WVU's undergraduate Chemistry program was named a State University System Board of Trustees Program of Excellence. The Department of Chemistry offers two degree programs. Designed for majors who wish to qualify for professional positions in industry and government services, the bachelor of science curriculum also qualifies students for graduate work in chemistry or allied areas in preparation for research careers in industry and/or university teaching. To acquire a background in the principles of chemistry, you may pursue a bachelor of arts with a major in chemistry and enter many fields in which this type of education is an asset. Both degree programs prepare students for admission to professional schools of medicine, dentistry, or law. Students also may pursue a BA degree in biochemistry through the department. Careers ranging from biotechnology to medicine await graduates. The department is an integral part of WVU’s Forensic Identification Program, and opportunities are developing that will allow students to prepare for work in forensics labs throughout the country. Additional information may be obtained from the department. Admission to the Departmental Honors Program may be sought at any time after the student’s first semester and no later than three semesters before graduation. Qualifications include at least a 3.5 GPA in Chemistry courses taken at WVU and the endorsement of the Chemistry faculty Majors in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Biochemistry B Biology B, M, D Chemistry B, M, D Communications Studies B, M, D Computer Science B Creative Writing M Criminology & Investigations B Economics B English B, M, D Environmental Geoscience B Foreign Languages B, M Forensic & Investigative Science B Geography B, M, D Geology B, M, D History B, M, D Individualized Major B Industrial Mathematics and Statistics B International Studies B Legal Studies M Liberal Arts and Sciences B Liberal Studies M Mathematics B, M, D Multidisciplinary Studies B Philosophy B Physics B, M, D Political Science B, M, D Professional Writing and Editing M Psychology B, M, D Public Administration M Regents Bachelor of Arts B Religious Studies B Slavic Studies B Social Work B, M Sociology M Sociology and Anthropology B Statistics M Women's Studies B B=Bachelor's; M=Master's; D=Doctorate For more information, contact Dr. Harry Finklea at 304-293-3435, ext. 6408 Or visit the Web site at: www.wvu.edu/~chemistry/

The WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse academic unit within West Virginia University. A faculty of 450 and a staff of 125 are involved in educating and supporting the efforts of more than 6,700 students (nearly one-fourth of the WVU student body) who are majoring in one or more of 63 undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the College’s 16 academic departments and divisions. The College’s academic units and research facilities are housed in 14 buildings on the WVU campus. The Dean’s Office is in historic Woodburn Hall. The College and its Department of Biology also maintain the Core Arboretum, a 75-acre wooded tract adjacent to the Monongahela River.

The College provides the majority of the curriculum for all WVU undergraduates and a wide variety of required and elective courses for the entire student body. Arts and Sciences majors may, with permission, major in more than one discipline, and when appropriate, design highly individualized degree programs.

Eberly College undergraduate degree programs prepare students for many specific professions, while also providing a broad-based education that will remain relevant beyond the first job after graduation. Many Eberly College alumni go on to complete graduate and professional degrees. By providing students with analytic and communication skills, reasoning abilities, and a broad knowledge of the humanities and the behavioral and natural sciences, the Eberly College equips graduates for lifelong learning and prepares them to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world and an increasingly volatile job market.

Admission
If University admission requirements are met, a student may be accepted as a Pre-Chemistry major. Upon completion of 58 credit hours with at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA, a student may apply for admission to the Chemistry Program. A grade of C or better in all prerequisites for chemistry courses must be earned by all Chemistry majors.

Curriculum
During the first two years, the BA and BS degree programs are essentially the same. However, students in the bachelor of science program should complete the calculus requirement as soon as possible in preparation for both the physics and physical chemistry sequences. The other difference is that more upper-level Chemistry courses must be completed by bachelor of science degree candidates.

To earn a bachelor of arts, a student must complete a total of 128 credit hours. These credits must include 26 hours of required chemistry courses, seven credit hours of chemistry electives, eight credit hours of calculus, and eight credit hours of physics. To earn a bachelor of science, students must complete 47 credit hours of required chemistry courses, six credit hours of chemistry electives, twelve credit hours of calculus, and eight credit hours of physics.

Specific information about degree requirements for the BA and BS degrees can be found at the web page for Chemistry Degree Requirements.

Course Work

Accreditation
WVU is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The BS Chemistry Program has been certified by the American Chemical Society since 1941.

Scholarships
For Chemistry majors, four scholarship programs are available. Awarded to West Virginia residents who are in the bachelor of science program, John A. Moore Trust Scholarships are given to students with outstanding academic records and financial need. Students in either the BA or BS program may receive Charles L. Lazzell Scholarships, the Hodge Scholarship, or the Carpenter Family Scholarship, provided they meet the same qualifications. The Robert L. and Patricia Miller Stultz Chemistry Scholarship is given to a rising junior chemistry major with a demonstrated commitment to the study of chemistry.

Career Opportunities
Chemists hold about 192,000 jobs nationwide. The majority of chemists are employed in manufacturing firms—mostly in the chemical manufacturing industry, which includes firms that produce gasoline and other fuels, plastics and synthetic materials, drugs, soap and cleaners, paints, industrial organic chemicals, and other miscellaneous chemical products. Chemists also work for state, local, and federal governments, primarily in health and agriculture. Others work for research and testing services. Chemistry graduates with advanced degrees hold faculty positions in colleges and universities.

Graduate School Opportunities
Many employers prefer chemists with a PhD to work in basic and applied research. A PhD is also generally required for a university faculty position and for advancement to many administrative positions. Chemists who work in sales, marketing, or professional research positions often move into management. WVU offers master’s and doctoral degrees in Chemistry.

Salary Range
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employees, the average starting salary for a bachelor’s degree is $41,000.