Natural Sciences
Chemistry
Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Chemistry
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Students can work one-on-one with qualified faculty and use research-quality instrumentation in our laboratories to fully immerse in experimental science. Chemistry majors have the opportunity to gain laboratory work experience as stockroom assistants and lab assistants for the department. Each year, several chemistry students participate in our research program working with faculty on specialized research projects.
Summer research allows students to gain vital experience in real world applications as well as practice with state-of-the-art instrumentation. Chemistry students can get involved with the Pi Rho chemistry club and make time for artistic and athletic interests as well. Each semester, professionals currently working in Texas present seminars to students. At TLU, faculty research does not trump the dedication to teaching.
Why Chemistry at TLU?
Chemistry Seminar Program
Science takes place in world-wide community. At TLU, you will have the chance to hear from scientists working in Texas and throughout the U.S. Our seminar program regularly brings speakers to campus from universities and industries. Students are introduced to faculty members from graduate schools, and learn about graduate and employment opportunities.
Instrumentation
Currently we have the following operational instruments: Nanalysis 60 MHz FT-NMR, Perkin-Elmer FITR with ATR, Perkin Elmer ICP, Perkin Elmer ICP-MS, Nicolet FTIR, Shamadzu UV-VIS, Shimadzu HPLC, Buck AA, PE Fluorometer, DeltaNu Raman, Shamadzu DSC, Rheometrics Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer, a polymer tensile tester, and several GC’s.
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Chemistry Research
Students in our chemistry degree programs are encouraged to work with faculty members on research projects during the school year and in the summer. Students who are selected for research may receive scholarships through the support of the Welch Foundation, and they often report on their research at meetings of the American Chemical Society. In recent years, students have traveled with faculty members to New Orleans, San Francisco, Denver, and San Diego to present papers.
We have an active summer research program currently funded by the Welch Foundation ($30,000/year) and BYK Additives ($10,000/year). This money is used to support a average of 10 students each year in our summer research program. As a result of this research we have taken students to give papers or posters at national and regional meeting of the American Chemical Society in Dallas, Boston, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Memphis, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City. Students have also given papers at Undergraduate research symposia at Baylor, A&M, Rice, and Trinity. Our students also earn very competitive slots in NSF funded undergraduate research programs in universities across the country. We have had students attend SURF or REU programs at Colorado State, UC-Santa Barbara, Clemson, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, and Paris, France.
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Careers in Chemistry
Career Opportunities
Many TLU chemistry graduates go on to medical or dental schools, or other professional programs such as pharmacy, exercise physiology and optometry. Graduates take positions in a variety of industries, including pharmaceutics, petroleum, cosmetics, environmental testing, and biochemical technology.
A chemistry degree can open doors into other areas such as aerospace, patent law, education, forensics, and technical business management.
Every year, TLU Chemistry graduates are admitted graduate schools in the U.S. A majority graduates are awarded full financial support to attend graduate school. With a master's degree or a doctorate, several TLU Alumni have obtained positions at colleges and universities and prominent management positions in the chemical industry.
TLU Chemistry Graduates
Over the last 25 years we have averaged about 6-8 chemistry graduates per year, with approximately 50% being women. Most graduates go on to graduate school, medical or dental school; since 1990 over 60 chemistry majors have gone to graduate school in chemistry, and another 50 have gone to medical, dental, or veterinary schools. Others take jobs in industry or teach high school.
Our students have attended graduate school or done post-doctoral work at Utah, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, Rice, LSU, Wisconsin, Illinois, NC State, Duke, Harvard, Dartmouth, Florida, Cal-Davis, Washington, Yale, and others. Several were awarded special institutional awards, NSF fellowships, or NIH fellowships, and one received a von Humboldt Fellowship.
Academic positions taken by our graduates include Colorado State, University of Texas-SA, Baylor, Trinity (San Antonio), Wittenberg, Wright State, St. Edwards, Stephen F. Austin, Johns Hopkins, Luther College, and SMU.