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Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

American Chemical Society logo

If you possess a curiosity about our physical world and a desire to improve the quality of life, consider a major in chemistry.

Our curriculum is approved by the American Chemical Society and involves core and laboratory courses in general, inorganic, organic, physical, and analytical chemistry as well as the allied fields of physics and mathematics. Each chemistry faculty member holds a doctorate from a major university. Class sizes are small, and we are proud of our accessibility in and out of the classroom. You will have the opportunity to undertake research to obtain experience in individual scientific investigation.


What to Expect

What makes the Shippensburg University Chemistry Department stand apart? It's not just chemistry, it's a community. With professors that offer personal attention, this is a program unlike any other.

young female student performing a chemistry experimentSmall Class Sizes

Small class sizes help faculty form close relationships with students, but they are also accessible outside the classroom. They are always excited to help future chemists set and achieve their goals.

Analytical Instrumentation

Undergraduate chemistry students have access to a wide variety of instruments for hands-on experience in their course work and research. Learning how to use these instruments will prepare you for internships while you complete your degree at Shippensburg University, a career in the field of chemistry after graduation, or make you an excellent candidate for graduate programs.

chemistry lab scalesCareer Placement

Currently in demand, chemistry majors can expect a wide variety of career choices with good salaries and low unemployment rates. Immediately after graduation, approximately half of our students enter industry, business, or government agencies where employment usually involves laboratory testing or research. Our graduates become gainfully employed or become graduate students in various programs to pursue advanced degrees.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge in four sub-disciplines of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical. 
  • Students will have experience working with chemistry in extracurricular settings: internships and/or summer research.
  • Students will satisfactorily complete, analyze, and interpret data from laboratory experiments.
  • Students will summarize the design and results of a scientific investigation in an acceptable format for oral presentations. 
  • Upon completion, students will be qualified for graduate programs, industry positions, and/or secondary teaching.
  • Students will present laboratory work in a recognized format for scientific writing.

Shippensburg University chemistry graduates can find careers in many different areas, including:

  • Agricultural Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Chemical Education
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Sales and Marketing
  • Chemical Technology
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry
  • Consulting
  • Consumer Products
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Food and Flavor Chemistry
  • Forensic Chemistry
  • Geochemistry
  • Hazardous Waste Management
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Material Science
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Oil and Petroleum Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Pulp and Paper Chemistry
  • R&D Management
  • Science Writing
  • Textile Chemistry
  • Water Chemistry

Many companies employ Shippensburg University chemistry graduates, including the following:

  • Merck
  • Bayer
  • BASF
  • Cambrex
  • Air Products
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Proctor and Gamble
  • Lancaster Laboratories
  • Sanofi-Aventis
  • Weidmann Diagnostic Solutions
  • WestRock

Companies and institutions interested in recruiting senior chemistry majors from Shippensburg University can request a seminar or presentation in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department giving students an opportunity to showcase their talents for hiring managers.

Please contact us if you are interested in scheduling a recruitment seminar by emailing cmzaleski@ship.edu. We're happy to answer your questions and work with you to schedule a visit to our campus.

Many Shippensburg University Chemistry graduates pursue advanced degrees. Our students have gone on to seek degrees at the following institutions:

  • John's Hopkins University
  • Michigan State University
  • Princeton University
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • University of Illinois
  • Vanderbilt University
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Penn State University
  • University of Florida
  • University Of Cincinnati
  • Miami University of Ohio
  • Drexel University
  • University of Virginia
  • Duquesne University
  • Delaware University
  • Rice
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
  • Notre Dame
  • Virginia Tech
  • SUNY Buffalo

Contact the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

327 Franklin Science Center 1871 Old Main Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-477-1629 Fax: (717) 477-4048