
- Academic researcher
- Medical technologist
- Clinical laboratory technologist
Our biochemistry emphasis is excellent preparation for students planning graduate study in biochemistry, biophysics or medicinal chemistry. Students pursuing our pre-medical and pre-pharmacy studies find that this major is an exceptional fit when paired with biology electives.
Here are a few courses in Chemistry, ACS Certified - Biochemistry Emphasis at UW-Eau Claire.
CHEM 115
Chemical Principles
Principles of chemistry, including chemical properties and the periodic table, atomic structure, chemical bonding, equilibria, thermodynamics, acid-base reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions and complexation reactions.
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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