Everything!

“In simplest terms, chemistry is the science of matter. Anything that can be touched, tasted, smelled, seen, or felt is made of chemicals.” (acs.org, 22 Sep 2010)

Chemistry is the science of substances, their composition, structure, properties, and interactions. Chemistry helps explain the world and its workings and plays an important role in our lives. Chemists have contributed a great deal to technical advances of society and have made many important contributions to modern life. Everything is made from one or more chemical elements that occur in nature. Chemists use different kinds of chemical processes to make the elements found in nature more useful, and they create countless products that make our lives healthier, easier, and more enjoyable. There are as many specialties as there are areas of application of chemical principles.

Analytical Chemistry

The art and science of determining what matter is and how much of it exists.

Biochemistry

The study of the structure, composition, and chemical reactions of substances in living systems.

Inorganic Chemistry

The study of properties and behavior of inorganic compounds, which include metals, minerals, and organometallic compounds.

Organic Chemistry

The study of the structure, properties, and reactions of compounds and materials that contain carbon atoms.

Physical Chemistry

The study of how matter behaves on a molecular and atomic level and how chemical reactions occur.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCCS offers the following degree programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry: American Chemical Society Accredited
• Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry: General Option
• Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry: Pre-Health/Interdisciplinary Sciences Option
• Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry: Secondary Education Option
• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
• Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry: General Option
• Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry: PreMed Option
• Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry: Secondary Education Option
• Bachelor of Innovation in Chemistry
• Minor in Chemistry
• Minor in Biochemistry
• Master of Sciences (MSc) in Chemistry or Biochemistry*
• Accelerated BS/BA MSc in Chemistry*

*The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has a limited number of $15,000 annual Graduate Teaching Assistantships available. Click on the Graduate tab above for more information.

(For further details, click on the Undergraduate or Graduate tabs above, or visit Academic Advising's Majors and Minors page and click on College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.)

The Science Center

When you take lower-level courses in Chemistry, Physics, or Biology, the Science Center offers drop-in tutoring, scheduled problem-solving sessions, computers, and other resources to help you do well. They also help with many upper-level classes as well... ask them about specific courses.

The Science Center provides great services with an outstanding staff. It has computers, printers, and plenty of space to study and work with knowledgeable tutors. They offer an energized yet comfortable environment in which you can make friends and learn science!

Yes!

In addition to the skills students gain in their laboratory courses, chemistry and biochemistry majors—B.S. majors in particular—should consider electing CHEM 4904 Research: Upper Division, or CHEM 4905 Internship at least once during their academic career. Research provides a different kind of experience than traditional laboratory courses. Students must do sufficient planning to carry out experiments, and regular communication with their research supervisor is a necessary component of the research experience.

Accomplished students will be invited to present posters and research talks. Some presentations may be at local meetings such as our Mountain Lion Research Day or the Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum (CSURF, a collaboration between UCCS, the Colorado College, and the U.S. Air Force Academy), and some may be at national American Chemical Society meetings. Students may also be recommended as participants in sponsored summer programs at other universities.

For more information on faculty members' areas of research, download this document.

Career Opportunities for Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduates:

• Applied Research and Product Development
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemical Information Management Specialist
• Chemical Technology
• Chemistry Professor
• Chemistry and the Law
• Chemistry in the Arts
• Consulting
• Environmental Protection
• Food Chemistry
• Forensic Chemistry
• Formulation Chemistry
• Geochemistry
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Health and Safety
• High School Chemistry Teacher
• Materials Science
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Military Science and Technology
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Oil and Petroleum
• Personal Care Chemistry
• Polymer Chemistry
• Process Chemistry
• Project Management
• Quality Assurance
• Quality Control
• Regulatory Affairs
• Science Policy
• Social Impact/Activism
• Technical Communication
• Technical Sales and Marketing
• Technical Support
• Textile Chemistry
• Water Chemistry

(Go to www.acs.org and click on Careers > College to Career > Chemistry Careers)

Yes!

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers programs leading to the degree of Master of Sciences (M.Sc.) in Chemistry or Biochemistry. The following focus areas are available:

analytical chemistry | biochemistry | inorganic chemistry | organic chemistry | physical chemistry

Also, the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s degree program in Chemistry offers highly qualified UCCS chemistry and biochemistry majors the opportunity to pursue the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or Biochemistry and the Master of Sciences concurrently.

For students in the graduate program, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has a limited number of $15,000 annual Graduate Teaching Assistantships available.

Click on the Graduate tab above for more information.

Yes!

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has a limited number of $15,000 annual GTAs available. Application for these is a competitive process, and recipients are required to teach four labs over the course of the year (two each in the fall and spring semesters). Graduate students may also be eligible for additional tuition assistance through the Graduate School. Click on the Graduate tab above for more information.