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Students at Penn State Behrend work with a faculty member on a chemistry lab experiment.

Chemistry

Chemistry is sometimes called “the central science” for good reason—it is an incredibly versatile field of study.

So versatile, in fact, that Penn State Behrend offers you four options for tailoring your B.S. in Chemistry to your career goals: General Chemistry, the most traditional option, is a solid foundation for chemistry- and health-related employment or graduate study; Biochemistry, which applies the principles of chemistry to biological systems, is the starting point for your career in molecular biology, genetics, and microbiology; Business, if you’re looking for a technical degree that can prepare you to market or sell products in chemistry-dependent industries such as pharmaceuticals, foods, or cosmetics; and Education, if you picture yourself teaching in a secondary-school setting.

All Chemistry majors first study the fundamentals of general, organic, and analytical chemistry. Later coursework includes physical and inorganic chemistry, chemical instrumentation, and chemical literature, along with biochemistry, spectroscopy, crystallography, and other focused topics.

Why Penn State Behrend?

Penn State Behrend’s B.S. in Chemistry is an American Chemical Society-approved degree, which is your assurance of program rigor, faculty accomplishment, and curricular relevance. Other program strengths include:

  • State-of-the-art laboratories that recently underwent a $6 million upgrade.
  • New laboratory ventilation systems, secured and ventilated storage space, dedicated space for advanced chemistry, and a high-end instrumentation lab.
  • A required hands-on industrial internship or undergraduate research experience to ensure that you graduate with real-world experience. Research experiences, which are overseen by a faculty mentor, frequently result in presentations at regional and national professional conferences.
  • Financial support for your undergraduate research experience, either from $350,000 in annual college-wide funding or from your faculty mentor’s external grants. Chemistry-specific scholarships; $20,000 is awarded to chemistry majors each year.
  • Four options to customize your degree to your interests. Within these options, you can prepare for direct entry to technical, laboratory, sales, or marketing positions; for master’s- or doctoral-level graduate education; for professional education in the fields of medicine or pharmacy; or for teacher-certification training.

Want to Learn More?

  • Pre-Health Professions at Penn State Behrend
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Chemistry

  • Curriculum

    • Chemistry Options
  • Goals and Objectives
  • Career Opportunities
  • Chemistry Faculty
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See Also

  • Suggested Academic Plans
  • University Bulletin
  • Chemistry Minor

DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Dr. Jason Bennett
31 Hammermill
814-898-6123
[email protected]

UNDERGRADUATE COORDINATOR

Dr. Mary Grace Galinato
32 Hammermill
814-898-6004
[email protected]

Apply Now
Learn More
Penn State Behrend Chemistry students perform an experiment.
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Chemistry at Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend student Roni Stefanick works in the chemistry lab at Mazza Vineyards

Behrend student uses science to make better wine

Penn State Behrend

4701 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6000
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Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, offers the learning opportunities of a major research university in a welcoming, student-centered campus environment.
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