Chemistry

Chemistry, the science of matter, is at the heart of everything we do. This is a vital, creative field, intellectually challenging and a solid foundation for careers in fields as diverse as art, business, law, medicine and technology.

The Union College Chemistry Department, certified by the American Chemical Society, is characterized by small classes and laboratory settings; an outstanding collection of chemical instrumentation; and dedicated, accessible faculty with expertise in everything from organic and inorganic chemistry to analytical, forensic and environmental chemistry.

You will encounter extraordinary opportunities for research and for internships. You’ll be exposed to research talks and career advice from industrial, academic and government chemists during a weekly seminar series. And you will benefit from studying chemistry within the context of a liberal arts college, where you may simultaneously explore your interests in arts, classics, history, economics and many other disciplines.

"My thesis professor, Ellen Robertson, is one of my biggest supporters. After having her as a chemistry professor my first year, I knew I wanted to partake in her research. I was able to start working in her lab that spring and have continued all the way to doing my thesis with her. She’s not only my professor, but she has become a role model and someone I respect very much." - Misty Zaczyk '22

Our facilities and instrumentation are top-notch. Major instruments available to undergraduates include a 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, research-grade mass spectrometers, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analyzer, scanning electron microscope, atomic absorption spectrometer, voltammetric analyzer, atomic force microscope, IR and Raman microscopes and much more.

In addition, the Peter Irving Wold Center is home to the Aerogel Fabrication, Characterization and Applications Lab, an interdisciplinary facility for faculty and student researchers in chemistry and mechanical engineering that includes state-of-the-art instrumentation.

Union College and the Chemistry Department have a strong tradition of student-faculty research. In addition to participating in the campus-wide Steinmetz Symposium research day, many chemistry students present at national and regional conferences and publish in well-recognized journals. The department awards some 30-40 summer research fellowships each year. Students also pursue summer research at other institutions and in government labs.

Many chemistry majors go on Union’s Sicily term abroad, where they engage in research projects with scientists and graduate students at the National Research Council in Palermo. Others hold internships at local chemical and technical firms. Our national award-winning Chemistry Club, an affiliate of the ACS, is involved in numerous activities, including professional society meetings and volunteer work at local schools.

Your chemistry studies will provide a strong foundation for careers in the sciences as well as enrollment in medical school or health-related graduate programs. About a third of our chemistry graduates go directly into jobs in chemical or biotechnology corporations. Many others pursue advanced study or careers in business, education and law.

What some of our graduates are doing:

Chemistry courses and requirements