Because of its place among the sciences, chemistry is inherently interdisciplinary and attracts students to its study from a broad range of related interests.

The chemistry major at Franklin & Marshall College is led by faculty who are committed to helping the student ?learn how to learn.? In addition to acquiring an understanding of the basic concepts of chemistry, majors hone the skills necessary for critical and analytical thinking and develop their ability to communicate observations and discoveries through the printed and spoken word.

Through coursework, chemistry majors gain an understanding of transformations and reactions at the atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales, the energetics associated with those changes and the analytical techniques used to study them. By involvement in the ongoing research of chemistry faculty members, students have extraordinary opportunities to study new reactions and properties of matter and to make original contributions to the literature. As a consequence, knowledge gained from coursework is deepened and enriched by the research experience, which immerses the student in the methodology of scientific discovery and the creative process. The confidence and independence engendered by the chemistry major allow students to pursue a wide variety of opportunities beyond graduation.