BA in Chemie

Why study Chemistry BA at UB?

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry: for students who are interested in careers in other fields and need a flexible curriculum to allow for courses meeting requirements outside the chemistry degree, for example, medical school or double majors, although many of these students do pursue graduate degrees in chemistry.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have the knowledge to:

Demonstrate foundational knowledge in the traditional subdivisions of the science (organic, inorganic, analytical and physical chemistry) and application.

Understand the ethical, historic, philosophical and environmental dimensions of problems and issues facing chemists

Use modern instrumentation and classical laboratory techniques.

Are able to design and conduct scientific experiments for the purpose of solving a scientific problem and to record and analyze the results.

Know the proper procedures for safe handling and use of chemicals and can follow the proper procedures for chemical waste disposal.

Identify and solve chemical problems and explore new areas of research.

Apply their chemistry training in inter-disciplinary problem solving with specialists in other areas of science and technology.

Communicate the results of their work to other chemists.

The Learning Environment

The Chemistry program features a wide variety of class sizes, types, and delivery methods. Most General Chemistry courses consist of 3 hours of lecture per week (class sizes of ca. 360) presented by PhD level faculty, in addition to 1 hour of recitation and 3 hours of laboratory (class sizes of ca. 22 students) supervised by a graduate student teaching assistant. Organic chemistry courses in the second year consist of 3 hours of lecture per week (class sizes of ca. 275) presented by PhD level faculty, in addition to 1 hour of recitation and 3 hours of laboratory (class sizes of ca. 16 students) supervised by a graduate student teaching assistant. In the third and fourth year classes are generally restricted to chemistry majors. Lecture classes have enrollments of 100 to 16 and use a variety of delivery methods. Laboratory courses are low enrollment and are taught by Chemistry faculty with graduate student teaching assistants; these are heavily hands-on and with state-of-the-art instrumentation. The Department strongly encourages undergraduate research; this is conducted in the individual research groups of tenured or tenure-track faculty.

About Our Facilities

The Department of Chemistry is housed in the Natural Sciences Complex (NSC) on the North Campus. The Department occupies about 112,000 square feet of space, including 32,000 square feet for teaching laboratories and 54,000 square feet of research laboratory space. Also included are support services, such as instrumentation labs, electronic shop, stockrooms and conference rooms.

The Chemistry Department Instrument Center maintains and operates a number of instruments that facilitate a variety of research. These include multiple mass spectrometers for analysis of ions in gas, solution and solid phases, including accurate mass confirmation. Liquid and gas chromatographs are coupled with mass spectrometry to enhance mixture analysis. Ionization techniques include electron impact, electrospray, chemical ionization, and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization. Other techniques available include FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning spectrophotometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometers include a Varian Gemini 300, Varian 400, 500, 600 and 750MHz NMR for structure studies.

About Our Faculty

The staff of the Department of Chemistry includes 30 tenured or tenure-track full-time faculty (all PhD), 3 full-time lecturers, 84 teaching assistants (all graduate students), and 18 support staff. Faculty members deliver lecture courses and supervise teaching assistants who are responsible for oversight of laboratory courses.

The University at Buffalo is a premier public research university that values and pursues academic excellence. We attract exceptional students who are curious, engaged with their studies, and determined to succeed while making a difference in the world.

The College of Arts and Sciences commits to immersing students in an integrative educational environment. From the arts and humanities to the social and natural sciences, our students follow their calling beyond disciplinary boundaries. Where will your talents lead you?

Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences are among the most accomplished and dedicated in their fields. More than two-thirds of our full-time faculty have been hired within the last ten years, representing a group of bright, passionate scholars who work to foster a spirit of curiosity, academic rigor, and investment in student success through the creation of new knowledge.

In pursuit of solutions to pressing world problems, our students and faculty work in tandem to rethink current methods, answer tough questions, and ultimately break down barriers to discovery and advancement.