Department of Chemistry

This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

The Department of Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society.

ChairDonovan C. Haines  (936) 294-1530

Website: Department of Chemistry

Mission

The Department of Chemistry is committed to providing an educational environment conducive to scholarship, intellectual development, and the acquisition of a foundation of knowledge and techniques required of professional chemists. This goal requires the effective representation of the fundamental areas of chemistry, a dedicated and creative faculty, and support for the many functions of the department.

Academic Programs

For a listing of programs offered within the Department of Chemistry, please, reference the Programs tab on this page.

The Department of Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society. Chemistry majors may pursue the Bachelor of Science for professional chemists that leads to American Chemical Society certification and prepares students for graduate studies in traditional chemical fields. Students interested in professional schools, chemistry-associated industries, or secondary education may pursue this Bachelor of Science degree for other technical careers. The Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with emphasis in Biochemistry-Biotechnology prepares students for careers in biotech companies in the Houston area and across the state and nation. The growing interest in Forensic Science has prompted the Department of Chemistry to offer a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry that is designed to prepare students for careers combining a knowledge of chemistry and the legal system. Students completing this degree can pursue opportunities in various forensic labs across the country, or can continue their education either in the graduate program in Forensic Science, or in graduate programs that are more traditional.

Highlights

  • The Department of Chemistry has a study abroad program in Germany in which students carry out summer undergraduate research in a German University and can experience the culture and approach to chemical education in Europe.
  • Chemistry majors work with faculty on state of the art research in the Chemistry and Forensic Science Building research laboratories.

Career Opportunities

Everything around you is composed of chemicals. We live in a world of chemicals and life would not be possible without them. An understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry is important for everyone in today’s society. Professional chemists are working to enhance our quality of life by improvements in food, medicine, clothing, building supplies, products for recreation, and a whole range of consumer products.

Virtually every industry or business that makes or sells a product is involved in chemistry. It is no wonder that the various areas of chemical and biochemical technology offer the largest field of employment in the physical sciences. Chemists are employed in fields such as:

  • Environmental Analysis
  • Agriculture
  • Biotechnology
  • Pharmaceutical Research
  • Waste Management
  • Energy Production
  • Forensic Science
  • Petrochemical Industry

Chemistry graduates will find many applications for their training in the fields of education, business, industry, law, government, and medicine.

Suggested Minors

A variety of minors can complement a major in chemistry. Some of the more popular minors in recent years have been biology, criminal justice, general business, and mathematics. Others have included education, history, political science, and psychology.

Curriculum

Chemistry students learn how to critically examine and analyze observations, to use chemical understanding to propose solutions to problems of a quantitative or qualitative nature that may arise in industry, in academia, or in various careers associated with chemistry. Students majoring in Chemistry have the opportunity for hands-on experience in working with atomic absorption, gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, 60 MHz and 300 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and other standard instrumentation in chemistry.