The Major
The Department of Chemistry offers programs of study leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, and Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.
The Bachelor of Science program, certified by the American Chemical Society, is a rigorous one designed to provide in-depth training in all areas of chemistry for those students with a strong interest in research or graduate school.
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry is a rigorous course of study which combines the chemistry courses required for the BA degree with selected courses in biology and biochemistry. The biochemistry degree program is excellent preparation for students interested in medical and dental school as well as students interested in graduate school in biochemistry and molecular biology.
The Bachelor of Arts program is an extremely flexible one with fewer required courses in chemistry and mathematics offering a wider scope of elective course opportunities allowing students to tailor a program to meet their individual needs. This flexibility permits additional undergraduate preparation in other diverse areas such as business and economics, biology, mathematics, English, or education. Within the context of the Bachelor of Arts program, a number of dedicated programs have been developed which prepare students seeking to enter certain specialized careers.
- The Pre-Medical/Dental Option is designed to prepare students intending to pursue careers in medicine and dentistry. Electives are dedicated to those courses required and/or strongly recommended for admission to medical or dental schools.
- The Secondary School-Chemistry Teacher Option is designed to provide training in all areas of chemistry for those seeking careers as high school chemistry teachers. Students choose elective courses in education, and the combination of chemistry and education courses has been approved by the Interstate Certification Compact and allows the student to meet the certification requirements of the State of Rhode Island and most other states.
The Department's degree programs may also be combined with a variety of other academic Minors and Majors including Biology, Mathematics, Business Studies, and Environmental Studies.
Participation in an undergraduate research project guided by members of the faculty is strongly encouraged in all programs in the junior year, the summer period after the junior year, and in the senior year. While these research projects are usually conducted within the college's facilities, cooperative programs with other laboratories make it possible for students to conduct special projects at extramural sites. The results of these original research projects are often presented by students at regional and national meetings of professional societies.
For more information please refer to the Chemistry and Biochemistry section of the online version of the Providence College Bulletin.
