As a chemistry major, you will gain the expertise needed to enter the workforce as a chemist or enroll in graduate or professional school.
What courses will you take?
The B.S. in Chemistry provides a solid foundation in chemistry through courses in organic, analytical, physical, inorganic and polymer chemistry, as well as biochemistry. You will also take supporting courses such as calculus and calculus-based physics.听听
During the senior year, you'll have the chance to perform research with a faculty member or choose to take advanced courses.听
The Chemistry department offers the following options, which lead to a wide range of career opportunities.
- General Option 鈥斕齈repare for all areas of the chemical profession, as well as for graduate study in chemistry, dentistry, medicine, patent law, and teaching. Courses for General Option
- Biochemistry Option 鈥�听Gain the knowledge and skillset needed for careers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences and other fields that apply principles of chemistry to biological systems. Courses emphasize chemical principles. Learn more about the Biochemistry Option and courses
- Forensic Science Option 鈥� Take courses in forensics science, criminal justice and criminalistics. You'll graduate prepared for a career in a crime lab or in other fields that require analytical chemistry techniques combined with knowledge of the criminal justice system. Learn more about the Forensics Option and courses.
- STEM Teaching Option 鈥斕齈repare for a career in high school chemistry education. You will learn to convey chemistry topics with in-depth understanding and real-world examples. This option is designed to coordinate with the UTEACH program and practicum experience leading to an initial teaching license. Courses for the STEM Teaching Option
- Sustainability Option 鈥� Combine the core chemistry degree courses with interdisciplinary coursework in sustainability to prepare for听careers in green chemistry, sustainability and energy. Courses for the Sustainability Option
The Chemistry and Chemistry with Forensics Option programs are both approved by the .
Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing and to learn more about the Chemistry minor.
A graduate in Chemistry will be expected to be able to:
- Understand and apply calculations needed in the chemical sciences for preparing and analyzing solutions and samples.听
- Master common laboratory analytical techniques and skills needed for the qualitative and quantitative identification of unknown chemical samples.听
- Understand the particulate nature of matter and how electromagnetic radiation interacts with matter.听
- Read scientific papers and instructions and use this information to carry out experiments.听
- Work in teams and individually to perform scientific experiments.听
- Write scientific reports and prepare appropriate graphs of data.听
- Follow regulations and proper procedures for the safe handling and use of chemicals.听
- Understand the ethical responsibilities and contemporary issues of chemists in the workplace.
Why study chemistry at UMass Lowell?
Research Opportunities
Conduct research with our expert faculty.听Many students have presented their results at conferences and/or published papers in scientific journals.听Research areas include:
- Polymer synthesis
- Organic electronics
- Biofunctional surfaces
- Chemical and biological sensors
- Protein chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Internships
Connect classroom learning to real-world settings. Our students have interned with organizations including:
- Army Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Md.
- Instrumentation Laboratory
- Raytheon Technologies
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center
Advanced Facilities
Access our top-level facilities, particularly a Teaching Instrumentation Laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art instruments, including:
- NMR
- FTIR
- Optical and materials characterization instruments
Fun Outside the Classroom
Put your learning into practice by joining student-run like the American Chemical Society and the Organic Chemistry Club.
What can you do with a degree in chemistry?
Graduates of UMass Lowell's chemistry program are prepared to pursue jobs in such fields as听applied and basic research, quality control, health care, product analysis, materials, cosmetics, forensics and pharmaceuticals. Many of our students go on to graduate study in chemistry, dentistry, medicine, patent law, and teaching at top universities across the U.S.听
Alumni of our program have worked at:
- Boston University
- Columbia University
- E Ink
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Pfizer
- Tufts University
- U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center
Peter Barrett '74
Chemistry
Chemistry alum Peter Barrett 鈥�74 went from creating new businesses to helping fund the next generation鈥檚 business ideas.
The ability to go into a laboratory and actually do experiments is what got me really interested in analytical chemistry.
Benedicta Agyemang-Brantuo '22
Chemistry
Benedicta Agyemang-Brantuo won the 2021 MLK Service Award for starting a club to address health disparities 鈥� amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
There鈥檚 a Martin Luther King quote that inspired me: 鈥極f all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.鈥�
Noah Mason '23
Chemistry
An introduction to research helped Noah Mason find his passion.
I feel really at home in the department.
Frances Skinner '19
Chemistry, Political Science
Frances Skinner 鈥�19 gained lab skills and confidence while working in Chemistry Asst. Prof. Manos Gkikas鈥� lab
I learned a lot of fundamentals in Gkikas鈥� lab, which gave me a lot more confidence working in a laboratory environment.
Stephanie Ceballos '25
Biochemistry
Whether studying abroad or conducting research, Stephanie Ceballos is making the most out of her UMass Lowell experience.
Joining a club is a good way to feel part of the UMass Lowell community.
