Chemistry
Undergraduate Major & Minor College of Natural Sciences
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts
Opportunities for chemistry majors at PLU Transcription
[video: Outside sign reading “Rieke Science Center” with bushes in the background](upbeat music)
[video: Inside Rieke Science Center on the second floor, panning on the mural with a quote from PLU alumni William Foege: “So what is better than science? Better than science is science with heart, science with ethics, science with equity, science with justice.”] [video: Four short clips of Rebecca and Professor Munro in a chemistry lab, doing experiments and teaching, respectively. Rebecca heating using round bottom flask under a fume hood to look at the sample vial](upbeat music continues)
[video: Professor Munro is sitting in a chemistry classroom with a whiteboard and projector screen in the background. There is a front and side video angle. Text on the bottom of the screen reads,”Professor Andrea Munro, Assistant Professor and Chair of Chemistry”]Professor Munro: Well, one of the things that’s really great about PLU is we have a variety of programs that students can try as they’re figuring out their interests and what they most wanna do.
[video: Aidan is in a chemistry lab comparing the color and other properties of two chemical results in vials]
– So we have a summer research program. We also have the CS STEM teacher program
[video: Professor Munro is discussing a chemical reaction equation with Rebecca using a classroom whiteboard; there are two video angles of the same action]
– and a STEM education minor, where students can see if they might wanna teach science, in a K-12 setting.
– We also have a great health sciences advising program for anyone interested in
[video: A student is measuring the volume of dodecanethiol in an Erlenmeyer flask in a chemistry lab]– medical school or optometry or vet school or dental school.
[video: Aidan is sitting in a chemistry classroom with a whiteboard and projector screen in the background. There is a front and side video angle. Text on the bottom of the screen reads, ”Aidan Hopson ‘24, Chemistry Major”]Aidan: One of the key things I looked at when deciding to go to Pacific Lutheran University
was the small class sizes.
– I thrive in an environment like that, usually.
[video: Rebecca is sitting in a chemistry classroom with a whiteboard and projector screen in the background. There is a front and side video angle. Text on the bottom of the screen reads, ”Rebecca Smith ‘24, Chemistry and Environmental Studies Double Major”]Rebecca: After high school, I was a little confused on what I wanted. I wasn’t quite sure.
[video: Rebecca is operating a microcentrifuge in a chemistry lab]– I had an environmental lean as well as a chemistry lean. And PLU allowed me to research both.
[video: Rebecca is sitting in a chemistry classroom with a whiteboard and projector screen in the background. There is a front and side video angle.]– I’m currently double majoring in both environmental studies and chemistry.
[video: Rebecca adds reactant to a reflux experiment using a dropper in a chemistry lab]– PLU offered me an opportunity to see things from different perspectives and from an interdisciplinary lens.
[video: Aidan is sitting in a chemistry classroom with a whiteboard and projector screen in the background. There is a front and side video angle.]Aidan: There was a lot of cool opportunities, and I saw actually this undergraduate research program,
[video: Aidan observes an experiment vial in a chemistry lab]– and I was like, oh, that’s something cool. But didn’t think I’d actually end up doing it.
[video: Aidan is sitting in a chemistry classroom with a whiteboard and projector screen in the background. There is a front and side video angle.]– But yeah.
[video: Aidan measures chemicals in a fume hood with graduated cylinders and funnel in a chemistry lab]Professor Munro: And so we really just have a variety of opportunities and support systems for students
[video: Professor Munro is sitting in a chemistry classroom with a whiteboard and projector screen in the background. There is a front and side video angle.]– who might not know quite what they wanna do, but they can try different things on, so they set themselves up for success.
About
As a PLU chemistry student, you’ll work closely with professors who have expertise in all major branches of chemistry — from organic and biochemistry to polymer and analytical chemistry. You’ll get hands- on experience with state-of- the-art scientific instruments, have opportunities to do research and can earn an American Chemical Society certified degree. In short, you will be very well-trained for employment or graduate study in chemistry. A degree in chemistry will serve you well for a career in K-12 teaching, forensic science, chemistry health science, or other scientific fields. About 50% of our majors go on to graduate school programs, while the other half pursue degrees in the health professions (physician, dentist, pharmacist) or begin careers in industry.
Emphasis:
- General Emphasis
- Biochemistry Emphasis
- Chemical-Physics Emphasis
Graduates from the last 5 years: Their jobs
- Quality Systems Engineer and Laboratory Lead, Hytek Finishes Co.
- Laboratory Assistant, Labcorp Dynacare
- Lab Technician, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- EMT, American Medical Response
- Analytical Chemist, Clinical Laboratory of Hawaii
- Manufacturing Associate, Bristol Myers Squibb
- Plasma Etch Process Engineer, Hitachi High-Tech America, Inc.
- Research Technologist, Northwestern University
Graduates from the last last 5 years: Their graduate programs
- Industrial Masters Program, University of Oregon
- PhD in Chemistry, Texas A & M University
- Doctor of Medicine (MD), WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
- Doctor of Pharmacy, Washington State University
- PhD in Chemical Biology, UC Berkeley
- Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, University of Washington
- Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, University of Oregon
- Master of Science in Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs
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