Chemistry

Chemistry—BA

Tailor a Chemistry Degree for your Professional Path

Our Bachelor's of Arts in Chemistry is a traditional liberal arts degree that provides you with a foundation in the chemical sciences and basic lab skills. The degree gives you the flexibility to pursue a minor and enroll in courses matching your career interests.

Its easy to pursue other interests, such as law, education, business, or pre-health. Or you can go into criminology, science writing, entrepreneurship, education, and more. If you plan to continue on to pharmacy school, the BA program offers a concentration in pre-pharmacy. Our faculty and advisors will help you tailor your program to your goals. With a BA in Chemistry there are few limits to what you can do.

Learn in a supportive environment. First-year chemistry students enroll in the orientation course, Professional Development for Chemists I (PDC I). This allows new students to get connected to their peers and understand the expectations of being a successful chemistry student at Michigan Tech. The size of enrollment allows students to get the level of assistance they need from their academic advisor.

Increase your employability. Most chemistry majors participate in research or a co-op/internship experience. Our students have garnered internships with high-profile employers including Los Alamos National Laboratory. Additionally, you may have the opportunity to publish your research.

Choose your Career Path

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry gives you the chance to chart your own unique career path.

Pre-Health Professions Pathway

Allocate your free electives to a pre-health minor and prepare for admission into health professional programs. Chemistry majors with a pre-health minor can take advantage of many professional program partnerships. For instance, Ferris State University's PharmD program reserves up to five seats to qualified Michigan Tech graduates. Michigan State University College of Human Medicine provides early assurance of admission (February as opposed to June) for select Michigan Tech pre-health minors.

A BA with the Pre-Pharmacy concentration puts you on the path to become a licensed pharmacist with a PharmD degree. Michigan Tech partners with Ferris State to fast-track graduates directly into FSU's PharmD or PharmD/MPH programs.

Pre-Law Pathway

You may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor in Law and Society and take additional classes in Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, or Chemistry.

Science and Technical Writing Pathway

If you have an interest in science and technical writing, you may choose to allocate you free electives towards a minor in Writing along with other courses in Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, or Chemistry.

Business and Entrepreneurship Pathway

If you are interested in pursuing a career in Business you may choose to allocate your free electives towards a minor or certificate in Business or Economics along with other courses in Business, Humanities, Social Sciences, Psychology, or Chemistry.

Other Possible Pathways

You may choose to pursue one of 80 other minors or certificates such as Plant Sciences and Ecology, Earth Sciences, and Public Health. With a BA in Chemistry you design your own educational pathway.

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  • 4,400
    individual peer coaching sessions in the Chemistry Learning Center
  • 100%
    of students use state-of-the-art instrumentation in teaching labs
  • 70%
    of undergraduates research projects alongside a professor
  • Top 20
    Top 20 Best Public College in the US (Wall Street Journal, 2024)

Tomorrow Needs Knowledgeable Chemistry Professionals

Professionals in health care, government, law, and business are grappling with more complex challenges that require the critical thinking, pattern recognition and pattern deconstruction skills that a graduate with a bachelor's of arts degree in chemistry possesses.

Career Opportunities for Chemistry Majors

Your future career options are unlimited with a degree in chemistry. Career opportunities can be found in, but are not limited to:

  • Agricultural and Food Products
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemicals
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health Professions
  • Manufacturing
  • Patent law, intellectual property and science policy
  • Pharmaceuticals and Medicines
  • Plastics and Coatings
  • Public Health
  • Publishing
  • Scientific Research and Development

You can explore career options further.

Michigan Tech Chemistry Majors Can Get Hired As

Almost any company or government agency requires someone with an understanding of chemistry. Graduates go on to become:

  • Attorney (Patent Law/Intellectual Property/Industrial Law)
  • Chemical or Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing Manager
  • Criminologist
  • Entrepreneur
  • High School Teacher
  • Patent Agent/Examiner
  • Pharmacist
  • Physical Therapist
  • Physician
  • Public Policy Specialist
  • Soil Scientist
  • Science/Technology Writer
  • Veterinarian
  • Water Resource Specialist

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about studying chemistry at Michigan's flagship technological university.

Student Learning Goals

When you complete our bachelor's of arts chemistry degree, you can expect to achieve the following:

  • will have theoretical and experimental knowledge in basic, organic and physical chemistry, and in quantitative and instrumental analytical methods.
  • will know how to work safely in a laboratory to collect, analyze and evaluate experimental data.
  • be able to use scientific literature relevant to critical evaluation of a scientific question, to research, and to solve problems.
  • communicate scientific ideas to general and scientific audiences using both oral and written methods.
  • demonstrate proficiency in the societal and environmental implications of chemistry as a discipline, and professional responsibilities as an ethical chemist.
  • will be competitive in graduate study or professional work in chemistry, education, or other chosen professional fields such as health professions, law, business.
  • will be able to integrate knowledge of chemistry into your educational or career goals.

Study Chemistry at a Technological University

At Michigan Tech, you will build knowledge and research foundations required to succeed in graduate school, research, or the job market. You'll learn and experience first-hand how chemistry is central to solving real-world problems in sustainability, human health, environment, and industry. With chemistry faculty that also serve as your research advisors and mentors, you'll use chemistry in the lab, and present results in classrooms, research symposia, and scientific journals.

  • Get personalized attention: 7:1 student-faculty ratio ensures your academic advisors and professors know you and understand your interests and needs. You receive guidance in a timely fashion. They can better help pair you with research opportunities that meet your needs and provide valuable experience.
  • Customize your chemistry education: At Michigan Tech, our programs span pure chemistry (BS and BA options), biochemistry and molecular biology, computational chemistry and chemical informatics, and medicinal chemistry(includes pharmaceutical chemistry). That interdisciplinary approach gives you exposure to different areas of chemistry. The flexibility with free electives gives you the freedom to pursue your interests in Chemistry, Business, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Psychology,tailoring your degree to fit your individual pathway.
  • Engage in chemistry research: Become involved in a research project under the direction of a faculty member. Whether you are planning to go to graduate school or pursue a career upon graduation, one of the factors that gives our students an edge is the opportunity to engage in research as an undergraduate student and gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art research instrumentation. A majority of our students conduct undergraduate research with faculty members.
  • Practice basic chemistry concepts: Work as a peer coach in the Chemistry Learning Center helping other students understand chemistry concepts while reinforcing your understanding of the basics.

Undergraduate Majors

Not sure which major is the right fit? No problem.
Just declare the General Sciences and Arts major, give yourself time, and decide when you arrive on campus. To learn more speak to an academic advisor.

Undergraduate Minors and Certificates

A minor in chemistry or medicinal chemistry allows you to specialize in a discipline outside of or complementary to your major, expand your knowledge base, and boost your potential career options. A minor in a pre-professional program such as Pre-Law or Pre-Health prepares you for graduate school and future careers in law and medicine. You can declare a major anytime, but it is recommended you begin your minor studies as early as possible in your academic career. To learn more speak to an academic advisor.

Tomorrow Needs You

Supercharge your chemistry skills to meet the demands of a technology-driven society at a flagship public research university powered by science, technology, engineering, and math. Graduate with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to solve real-world problems and succeed in academia, research, and tomorrow's high-tech business landscape.

"I love how small the chemistry department is at Michigan Tech! I feel like I really got to know the people and professors in my classes and department, and I don't think I would have had this opportunity at a larger school."Maria Walczyk '23 pharmaceutical chemistry