Department of Chemistry

Welcome to the Department of Chemistry

The primary mission of the Department of Chemistry is to offer training, courses, and degrees in the Chemical Sciences to Citadel students, including those fulfilling core curriculum requirements and undergraduate Chemistry majors. The faculty in our department contribute to the discipline through scholarly and professional activity, and also to the community via participation in various service and outreach activities.

Students who are interested in pursuing a Chemistry major have multiple degree options within a Bachelors of Science (B.S.) degree or a Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) degree: The B.S. degree in chemistry is fully accredited by the American Chemical Society and prepares students for entry into elite graduate programs, medical schools or industry. Within the B.S. degree students may also choose to complete the biochemistry specialization. The B.A. degree provides a path for students who wish to combine chemical knowledge with specialized career training such a patent law, environmental and/or industrial regulation, clinical lab work, pharmacology, toxicology, dentistry or advanced medical training. Within the B.A. degree students may also choose to complete the Clinical or Environmental specialization.

The Porter Fellow will receive a $2000 stipend for research this summer. For details please contact Dr. Thad Le-Vasicek.

Applications are now being accepted for the Dr. William H. Porter, ’62 Research Fellowship for Summer 2025. The primary purpose of this fellowship is to support research projects within the area of chemistry including, but not limited to the purchase of research supplies and equipment; travel expenses for students to attend conferences to present their research; and stipends to allow students and faculty members to continue their research projects during the summer. Preference shall be given to research projects in biochemistry and clinical chemistry.

2025 Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Now Accepting Nominations

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Upcoming Lecture Series in Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry

• 17 September 2024 | 6:30 p.m. | Open to Public
• Dr. Russell Norris presents Reshaping medicine through patient-led innovation

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B.S. in Chemistry:

Chemists study substances at the atomic and molecular levels and analyze the ways in which substances interact with one another. They invent & develop new and improved products and/or they perform quality control analysis of manufactured goods.

Employment Opportunities

Chemical Manufacturing
R&D New Products & Medicines
Laboratory Testing
Gov. Research and Compliance
Graduate School (Ph.D.)*
Remediation & Waste Management
All Other

33%
14%
10%
7%
5%
4%
32%

* Chemistry is one of the few disciplines where you will draw a salary in graduate school. The average salary of a Chemistry graduate student in 2021 was $46,357.

Put Your Degree to Work – Chemist *
2019 Median Salary	$110,000 (PhD)• $85,000 (MS)˚ $80,000 (Bachelors)
Typical Entry Level Education	PhD, MS, BS
Number of Jobs in 2019	93,700
Jobs Outlook through 2029	+5% (Above Average)

• From the Bureau of Labor Statistics
˚ Graduate school of typically a paid position for Chemists

B.A. in Chemistry:

The BA degree is ideal for students who want to combine scientific training with specific career goals. The BA degree is recommended for those students who intend to pursue advanced degrees in chemical engineering, patent law, pharmacology, toxicology, environmental science, clinical chemistry, any of the health professions and more.

B.S. in Chemistry: Biochemistry Concentration

A biochemist studies the chemistry of living things and how chemicals affect biological processes such as disease, cell development, growth, and heredity. Biochemists who do applied research are responsible for the development of new medicines and vaccines. Biochemists who do basic research expand our knowledge of the chemistry of living things.

Employment Opportunities

Pharmaceutical Research Lab
BioTech Company
Medical Doctor
Veterinarian
Biochemical Engineering
CDC

Put Your Degree to Work – Biochemist
2020 Median Salary	$94,270 per year
Typical Entry Level Education	Doctoral or Professional Degree
Number of Jobs in 2020	34,600
Jobs Outlook through 2029	+4% (Average)

B.A. in Chemistry: Environmental Concentration

Environmental chemists study the chemistry that occurs in natural spaces. Environmental Chemistry is a specialized area of Analytical Chemistry requiring a strong understanding of the fate of chemical species in the air, soil, and water and how these chemicals move through the environment and biosphere.

Employment Opportunities

EPA (Federal Level)
Dept. of Environmental. Quality (State Level)
Industrial Compliance Officer
Researcher
Consulting
Environmental Forensics
Bioremediation

Put Your Degree to Work – Environmental Chemist
2020 Median Salary	$73,230 per year
Typical Entry Level Education	Bachelor’s Degree
Number of Jobs in 2020	90,900
Jobs Outlook through 2029	+8% (Much Higher than Average)

B.A. in Chemistry: Clinical Concentration

Clinical chemists conduct research and develop laboratory procedures that help physicians make earlier, more precise diagnoses and tailor therapy for patients. As technology develops in “hot” areas like molecular biology, vaccine development or transplant medicine, clinical chemists apply their knowledge to develop practical applications of these advances†.

† Adapted from the American Association of Clinical Chemists

Employment Opportunities

• Hospital Labs
• Research Labs
• Manufacturing facilities
• Pharmaceutical research labs
• Commercial Reference labs
• Federal Regulator
• Patent Law
• Academic Labs
• Research Foundations for specific diseases (for example; cystic fibrosis)
• Government Regulatory Agencies (for example; OSHA, CDC & FDA)

Put Your Degree to Work – Clinical Chemist
2020 Median Salary	$54,180 per year
Typical Entry Level Education	Bachelor’s Degree
Number of Jobs in 2020	337,800
Jobs Outlook through 2029	+7% (Faster than Average)