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Chemistry Major

School of Science and Engineering

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Department of Chemistry

(440) 826-2312

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OVERVIEW

Research opportunities that parallel those of graduate school students make BW's chemistry program ideal for career preparation and advanced studies.

The rigorous program blends theoretical study with practical application. You can work one-on-one with a faculty mentor and delve into complex research.

Convenient access to bench space and equipment provides you with remarkable laboratory and research experience at the undergraduate level.

BW's technologically advanced classrooms and labs are equipped with specialized instruments and computer systems to provide engaged learning experiences.

Independent research studies, field experiences and internships offer hands-on application. Opportunities to work on real-world research projects enhance the visibility and credibility of research you may be asked to present at scholarly conferences or for publication.

The chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). If you are interested in pursuing an intensive program of study, you can opt for the ACS certified major, which requires additional coursework beyond that needed for completion of a chemistry major. A chemistry leading to engineering program is also available.

  • Students working with Chemistry equipment

    Spacious and safety conscious, chemistry labs feature dedicated space and specialized instruments that enable students to work on complex research projects as a team or individually.

  • Benjamin Brown

    Benjamin Brown '15 was a part of a leading research study that was published in the journal Nature. The Columbia Station, Ohio, native majored in neuroscience and chemistry at BW. Today he is M.D./Ph.D. candidate at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

  • Professor Shivley working with tubbing equipment

    Chemistry laboratory facilities are used by students and faculty in thesis work and collaborative research.

  • Taylor Shreve

    Rigorous academics, faculty mentoring and extensive lab experiences provided Taylor Shreve '13 with a resume and vita worthy of acceptance into the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. From Ashville, N.Y., she studied neuroscience and chemistry at BW.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

A bachelor's degree in chemistry can be a stepping stone to post-graduate education or can lead directly to a career in a variety of fields including:

  • Scientific Research and Development
  • Pharmaceutical Sales
  • Forensic Chemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Science Teacher
  • Medical and Dental Healthcare
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Healthcare Technician

Grad School Success

From the class of 2017, 95 percent of BW chemistry graduates reported being in rewarding jobs or in graduate school within six months after graduation. The majority of students attending graduate school receive free tuition and a full stipend to cover all living expenses while earning a Ph.D.

Become a Teacher

Interested in Becoming a Science Teacher?

If you would like to become a science teacher, BW has an outstanding teacher education program.

CURRICULUM

Chemistry is comprehensive and rigorous. It is offered as a major and minor.

BW offers a strong, broad-based foundation in the principles of chemistry as well as focused areas of study in biochemistry, instrumentation, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry.

You'll learn from faculty who hold doctorates in their subject matter and have decades of teaching experience.

Students interested in chemistry can choose from three programs of study:

  • Bachelor of Science degree, which prepares students for careers in industry and other fields, graduate school and professional schools of medicine, dentistry and engineering.
  • ACS certified degree follows a pattern of study based on the recommendations of the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. A certified degree in chemistry is a valuable personal credential that serves as recognition for completing a rigorous academic chemistry curriculum in an ACS-approved department.
  • Chemistry leading to engineering, a program that prepares BW students to earn an engineering degree through educational affiliations with the engineering school at Case Western Reserve University. Upon satisfactory completion of the three-year coursework at BW and the last two years of the engineering program at the engineering school, a student receives the Bachelor of Arts degree from BW and the Bachelor of Science in their chosen field of engineering from the engineering school.

The chemistry major prepares students to:

  • Know, comprehend and apply, through problem solving, the important facts, theories, concepts, methods and language used by chemists
  • Possess skills for effective communication of scientific knowledge, both written and oral. Effective communication is:
    • The application and articulation of important facts, theories, concepts and methods learned within the chemistry major
    • Use of generally accepted formats and practices for that communication
  • Demonstrate a strong fundamental knowledge in the sub-disciplines of chemistry: analytical, physical, organic and biochemistry
  • Demonstrate strong laboratory skills including those commensurate with the major's post graduate pursuit(s) and to provide students experience with scientific inquiry, the scientific method and experimental design
Course Catalog

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Small class sizes, individual attention and faculty mentoring are at the core of BW's chemistry program.

At BW, student success is a top priority. You'll be encouraged to present at conferences, work with a partner company for research, submit a paper for publication and apply for summer research positions.

Over the years, BW chemistry students have earned coveted national summer research positions with major medical centers, corporations and academic institutions.

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities that include:

RESEARCH

Baldwin Wallace's chemistry department has laboratory facilities used by students and faculty in thesis work and collaborative research.

The quality of thesis and collaborative research conducted by BW students is outstanding. Students present research at professional conferences and have had their research published in journals.

BW's chemistry department offers impressive laboratories that provide easy and open access to equipment, projects and consultation with faculty. Spacious and safety conscious, the labs feature specialized instruments and dedicated space that enable students to work on complex research projects as a team or individually.

Juniors and seniors interested in intensive work in a particular subject can do a thesis study under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The caliber of this research often parallels that of graduate level students and makes an impressive addition to a vita or resume for employment or for graduate or professional school.

The chemistry department has a wide array of specialized instruments, including:
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
FT-IR spectrometer
Ultraviolet/visible spectrometer
HPLC
Atomic absorption
Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Independent study offers enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom for individualized and advanced study. Students work one-on-one with a faculty member.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

BW's proximity to Cleveland puts you within a 20-minute drive to outstanding opportunities.

Summer internships are available in local industries and research labs. National internships are also available.

In recent years, BW chemistry students have interned at Colorado State University, The University of Akron, Purdue University, Cleveland Clinic and PPG. Others have participated in the BW Summer Scholar's program and Gund Fellowship under the mentorship of BW professor Dr. Raymond Shively. Another student received a Chester's Scholar Fellowship at MetroHealth in Cleveland.

STUDENT CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

Personally and professionally rewarding, student organizations and activities foster career skills, leadership and teamwork. Opportunities include:

American Chemical Society
The Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society helps chemistry majors explore opportunities in the field.

Pre-Medical Society
Delta Omega Chi, the Pre-Medical Society, sponsors medically-related volunteer activities, guest speakers, tours to institutions with professional programs and mentoring with pre-medical upperclassmen and the faculty advisor. This organization is ideal for students interested in healthcare professions such as physicians, physician assistants and dentists.

Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program

The BW Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program is open to Ohio residents who are entering Baldwin Wallace in the fall as a first-year student or transfer student and are interested in chemistry. Students are eligible to apply to the program which also offers the Choose Ohio First scholarship, awarding annual, renewable scholarships of up to $5,000.

ALUMNI SUCCESS

At Baldwin Wallace, you'll experience personal and professional growth in a supportive community that challenges and inspires you to succeed. Recent BW chemistry majors are finding their success in industry, research, professional schools and graduate schools.

Industry

Sherwin-Williams
Eastman Kodak
Kimberley-Clark
Unilever Labs
Bridgestone-Firestone
PPG
Bonne Bell
Akzo-Nobel
Ben Venue
Hukill Chemical
OMG
Patterson Dental Labs
Poly-Carb

RESEARCH

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Veteran's Administration Hospital
Case Western Reserve University-genetics, infectious diseases and public health research
Cleveland Clinic Foundation-angiogenesis research

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Pharmacy Program
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
The Wright State University School of Medicine
Ohio University School of Osteopathic Medicine
University of Toledo Medical Center
Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine
The Ohio State University School of Medicine
The Ohio State University School of Optometry
The Ohio State University School of Dentistry
The Ohio State University School of Pharmacy
Case Western Reserve University Anesthesiology Program
Palmer College of Chiropractic-Port Orange, Florida
University of Pittsburgh Pharmacology Program

GRADUATE SCHOOLS

University of Southern California
University of Notre Dame
Case Western Reserve University
University of Pittsburgh
Indiana University
The Ohio State University
University of California
University of Tennessee
University of Florida
University of North Carolina
University of South Carolina
Iowa State University
Stanford University

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

Benjamin BrownBenjamin Brown '15 is currently pursing an M.D./Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The Columbia Station, Ohio, native cites faculty-student collaborative research and mentoring as vital to his growth as an independent researcher and acceptance into medical school.

Brandon DropicBrandon Dropic '15 is store ops inventory analyst - US/CA/PR architectural coatings division with PPG Industries in Cranberry, Pa. The Seminole, Fla., native collaborated with BW faculty and Cleveland Clinic researchers to develop Alzheimer's disease research, enabling Brandon to distinguish himself in the field.

Alexandra RosecransAlexandra Rosecrans '15 is color chemist at Sherwin-Williams Breen Technology Center in Cleveland. While at BW, the Amherst, Ohio, native engaged in academic research and completed multiple internships, including two at at Sherwin-Williams. She was hired by the company immediately after graduation.

Kara GawelekKara Gawelek '14 is pursuing an M.D./M.S. from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. A first-generation college student from Brunswick, Ohio, Kara's work alongside BW faculty in the research laboratory bolstered her successful medical school applications.

Sarah AllredSarah Allred '13 is special chemistry medical lab technician at Cleveland HeartLab. She cites the steadfast support and encouragement she received from BW chemistry faculty during her most challenging semesters as essential to her academic and career success. Sarah is from Green, Ohio.

Peter Schmidt SanePeter Schmidt-Sane '13 is ceramic technology chemist at Momentive Performance Materials in Strongsville, Ohio. As a chemistry major, Peter learned to analyze a problem for the root cause, a skill which has been indispensable to his career. He is pursuing master's in materials science at Case Western Reserve University.

Jennifer WojtalewiczJennifer (Tuckowski) Wojtalewicz '13 is formulation chemist at Akzo Nobel in Strongsville, Ohio. The Berea, Ohio, native says an internship provided the industrial work experience she needed to develop her skills and stand out to potential employers. She landed a position immediately after graduation.

James EbertsJames Eberts '11 is continuous improvement analyst for Sherwin-Williams Company in Cleveland. He has worked in the company's São Paulo, Brazil, office. From North Canton, Ohio, the liberal arts education he received at BW gave him a global perspective to expand his career into Latin America. He also holds an MBA from BW.

FACULTY

Diana Barko

Chair, Department of Chemistry
Post-doc, Case Western Reserve University

Diana Barko

Sarah Binkley

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., University of Akron

Sarah Binkley

Lisa Ponton

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, Iowa State University

Lisa Ponton

Raymond Shively

Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University

Raymond Shively

Stephen Tytko

Associate Professor
Ph.D., Northwestern University

Stephen Tytko

Full-Time Faculty

Diana Barko
Chair, Department of Chemistry
Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University

Sarah Binkley
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., University of Akron

Lisa Ponton
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Iowa State University

Raymond Shively
Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University

Stephen Tytko
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Northwestern University

Adjunct Faculty

Mira Beshai
Lecturer in Chemistry
M.S., University of Windsor

David Binkley
Lecturer in Chemistry
M.S., University of Akron

Adam Kois
Lecturer in Chemistry
Ph.D., University of Alabama

Staff

Gerrie Paino
Coordinator, School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Computing
B.A., Baldwin Wallace University