There is an active research program at Swarthmore and students are encouraged to include research as part of their undergraduate education. In addition to close collaboration in research labs, many of the upper level courses are taught as seminars providing for in-depth exchanges between students and faculty.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department offers a course major in Chemistry, a special Major in Biochemistry and a special major in Chemical Physics. Each of these three majors can also be completed as part of the Honors Program.