Want to be a Chem major?

Interested in Chemistry?

Why should you consider majoring in Chemistry?

Chemistry is known as the "central science"; it serves as a cornerstone for biology, physics, astronomy, medicine etc. Chemistry is an incredibly dynamic field of study with new advancements being made each day. Our department highlights some of these advancements with the colloquia we host each year.

What classes should I take my first semester if I want to be a Chemistry major?

Students considering chemistry as a possible major are strongly urged to enroll in one of these courses in the fall semester of their first year. In addition, prospective chemistry majors will want to complete Mathematics 135 (Calculus II) by the end of the first year. The Chemistry major cannot be fulfilled in just 2 years of study; you must begin your major well in advance of your Junior year.
You can find a typical schedule of chemistry courses for the chemistry major here.

i) CHE 115 (Principles of Chemistry). This course is recommended as the first Davidson chemistry course for most first-year students who took high school chemistry

ii) CHE 201(Introductory Organic Chemistry I). Students who scored a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in chemistry may receive AP credit for CHE 115 and enroll in CHE 201 as their first Davidson course.

iii) CHE 110 (Introduction to Chemistry). This course, which is offered fall semester only, introduces the fundamentals of chemistry in order to prepare students for CHE 115. It is recommended, but not required, for students who do not have a good background in chemistry from high school.

Students who have questions about registering for any chemistry course may direct them to Ruth F. Beeston, department chair.

What can the Chemistry major offer you?

The Chemistry Department at Davidson is relatively small, and this close knit environment fosters relationships between students and faculty members. Faculty and students meet together each week for a lunch in Vail commons, and everyone looks forward to the annual Chemistry picnic each spring. Even in introductory courses, labs are limited to 16-18 people, and you are exposed to sophisticated equipment such as gas chromatographs and an NMR spectrometer. As you progress through the Chemistry curriculum, the classes become smaller, and you gain a greater autonomy of what you will study. During your junior or senior year, you choose a 5 week independent research project on any topic that interests you!

What can you do with a chemistry major from Davidson?

About one-half of the chemistry graduates attend graduate school in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, and related fields. One-fourth of the chemistry graduates enter medical school, and some enroll in M.D./Ph.D. programs. The remainder of the Davidson chemistry alumni are attorneys, engineers, clergymen, businessmen, computer specialists, military officers, managers, secondary school teachers, and forensic chemists. As you can see, the possibilities are endless.