Chemistry
Program Details
Chemistry is the study of matter, including its composition, properties and structure. It’s a broad and complex field that helps make sense of the world around us, from how fossil fuels are created to why onions make people cry. As a chemistry major at Xavier, you’ll get to harness your curiosity about how things work through studying the five major branches of chemistry: organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry. You’ll also complete individual research alongside expert faculty, conduct experiments and have access to multiple campus labs.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes. 98 percent of our students, including those in the chemistry major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2021). Additionally, Xavier students have a 92 percent acceptance rate to medical schools (Class of 2019), compared to 40 percent nationally.
This program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and leads to the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree.
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Chemistry major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- CHEM 160: General Chemistry I............ 3cr.
- CHEM 161: General Chemistry I Lab............ 1cr.
- MATH 170: Calculus I............ 4cr.
- Second Language 102............ 3cr.
- ENGL 101/115 English Composition/Rhetoric ............ 3cr.
- CORE 101............ 0cr.
Spring
- CHEM 162: General Chemistry II............ 3cr.
- CORE 102............ 0cr.
- CHEM 163: General Chemistry II Lab............ 1cr.
- MATH 171: Calculus II............ 4cr.
- CHEM 180: Intro to Chemical Enterprise............ 1cr.
- Second Language 201............ 3cr.
- CORE 100: First-Year Seminar ............ 3cr.
Fall
- CHEM 240: Organic Chemistry I............ 3cr.
- CHEM 241: Organic Chemistry I Lab............ 1cr.
- MATH 220: Calculus III............ 4cr.
- PHYS 170: University Physics I............ 3cr.
- PHYS 161: Introductory Physics Lab I............ 1cr.
- PHIL 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy ............ 3cr.
Spring
- CHEM 242: Organic Chemistry II............ 3cr.
- CHEM 242: Organic Chemistry II Lab............ 1cr.
- CHEM 226: Quantitative Analysis............ 3cr.
- CHEM 227: Quantitative Analysis Lab............ 1cr.
- PHYS 172: University Physics II............ 3cr.
- PHYS 163: Introductory Physics Lab II............ 1cr.
- THEO 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
Fall
- CHEM 320: Physical Chemistry I............ 3cr.
- CHEM 340: Instrumental Analysis............ 3cr.
- ENGL 205: Literature & Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
- Historical Perspectives............ 3cr.
- Social Science Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- CHEM 322: Physical Chemistry II............ 3cr.
- CHEM 325: Physical Chemistry II Lab............ 1cr.
- CHEM 341: Instrumental Analysis Lab............ 1cr.
- CHEM 330: Quantum Chemistry............ 2cr.
- CHEM 400: Research............ 1cr.
- PHIL 290: Theory of Knowledge ............ 3cr.
- Theological Elective............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspectives............ 3cr.
Fall
- CHEM 420: Inorganic Chemistry............ 3cr.
- CHEM 450: Topics in Organic Chemistry............ 3cr.
- CHEM 400: Research............ 1cr.
- E/RS Elective............ 3cr.
- CHEM 421 Inorganic Chemistry Lab ............ 1cr.
- Diversity Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- CHEM 400: Research ............ 1cr.
- CHEM 440: Biochemistry............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that’s both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the chemistry major at Xavier:
Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 226) - An introductory course in analytical chemistry covering gravimetric and titrimetric methods of analysis. Statistical analysis of data is performed.
Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 240) - This course is the first in a two semester sequence of organic chemistry. This is a pre-professional course approved by the American Chemical Society for chemistry majors and required of many other science majors. This course examines the basic structure, properties, preparation and reaction mechanisms of organic compounds.
Quantum Chemistry (CHEM 330) - An introduction to quantum chemistry and molecular structure.
Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 420) - Modern theories of bonding and structure, spectroscopy, redox chemistry, and reaction mechanisms. Coordination compounds, organometallic clusters, and catalysis.
Student Clubs
Alchemyst Club
The Alchemyst Club was established to inform and educate the Xavier community about the merits of science, especially chemistry and to lend support to the Xavier chemistry community.The club's purpose is to facilitate the propagation of chemical knowledge and to assist in making the chemistry major a viable option.
Career Outcomes
98% of Xavier students, including those in the chemistry major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2021). Additionally, Xavier students have a 92% acceptance rate to medical schools (Class of 2019), compared to 40% nationally.
Career Opportunities: Analytical Chemist, Biotechnologist, Chemical Engineer, Chemical Technician, Clinical Scientist, Dentist, Food Scientist, Organic Chemist, Forensic Lab Analyst, Industrial Chemist, Pharmacist, Physician, Research and Development Chemist, Synthetic Chemist, Toxicologist, Water Quality Analyst
Explore more career options with the career portals at the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Take the Next Step
Chemistry Department Equipment and Instruments
Students in the chemistry major have access to campus labs that include a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer, infra-red spectrometers, gas chromatographs, a multichannel analyzer, a high performance liquid chromatograph and more.
Cincinnati: A City of Opportunity for Chemistry Majors
Cincinnati, Ohio features some of the largest companies in the world, which means students in the chemistry major have countless opportunities for careers, internships and mentorships at places like Kroger, Procter & Gamble and Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The city is ranked the #1 Best City for College Graduates (smartasset.com) and is home to some of the nation’s leading hospitals and healthcare networks.
What is Jesuit Education?
A Xavier education is more than your typical college experience. Drawing on a Jesuit Catholic educational model 400 years in the making, students in the chemistry major get the personal attention and support they need to succeed and make a difference in the world. The result is an education that’s as encouraging as it is challenging, and as enriching as it is demanding.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Chemistry Major at Xavier University
The Chemistry major at Xavier University is a minimum 120-hour degree program that is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Students completing the program graduate as "ACS certified" majors. The curriculum covers the five major fields (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry), the preparation and identification of compounds, and the literature on the subject.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."