Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Our undergraduate chemistry degree features graduate-level opportunities.
Oakland’s Bachelor of Science in Chemistry integrates theoretical rigor with applied instruction. Our chemistry degree equips you with the academic foundation and practical skills to achieve any outcome, from medical school to a graduate chemistry degree to immediate employment as a professional chemist. You’ll learn in small chemistry classes taught by Ph.D. faculty (not graduate students), while cultivating superior lab skills and undergraduate research experience. Accredited by the American Chemical Society, our chemistry degree offers high-quality training inside and outside of the classroom, enabling you to make a strong start on your career.
Oakland’s Bachelor of Science in Chemistry integrates theoretical rigor with applied instruction. Our chemistry degree equips you with the academic foundation and practical skills to achieve any outcome, from medical school to a graduate chemistry degree to immediate employment as a professional chemist. You’ll learn in small chemistry classes taught by Ph.D. faculty (not graduate students), while cultivating superior lab skills and undergraduate research experience. Accredited by the American Chemical Society, our chemistry degree offers high-quality training inside and outside of the classroom, enabling you to make a strong start on your career.
Chemistry Degree: The Oakland University Advantage
Located in the heart of a world-class manufacturing hub, Oakland University provides chemistry majors with one-of-a-kind opportunities. You’ll earn your chemistry degree in close proximity to global leaders in energy, automotive, health care and other industries, enabling you to connect with experts and innovators in the community and on campus. In addition, the world’s two largest chemical companies (Dow and BASF) both have major R&D facilities in Michigan.
Oakland’s chemistry degree enables you to:
- Acquire advanced research training. Our chemistry majors routinely work with senior faculty on cutting-edge studies, participating at a level that’s typically reserved for graduate students. You can acquire intensive, hands-on instruction in everything from lab practices and data analysis to writing, publishing and presentation. All of our chemistry majors have the opportunity to co-author research publications and present their work at national and international scientific conferences.
- Stand out in the graduate-school applicant pool. Oakland’s degree in chemistry has gained a reputation for producing strong master’s and Ph.D. candidates. Our chemistry majors are consistently recognized with awards from the American Chemical Society at the local and national levels. A number of our recent chemistry majors have gained admission to top-ranked graduate chemistry programs such as Northwestern, Illinois, UCLA, Michigan, Duke, Purdue and Michigan State.
- Get extensive faculty attention. Our degree in chemistry features small classes taught by Ph.D faculty, not graduate students. You’ll enjoy direct, one-on-one interaction, in the classroom and research laboratory, with dynamic professors who publish and present widely, have extensive professional networks, and devote their full attention to undergraduate chemistry majors.
- Work in high-caliber facilities. Our chemistry labs include the same equipment that’s used in industry, giving you a head start on your career in chemistry. You’ll have the chance to work with advanced, professional-grade spectrometers, dry boxes, solvent purification technology, and biochemistry instrumentation such as confocal fluorescence microscopes, flow cytometers and ultracentrifuges.
- Acquire first-rate teacher training. Because Oakland University ranks as one of Michigan’s top sources of middle- and high-school science teachers, some chemistry majors opt for our fifth-year Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). With one additional year, you can combine your chemistry degree with robust educator training that qualifies you for a teaching license. Science teachers are in high demand and command good salaries.
What Can You Do With a Chemistry Degree?
You can compete for a broad range of jobs with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Oakland graduates enter the workforce with excellent qualifications, and Southeast Michigan offers boundless opportunities to pursue careers in chemistry. Dow and BASF (the world’s two largest chemical companies) both operate major facilities in Michigan, and you can also find jobs in industries such as:
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Pharmaceutical
- Health care
- Automotive
- Food processing
- Defense
About half of Oakland’s chemistry majors pursue advanced degrees in chemistry, attend medical or dental school, or enter other graduate programs. Our students have a strong record of postgraduate achievement that includes admission to top-rated graduate chemistry programs and prestigious fellowships from the National Institutes of Health.
Chemistry Major: What You’ll Learn
Our Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The degree includes a rigorous academic core of 10 chemistry courses with associated labs, including:
- General Chemistry I and II
- Organic Chemistry I and II
- Computational Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry I and II
- Analytical Chemistry
- Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
In addition, the chemistry degree requires eight credits of electives (including a minimum of two lab credits), two courses in calculus and two courses in physics. It is recommended (but not required) that chemistry majors also take courses in biology, calculus and statistics.
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Resources
Programs Related to the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Not sure if the chemistry major is right for you ? Check out these other undergraduate degree programs at Oakland, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.