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ACS approval means this program meets rigorous standards that help employers identify well-prepared job candidates, among other benefits. Learn more.

Ball State’s major in chemistry will prepare you for an exciting and rewarding career in industrial or government laboratories, or for further study in graduate or professional schools. By completing this major and conducting research as an undergraduate, you will be certified by the Department of Chemistry’s chairperson as having fulfilled the course of study prescribed by the American Chemistry Society’s Committee on Professional Training.

This program will prepare you for:

  • a career in chemistry or biochemistry
  • graduate school in chemically-related fields
  • teaching chemistry
  • applying to professional schools such as medical or dental

medalNationally Ranked

We are ranked by the American Chemical Society (ACS) as one of the largest producers of ACS-accredited chemistry majors in the state of Indiana. We also rank in the top 10 percent in the nation in the number of graduating ACS-accredited chemistry majors.

What You Will Learn

This program provides intense training that will prepare you for graduate study or careers in chemistry.

You will take courses in:

  • general chemistry
  • organic chemistry
  • chemical analysis
  • physical chemistry
  • inorganic chemistry

What It’s Like to Major in Chemistry (ACS-Approved Degree) at Ball State

Our knowledgeable faculty and staff are committed to serving our students. We take great pride in our faculty-student interactions, incorporating faculty supervision in all laboratories, encouraging cooperative learning, and providing numerous opportunities for both formal and informal student-faculty engagement.

Read Their Bios

The Chemistry Research Immersion Summer Program (CRISP) is one of the largest undergraduate research programs in chemistry in the nation. An average of about 40 students each summer have participated in CRISP over the past several years.

CRISP students do research, attend research group meetings, and have the opportunity to present their findings at weekly research meetings. All of the students in the program also present a poster describing their research at the CRISP poster session at the end of the summer session.

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We have a variety of state-of-the-art scientific equipment which our students are encouraged to use. Many of our instruments are the same kind you would find on the popular show CSI.

You will not watch idly as your professors use all this sophisticated equipment—you will work with the equipment yourself.

In addition, our department uses the University Imaging Laboratory, which includes electron microscopy facilities.

Departmental instrumentation includes:

  • 400 and 300 MHz multinuclear NMR spectrometers
  • FT-IR Spectrometers
  • Gas Chromatographs
  • High-Performance Liquid Chromatographs
  • Fluorescence spectrometers
  • Flame AA/AE and graphite furnace AA
  • Differential Scanning Calorimeter
  • Laser Flash Photolysis
  • GC/MS
  • Ultimate 3000 Rapid Separation LC unit coupled to an LTQ XL linear ion trap mass spectrometer

Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS) is open to all students. This vibrant, award-winning group meets monthly to do service for the community and Ball State. SAACS members promote an interest in chemistry, address issues facing chemistry students, and promote an awareness of the responsibilities and challenges of today's chemists.

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Our small class sizes give students the opportunity to get the focused, one-on-one attention from instructors they need to succeed academically. Students also work closely together in our organizations, research labs, and in the community to promote chemistry education.

Patricia Lang

Achieving Academic Excellence
Patricia Lang

Kicking down walls is Patricia Lang’s specialty—figuratively, at least. She was among the first female scientists at Ball State. Now, her mission is to recruit and retain minority students in STEM programs. Learn more about her work

Major Requirements

This option within our chemistry major leads to a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree (BA/BS) approved by the American Chemical Society.

Departmental Option

If you would like to complement another science-related major with a background in chemistry, consider our departmental option

Upon completion of the program, you will be certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS) as having fulfilled the course of study described in "Objective and Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs in Chemistry." The ACS is the premier chemistry organization, so employers and graduate schools will take notice.

You will also need to meet course requirements set by our University Core Curriculum.

Credits

Total: 120

  • University Core Curriculum: 36
  • Major-Specific Courses: 43

Courses

A few of the classes you will take include:

  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Chemical Instrumentation
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Principles of Biochemistry

You will also need to take classes in physics and calculus.

For a complete list of all the courses you will take and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.

View Catalog

What Can You Do with an ACS-Approved Degree in Chemistry?

This option will prepare students for graduate schools in chemistry or employment in chemical research laboratories. Laboratory chemists work with chemical or pharmaceutical firms, fossil fuel processors, material testing laboratories, scientific equipment companies, or consumer product development firms. Chemists also work in state police laboratories and environmental monitoring agencies.

Graduates of this program have landed chemistry-related jobs with the following companies:

  • Dow AgroSciences
  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • Pfizer
  • Roche Diagnostics
  • Covance

Paying for Your Education

Department Scholarships

On top of the dozens of funding options offered through Ball State’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, our department awards scholarships to our own students. Find a scholarship.

Ready to Apply?

Admission to Ball State is selective, and we carefully evaluate all application on an individual basis. Applying for admission is easy. Use our convenient, comprehensive, and secure online application.

Want to Learn More?

The best way to get a true feel for Ball State is to spend some time here, so we encourage you and your family to schedule a campus visit. Take a tour, attend an information session, meet with a professor in our area, and ask plenty of questions. Or, if you’d rather speak to someone directly by phone or email, please feel free to contact us.

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