Welcome to Chemistry @ SU

Learn more about the programs offered by our department.

Our chemistry major concentrations:

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Our minor:

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Affiliated programs:

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* If accepted to the University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Pharmacy or the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy, the accelerated pharmacy track permits the student to complete only three years at Salisbury University and earn a B.S. in chemistry from SU after successful completion of one year of chemistry-related courses at the pharmacy school. Additionally, the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy guarantees an interview for students completing the program with a GPA of 3.2 or above.

Your experiences as a student member of the Department of Chemistry will help to prepare you for life after graduation. Over the next few years you will be faced with many challenges, but you will also be presented with a multitude of opportunities. Remember these opportunities are provided for you, but it is up to you to take advantage of them. The faculty, staff and your fellow students in the department can offer you guidance and assistance; however, you need to assume the primary role in becoming a well-educated individual. Indeed, the challenges you encounter and the obstacles you surmount will constitute some of your most worthwhile learning experiences.

The rewards you reap from this endeavor will depend to a large extent upon the effort you make. We are confident that you have the ability creativity and motivation to succeed here at Salisbury University. We look forward to working with you and helping you to achieve your goals. Involve yourself in as many departmental activities as possible work hard (but have fun) and the rewards will be worth the effort.

The Department of Chemistry at Salisbury University strives for inclusive excellence, preparing diverse learners for life and leadership as engaged citizens and science professionals in a global society. We value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to, national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, educational background, and family structure. We acknowledge that the practice of science is often subjective and historically built on a small subset of privileged voices. We are aware of the challenges faced by those planning to pursue study in the sciences that result from discrimination and bias. To address these injustices, we are committed to cultivating and maintaining a supportive and inclusive climate in which every student, staff and faculty member feels a sense of belonging. We work to create student-centered learning environments that honor a diversity of thoughts, perspectives, experiences, and identities because we believe that when one feels accepted and appreciated, they will engage more freely, embrace intellectual curiosity, and thrive.

Because chemistry explains the molecular basis of life and how medicines work, a chemistry degree, particularly our pre-health professional track, is a great way to prepare for careers in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other health-related professions.

Forensics uses chemical and biochemical techniques to analyze evidence gathered from crime scenes. You will find a number of chemists employed in forensics labs.

A B.S. in chemistry may be useful for a number of other careers including law, IT, and the development and testing of new materials that are used in numerous ways (car parts, agricultural products, medicines, plastics for toys or medical equipment and more). A number of careers typically open to those with a chemistry degree are identified the American Chemical Society via their careers in chemistry links.

During your studies in chemistry at SU you will need to make important decisions regarding your choice of career. You will very likely decide either to continue your education in graduate/professional school or find employment in the job market. Salisbury University chemistry graduates have met with success in these endeavors. SU’s Career Services has many resources to help you to define your career goals to set a plan of action and to act upon obtaining these goals. You should avail yourselves of as many of these resources as possible. Work with your academic advisor, ask questions of other faculty in the department and consult the information below.

It is the department’s philosophy to provide access to as much current chemistry instrumentation as possible during the completion of your degree. For example, through regular coursework, our students operate the department’s FT-IR with and without an ATR, UV-Vis, HPLC, GC, High and Low Resolution Mass Spectrometers, AA newly updated, as well as the department’s $300,000 400 MHz NMR spectrometer.

Students may expand their hands-on experience through research with chemistry faculty. Chemistry research means making discoveries that are not in the textbooks, giving you the self-reliance and problem-solving flexibility that mark you as uniquely capable as a future grad student or employee.

The Dorothy Ruxton Chemistry Student Research Fund was established by Dr. Charles Wight and his wife Victoria Rasmussen in honor of Dr. Wight’s mother. The endowment provides travel grants for students involved in chemistry research to present their work at professional conferences and network with other scientists in the field. A general call for applications occurs each semester.

Those who wish to support our students through this fund may make a donation here.

Learning lab safety techniques is an integral part of your chemistry education.

Each semester the department offers a seminar series featuring a selection of departmental and off-campus speakers. The subject is chemistry, but the presentations vary widely in their subject matter slant e.g. academic or industrial and depth. Students from all levels are strongly encouraged to attend these talks and the stimulating discussions which follow. These informal meetings offer an unusual opportunity to talk face-to-face with scientists from other universities with graduate programs as well as with scientists from industry and from various government agencies.

The department encourages interested chemistry majors to consider employment as departmental lab assistants. As a lab assistant, you can personally contribute to the quality of laboratory instruction especially in the general organic and biochemistry laboratories. Lab assistants typically work about 10 hours per week under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Starting salaries begin at approximately minimum wage and increase with both years of experience and service. Senior lab assistants are given greater responsibility than first or second year assistants often being responsible for the supervision of other student assistants. The experience gained as a lab assistant and the appreciation of what is required to make the laboratories run each week make this an especially valuable experience for any student contemplating graduate studies. See the department administrative assistant for additional information about working for the department. In addition, campus employment is also available through the Work Experience Office. You may apply for jobs upon the basis of skills and job availability.

The department offers opportunities for interested majors to work as paid tutors for introductory chemistry courses. Additional opportunities for employment in the department are available for those students whose schedules or interests preclude employment as a lab assistant. You may be interested in working for one or more faculty members as a grader in a variety of chemistry courses. You should have already had the course for which you are interested in grading or tutoring (unless it is one of our General Education courses) and you should have performed at a relatively high level in the course. You may wish to approach individual faculty members about tutoring and grading homework and/or quizzes for them.

Otherwise you should see the department administrative assistant if you feel you are qualified and would like to be considered as a grader or tutor for one or more chemistry courses. The department does not currently offer tutoring for high school students.

The department offers the internship option (CHEM 413) as part of the B.S. chemistry curriculum. This valuable experience is designed to provide the opportunity to use your chemical knowledge and skills in a professional setting. It also provides you with contacts in the field and independent evaluation of your chemical skills by professionals outside the department.

Student internship placement is available through the department in a large number of industrial commercial and government laboratory settings. You may also design and negotiate your own internship experience if it is previously approved by the department. Typically, students complete the laboratory portion of their internships in the summer although some students have found evening positions which allow them to complete the requirements during a regular academic semester.

Internships may or may not be paid experiences depending upon the particular setting. For further information about internships contact the department administrative assistant who will direct you to the departmental internship supervisor.

Chemistry majors who have completed 12 hours of coursework and who are enrolled for at least six hours may apply for a number of types of financial aid. To be eligible for financial aid you must also be making satisfactory academic progress toward your degree. Additionally, all students must reapply every year for continuation of financial aid and are required to report to the Financial Aid Office any new scholarships, loans, grants and earnings not recorded on the original financial aid application.

Cort Scholarship

The Irving and Sylvia Cort Scholarship in chemistry was established by Bruce Cort in honor of his parents, Irving and Sylvia Cort. The award is given to entering first year chemistry majors based on academic excellence in high school. The scholarship is $1,500 per year for a maximum of four years provided that the student maintains a GPA of at least 3.0 and makes satisfactory progress toward a chemistry degree. In addition, each Cort Scholar is named a Chemistry Department Research Fellow and receives a grant of $250 per year to support student-faculty research. The Chemistry Department selects Cort Scholars from a pool of candidates provided by the Director of Admissions. Further details regarding the Cort Scholarship are available from Dr. Stephen Habay.

Violet B. LaCurts Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship will provide funding to undergraduate students enrolled full time in the Henson School of Science and Technology. Students must be in good standing and have financial need from FAFSA. Must have declared as a first year to be a chemistry or physics major. This scholarship can be renewed for up to four years if criteria are met and a 3.0 CGPA is maintained.