Chemistry, B.S.

Multiple students and their professor work in a laboratory.

Explore the atomic scale with global impact.

A chemistry degree program small enough that you will know all your peers and instructors while receiving individual attention, but large enough to have faculty representing the disciplines of organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, geochemistry, computational chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics as well as chemistry education.

Graduates have found jobs in the chemical and biotech industry or are teaching chemistry at the high school level in Massachusetts. Occasionally, our graduates have gone on to pursue masters or PhDs in chemistry or graduate degrees in other fields such as law or physician assistant.

Program Highlights

  • A welcoming environment focusing on student success
  • Modern teaching and research labs with career-relevant instrumentation
  • Free tutoring, faculty support, and S-STEM scholarships
  • Tau Eta chapter of Gamma Sigma Epsilon, National Chemistry Honor Society

Start building your professional future with a chemistry degree.

As a chemistry major, you'll gain marketable skills and start thinking and communicating like a scientist.

Gain valuable lab skills and a deep understanding of chemical concepts.

  • A student wearing protective goggles closely monitors a laboratory experiment.

    Hands-on experience

    A degree in chemistry provides you with the hands-on skills to succeed in the work place or run your own labs as a high school teacher. At the beginning of your journey, labs will have specific instructions so you can learn to safely and accurately work; later, you will be able to design your own experiments under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

  • Chemistry alumni smiling wearing red and black plaid shirt in front of CURCA poster.

    Our alumni are successful

    Chemists at the bachelor level are sought out by the chemical and the biotech industry in the Boston area and locally. Schools are looking for chemistry teachers with a chemistry degree. Our graduate Albert Cuevas '19 is currently working at a pilot plant in western Massachusetts.

  • Student working with modern gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry.

    Modern Instrumentation

    Students have access to our modern gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry combination installed in our dedicated instrument lab in 2023. Capable of separating complex mixtures and identifying components within minutes, the GC/MS is utilized in various fields including law enforcement, pharmaceutical testing, food safety, medicine, basic research, and quality control in the chemical and biotechnology industry.

Program Details

Learning Outcomes

Students will have demonstrated the ability to:

  • Recognize and apply the big ideas of chemistry (https://doi.org/10.1021/ed300049w) while learning about inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.
  • Plan, conduct, and document experiments, analyze data, and interpret results, in a safe and ethical manner using chemical methods and instruments.
  • Write reports and present the results of their own experiments and of published work to their peers and their instructors.
  • Evaluate and solve chemical problems using conceptual and quantitative approaches.

What can you do with a chemistry degree?

Whether you want to research, work in the lab, or teach, what you study as a chemistry major prepares you for a career as a:

  • Chemical industry (lab supervisor, plant technician, quality control analyst, kilo chemist)
  • Pharmaceutical and biotech industry (associate director, senior manager, quality control technician)
  • Graduate studies (Masters, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in chemistry, physician assistant, patent attorney)
  • Entrepreneur
Individual in chemistry lab doing an experiment with eye protection and white gown.

Ready to learn more?

Course Requirements

Program Description

The Chemistry Major provides students with a deep understanding and appreciation of chemistry. It is designed for students planning to attend graduate school or pursue careers for which a strong chemistry background is required. Students planning to teach should also review the section on licensure requirements under Chemistry, Teacher Licensure, B.S..

Requirements for the Chemistry Major - 55 Credits

Required Foundation Courses - 25 Credits

Required Upper-Level Courses - 30 Credits

Note:

* A student who does not feel sufficiently prepared for calculus should take MATH 0104 - Pre-Calculus prior to enrolling in Calculus I.

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a general education or common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in General Education: WISE or Common Core.

Get a great education with 1:1 access to faculty.

We offer high-quality academics, unique learning opportunities, and a gorgeous campus—and we have interactive classes, accessible faculty, and one-on-one support.

You'll join fellow motivated students ready to make the most of the college experience through active participation. Become part of a caring and committed community that understands and embraces the bridge between academic study and human interactions.

  • 100%

    of full-time faculty have a PhD

  • 1:1

    student faculty ratio for the research project every graduate does

  • 68

    alumni since 2009, working in industry, schools and elsewhere

Learn from those who love science, and love to teach.

Representing the disciplines of organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, geochemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics—as well as chemistry education—our faculty bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom and to the lab. Their focus is on helping you to achieve established learning outcomes as they support and guide you through our rigorous curriculum.

Faculty directory

Chemistry faculty member wearing eye protection and white gown in a lab with two students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to submit SAT/ACT scores or an essay when I apply?

Westfield State University does not require an application essay, SAT and/or ACT scores, or letters of recommendation (except for special program admissions).     

All first-year applicants are reviewed for admission based on their high school record. First-year applicants must meet the minimum eligibility requirements established by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) in order to qualify for admission to a state university.   

Learn more about the application process and admissions here.

How much does Westfield State University cost?

Westfield State University offers a comprehensive university experience at an affordable cost—with many options for financial aid. Visit our Cost and Aid page to learn more. 

Will I receive academic support?

We’re invested in your success. Whether you need a little help adjusting to college, study strategies, tutoring, or disability services, the team at the Academic Achievement Department is ready to help. Our mission is to provide you with the tools to explore academic opportunities as well as to plot strategies for continued growth. 

Learn more about our student support services here.

What do chemistry majors do?

A chemistry major gives you a variety of opportunities in fields including chemical industry, pharmaceutical and biotech industry, graduate studies, and teaching.

Is a chemistry major hard?

There is a rumor that chemistry is hard. However, when you major in chemistry, you have enough time to get familiar with concepts, and to experience them with your own senses in the lab. We provide a lot of support for the quantitative parts of chemistry, and you get a lot a practice with experimental aspects of chemistry in the labs.

What scholarships are available?

S-STEM Scholarship is available to Incoming full-time first-year​​​​ Westfield State University students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, and Mathematics, with low-income status defined as Pell Grant eligible by the Financial Aid Office and an average GPA equal to or higher than 2.8, are eligible to apply.

Learn more

STEM-ACT is a program that provides scholarship support for Westfield State University STEM (Biology, Chemistry, General Science, or Mathematics) secondary education students that are passionate about social justice and advancing STEM education. Students are encouraged to apply in their sophomore year to be admitted to the program for their junior and senior years. 

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Chemistry, B.S.