The mission of the Department of Chemistry is to conduct world-class, groundbreaking research in the chemical sciences while offering the highest quality of education to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates. The department's leadership in research includes the traditional areas of physical, analytical, inorganic, and organic chemistry, and has rapidly evolved to encompass environmental chemistry, chemical biology, biophysical chemistry, soft and hard materials chemistry, and nanotechnology. The Department of Chemistry prides itself on its highly interactive, diverse, and collegial scientific environment. Our emphasis on collaboration connects us to colleagues across campus, around the country, and throughout the world.
The undergraduate chemistry major leads to a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree awarded by the College of Letters & Science. The curriculum provides excellent preparation in chemistry, along with a wide breadth of liberal arts coursework. At the same time, the program provides significant opportunities for students to participate in scientific inquiry, within both laboratory courses and research laboratories. Students from other colleges within the university may pursue the chemistry major as an additional major. When pursuing a chemistry major, the undergraduate student must meet university general education requirements and breadth requirements of their own college, along with the specific requirements for the chemistry major.
The chemistry major provides students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to be successful in a wide variety of careers in the chemical industries (e.g., consumer and agricultural products, materials, energy, petroleum, paper, food, etc.), as well as environmental, pharmaceutical, and other health-related sciences. Students are also well-prepared for graduate-level work in chemistry, chemical physics, biochemistry, biophysics, materials chemistry, and other related fields. Students who excel in undergraduate chemistry coursework are often able to obtain funding for their graduate work through teaching or research assistantships and fellowships. Combined with a master's program in secondary education, the major qualifies the student to teach chemistry in secondary schools. Chemistry majors have also been successful in a variety of professional programs where they have studied medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, business, or law.
People
Faculty: https://chem.wisc.edu/faculty/
Staff: https://chem.wisc.edu/people/staff/
Chemistry Learning Center: https://clc.chem.wisc.edu/meet-the-staff/
Student Services and Advising: https://chem.wisc.edu/undergraduate-education/
Resources and Scholarships
Academic Resources
A number of resources are available to students seeking assistance with their chemistry courses. Students are strongly encouraged to attend instructor and TA office hours or the Help Desk for the course.
The Chemistry Learning Center (CLC) supports students in introductory chemistry courses (CHEM 103, CHEM 104, and CHEM 108) and in some sections of organic chemistry. The center welcomes as many students as possible but unfortunately does not have sufficient resources to support all students seeking help. The center is funded to work with specific groups of students, such as first-generation low-income students, underrepresented students, students on academic probation, students with disabilities, students who have trouble understanding English, new transfer students, recently returning veterans, and students at risk of failing the course. These are general guidelines and the center considers each student seeking assistance on a case-by-case basis, taking into account available program space. Program eligibility is usually determined by an interview with a staff member.
Further assistance may be sought from various tutoring services on campus, including the Greater University Tutoring Services (GUTS), University Housing Tutoring, and the College of Engineering Undergraduate Learning Center (ULC). Alpha Chi Sigma (AXS) is a co-ed professional chemistry fraternity that also offers tutoring. For students seeking more individualized tutoring, the Department of Chemistry maintains a list of private tutors available for hire.
Scholarships
Through the generosity of alumni and other friends of the department, the Department of Chemistry is able to offer scholarships and summer research support. In 2023, the department awarded more than 40 scholarships totaling over $191,000.
Any student who is a chemistry major or is conducting research with a chemistry faculty member is eligible to apply for the scholarships. Awards are based on both merit and financial need. Students may apply for academic year scholarships and/or summer research support. Learn more about chemistry scholarships and how to apply.