Students can elect to complete a chemistry major for a B.A. degree or a more extensive major for a B.S. degree. Students planning to do graduate work in the field or to enter industry should fulfill the requirements of the American Chemical Society's (A.C.S.) Certified Major Program. An A.C.S.-certified B.S. Degree Program in Chemistry with Biochemistry Emphasis is available for students who have interests in chemistry and biology. A B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is offered jointly by the departments of Chemistry and Biology, and is available for those students who seek a degree at the interface of these two disciplines.?

?Students who intend to enter medical or dental schools or plan a career in secondary education may design their major program according to their specific goals. Since students planning a chemistry major have a number of options, it is essential that they discuss their plans with the chairperson of the department or a chemistry advisor early in their academic program

In addition to the lecture courses, an A.C.S.-certified major requires that a student have more than 400 contact hours of laboratory experience beyond General Chemistry. Laboratory coursework must include analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry lab. Research experience may count for up to 84 hours if a student prepares a well-written, comprehensive and well-documented research report.