Often described as the "central science," chemistry involves the study of structure, properties and synthesis of matter ranging in size from single atoms to DNA. As a chemistry major, students will have the opportunity to discover the process for scientific inquiry, become proficient in modern laboratory procedures, gain a broad knowledge in the five major areas of chemistry (organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry), understand the practical and ethical applications of chemical principles in society, and take part in cutting-edge research projects.
A degree in chemistry plays a key role in a variety of careers. Some may be obvious including pharmaceutical development, chemical research and manufacturing, analysis, and science education. A chemistry degree is also an excellent beginning for careers in environmental science, medicine, pharmacy, forensics, plant science, and law. For more information on chemistry career specifics please visit the American Chemistry Society at http://www.chemistry.org
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Chemistry offered the first graduate program west of the Mississippi more than a century ago. Today, the Department of Chemistry continues that tradition of innovation and excellence by offering students a world-class education in a small city setting. Our degree programs provide a solid foundation for students to excel in top-notch graduate schools and medical schools as well as in high-paying industrial positions.
The Department of Chemistry offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. Students will also be free to take part in minors or even double majors in other areas such as biological sciences, computer science, foreign language, geosciences, or physics. UNL chemistry graduates have achieved leading positions in industrial, governmental, medical, and academic worlds. Current graduating seniors have access to the most prestigious graduate schools as well as employment in regional and international companies.
Internships include participating in the following organizations:
- UCARE - For more information please visit http://www.unl.edu/ucare/
- Summer Research Program (REU) - For more information please visit http://www.unl.edu/summerprogram/
Notable clubs include the Chemistry club and PLU. Students also have the opportunity to be involved with competitions such as the Research First poster session, scholarships and Teaching Assistant Positions. Chemistry majors are eligible for scholarships sponsored by the Department of Chemistry, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the University of Nebraska. All chemistry majors are automatically considered for chemistry scholarships available by simply being a declared chemistry major. For more information on chemistry scholarships please visit http://www.chem.unl.edu/undergrad/#scholAndFin One of the best ways to learn a subject is to teach it. The UNL Department of Chemistry offers a competitive salary for undergraduate teaching assistants. Teaching assistants supervise undergraduate chemistry lab work, assist in grading hourly exams, and help out in the Chemistry Resource Center.
- Chemistry Club - For more information on the UNL Chemistry Club please visit http://www.chem.unl.edu/chemclub/
- PLU - For more information about PLU please visit http://www.chem.unl.edu/PLU/index.shtml
For a complete list of UNL Department of Chemistry faculty and a description of their current research projects please visit http://chem.unl.edu/faculty/
To read about UNL Department of Chemistry alumni and their careers in chemistry please visit http://chem.unl.edu/alumni/focus.shtml
Notable facilities include renovated Undergraduate labs offering a state-of-the-art learning environment for students. The Undergraduate Instrumentation Center (UIC) houses a wide variety of analytical instrumentation primarily used by undergraduate students for both classroom labs and research projects. For more information about the UNL Department of Chemistry UIC facility please visit http://chem.unl.edu/uic/index.shtml The Chemistry Resource Center provides students with access to free tutoring by teaching assistants and a computer lab with specialized software. For more information on the Chemistry Resource Center please visit http://chem.unl.edu/buckyball/
The UNL Department of Chemistry provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research, often with financial support from UCARE, McNair, NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates, UNL REU's or other sources, that will reinforce and enrich your classroom learning experience. For more information on undergraduate research please visit http://www.chem.unl.edu/undergrad/#underResearch
