Overview
Chemistry is exciting, intellectually challenging, and rewarding. As the “central science” dealing with atoms and molecules, it is fundamental to understanding other science disciplines, including biology and medicine. Knowledge of chemistry can lead to careers in medicine, law, physical and social sciences, engineering, and public policy. Our undergraduate program provides chemistry majors with post-graduate opportunities in industry and in graduate programs. Both industrial and graduate school recruiters come to campus throughout the year to recruit chemistry graduates, as well as underclassmen for summer research internships. Pre-med chemistry majors are also in demand for medical schools.
Our Department excels in providing basic and advanced undergraduate chemistry education. We offer a broad variety of courses, newly expanded facilities, and an active teaching and research faculty with an international reputation for excellence. Our faculty believes very strongly that research is a vital component in the education of a chemist. We encourage our undergraduate students to begin research as early as possible. Students identify research opportunities through discussions with their advisors and their course professors. In addition, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), a University-wide academic program, promotes Boston University undergraduates' participation in faculty-mentored research projects across all disciplines, throughout the calendar year. Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to visit this site frequently for updated information and proposal deadlines.
Starting in the Fall, the Department holds Monday evening seminars for undergraduates to introduce them to faculty research interests and to cultivate undergraduate/faculty interaction. These seminars cover topics such as identifying and addressing worthwhile questions, planning experiments, locating information sources, oral and written communication, ethics, intellectual property, and career prospects. Students who participate in research receive personal attention from their faculty advisers and have excellent opportunities for undertaking senior projects and honors theses.