Chemistry Major

As a chemistry major, you will gain the expertise needed to enter the workforce as a chemist or enroll in graduate or professional school.

At a Glance

Flexibility

Full Time
Delivery Options

On Campus
Degree

BS

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What courses will you take?

The B.S. in Chemistry provides a solid foundation in chemistry through courses in organic, analytical, physical, inorganic and polymer chemistry, as well as biochemistry. You will also take supporting courses such as calculus and calculus-based physics.

During the senior year, you'll have the chance to perform research with a faculty member or choose to take advanced courses.

The Chemistry department offers the following options, which lead to a wide range of career opportunities.

General Option — Prepare for all areas of the chemical profession, as well as for graduate study in chemistry, dentistry, medicine, patent law, and teaching. Courses for General Option
Biochemistry Option — Gain the knowledge and skillset needed for careers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and other fields that apply principles of chemistry to biological systems. Courses emphasize chemical principles. Learn more about the Biochemistry Option and courses
Forensic Science Option — Take courses in forensics science, criminal justice and criminalistics. You'll graduate prepared for a career in a crime lab or in other fields that require analytical chemistry techniques combined with knowledge of the criminal justice system. Learn more about the Forensics Option and courses.
STEM Teaching Option — Prepare for a career in high school chemistry education. You will learn to convey chemistry topics with in-depth understanding and real-world examples. This option is designed to coordinate with the UTEACH program and practicum experience leading to an initial teaching license. Courses for the STEM Teaching Option
Sustainability Option — Combine the core chemistry degree courses with interdisciplinary coursework in sustainability to prepare for careers in green chemistry, sustainability and energy. Courses for the Sustainability Option

The Chemistry and Chemistry with Forensics Option programs are both approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society.

Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing and to learn more about the Chemistry minor.

A graduate in Chemistry will be expected to be able to:

Understand and apply calculations needed in the chemical sciences for preparing and analyzing solutions and samples.
Master common laboratory analytical techniques and skills needed for the qualitative and quantitative identification of unknown chemical samples.
Understand the particulate nature of matter and how electromagnetic radiation interacts with matter.
Read scientific papers and instructions and use this information to carry out experiments.
Work in teams and individually to perform scientific experiments.
Write scientific reports and prepare appropriate graphs of data.
Follow regulations and proper procedures for the safe handling and use of chemicals.
Understand the ethical responsibilities and contemporary issues of chemists in the workplace.

Why study chemistry at UMass Lowell?

Chemistry faculty member and student work with equipment in a UMass Lowell lab

Research Opportunities

Conduct research with our expert faculty. Many students have presented their results at conferences and/or published papers in scientific journals. Research areas include:

Polymer synthesis
Organic electronics
Biofunctional surfaces
Chemical and biological sensors
Protein chemistry
Nanotechnology

Chemistry research student wearing arm-length gloves and working with lab equipment

Internships

Connect classroom learning to real-world settings. Our students have interned with organizations including:

Army Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Md.
Instrumentation Laboratory
Raytheon Technologies
Thermo Fisher Scientific
U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center

An undergrad chemistry student using a microscope device to look at chemicals in a lab.

Advanced Facilities

Access our top-level facilities, particularly a Teaching Instrumentation Laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, including:

NMR
FTIR
Optical and materials characterization instruments

Chemistry student heating liquid in a UMass Lowell lab

Fun Outside the Classroom

Put your learning into practice. Check out some of the fun ways UML students come together.

What can you do with a degree in chemistry?

Graduates of UMass Lowell's chemistry program are prepared to pursue jobs in such fields as applied and basic research, quality control, health care, product analysis, materials, cosmetics, forensics and pharmaceuticals. Many of our students go on to graduate study in chemistry, dentistry, medicine, patent law, and teaching at top universities across the U.S.