Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences
363 Natural Sciences Building
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-3000
Phone: 716.645.6800, ext. 2035
Fax: 716.645.6963
Web: www.chem.buffalo.edu
Email: chemug@buffalo.edu
Jim D. Atwood
Chair
James W. McIver
Director of Undergraduate Studies
About the Department
Chemistry is the science that relates the properties of matter to its atomic and molecular composition. The undergraduate program teaches the fundamental principles that govern chemical reactivity and the physical properties of molecules, and provides practical laboratory experience in chemical analysis, synthesis and the use of modern chemical instrumentation. Students may choose to take an upper level course sequence that would allow them to concentrate on analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry or medicinal chemistry. Graduates from the Department of Chemistry have been admitted to the top chemistry graduate programs in the U.S. After graduate school, it is common to work in the chemical industry, government laboratories, or private research labs. A number of our students have become faculty members in colleges and universities.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.A., B.S., Minor
Graduate: M.A., Ph.D.
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria - B.S.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Pre- or corequisites for admission are CHE 101-CHE 102 or CHE 105-CHE 106 or CHE 107-CHE 108, and MTH 141-MTH 142.
Acceptance Criteria - B.A.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Pre- or corequisites for admission are CHE 101-CHE 102 or CHE 105-CHE 106 or CHE 107-CHE 108, and MTH 121-MTH 122.
Acceptance Criteria - Minor
Completion of CHE 101 or CHE 105 or CHE 107; MTH 121 or MTH 141; or permission of the director of undergraduate studies.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in prerequisite courses.
Acceptance Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Number of applicants/year: 40
Number of accepted majors/year: 40
Total number of majors currently enrolled: 160
Degree Requirements
See the Undergraduate Catalog.
Transfer Policy
It is recommended that students complete general chemistry (two semesters, plus lab) and calculus I-II (two semesters) in the freshman year; organic chemistry (two semesters, plus lab), analytical chemistry (at least one semester of lecture and one semester of lab), calculus III (one semester), and calculus-based physics (two semesters, one semester lab) in the sophomore year to facilitate transfer into the department. If there is a choice, courses specifically designated for science and/or engineering students should be selected. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 14 credit hours of University at Buffalo Chemistry department courses to receive the B.S. degree, and a minimum of 8 credit hours of UB Chemistry department courses to receive the B.A. degree.
About Our Courses
Suggested Introductory Courses
- CHE 105 Chemistry: Principles and Applications (preferred) or CHE 101 General Chemistry I
- MTH 141 College Calculus I or MTH 121 Survey of Calculus and its Applications I (BA degree only)
- PHY 107 General Physics I or PHY 101 College Physics I (BA degree only)
- CHE 105-CHE 106 is suggested for chemistry majors and students intending to major in a chemistry-related field. CHE 101-CHE 102 is also acceptable for chemistry majors. Similarly, CHE 251-CHE 252 is an alternative to CHE 201-CHE 202 for qualified students and is strongly recommended to students intending to major in chemistry or a chemistry related field.
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 50-300 (lecture), 25-30 (recitation)
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 30-150
Upper level/advanced courses is: 10-25
In the Department of Chemistry, what do student teaching assistants (TA's) do?
TA's commonly conduct recitation and laboratory sessions under faculty supervision. TA's also frequently assist in the grading of quizzes and exams.
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
Teaching Awards
Faculty members of the Chemistry department have been repeatedly recognized for their teaching abilities. Several professors have received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Other awards include the UB Student Association's Teaching Award, the SUNY Chancellors’ Medal for Excellence in Faculty Service, the SUNY at Buffalo Lilly Teaching Fellow, the Distinguished Service Award from the New York Science Teacher's Association, the Chemical manufacturer Association Catalyst Award (National Award for excellence in Chemistry Teaching) and the FNSM Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Graduate Student Association of SUNY at Buffalo Most Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, and two of our professors have received the Milton Plesur Teaching Award. Aulitional awards include the CAS Excellence in Teaching Award and the Ernest Al Lynton Award for Faculty Public Service and Academic Outreach, NERCHE.
Research Awards
Faculty members are also active in research in their fields. The faculty includes four Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellows, as well as fellows of the Lawrence M. Gelb Foundation, the Electrochemical Society, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the Royal Society of Chemistry. A number of professors have received the Western New York Section of the American Chemical Society's Schoellkopf Medal. In aulition, faculty members have received the Buck-Whitney Award, the NSF Award for Special Creativity, the Gregori Aminoff Prize of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Martin Buerger Award of the American crystallographic Association, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research and the Research Innovation Award. Some of our professors have also been awarded the following distinctions: UB Distinguished Professor, SUNY Outstanding Inventors Award, New York Section of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy Gold Medal Award, the National Science Foundation Creativity Award and the James D. Watson Investigator Award. One of our professors has been named an A. Conger Goodyear Chair. Professors on staff have received the SUNY First Patent Award, the UB Young Investigator Award, the SUNY Excellence in Pursuit of Knowledge, the Walton Visitor Award, the Irish Science Foundation, and the UB Young Investigator Award, as well as the SUNY Entrepreneur Award and the Exxon Educational Foundation Fellowship. One of our professors has been elected secretary, Division of Biology Chemistry, ACS. Aulitional awards include the Inventor of the Year from the local Niagara Frontier Technical Societies Council, which has been accepted by four of our professors. We are fortunate to have as members of our faculty the chair-elect of the Bioinorganic Division of the American Chemical Society for 2005 as well as the Chair of the Organic Division of the American Chemical Society.
Special Academic Opportunities
Research Opportunities
Various opportunities exist in the department and elsewhere for research participation as early as the sophomore year for chemistry majors during the academic year and/or summers. Participation is strongly encouraged.
Awards
Annual Awards for Seniors
- Academic Excellence in Chemistry Award American Institute of Chemists Award
- College of Arts & Sciences Award
- Hypercube Scholar Award
- Merck Award
- Joseph & Louise Tufariello Award
- WNY American Chemical Society Award
Junior Awards
- ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Award
- Chemistry Alumni Award
- Chemistry Alumni Scholarship
- George H. Nancollas Scholarship
- Peter T. Lansbury Research Award
- Ralph F. Theuer Scholarship
- Who's Who
Sophomore Awards
Excellence in Organic Chemistry/Merck Index (8-10 annually)
First Year Awards
- Excellence in General Chemistry (CRC Handbook for Chemistry & Physics), 10-15 annually
- William Townsend Award for Freshman Chemistry Majors
Extracurricular Activities
Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS)
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Minors
Minors that Complement a Chemistry Major
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics
Majors that Benefit from a Chemistry Minor
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Geology
- Mathematics
- Physics
Career Information
The chemical industry introduces over a thousand new chemicals every year. Research chemists make new substances to order, predicting beforehand what characteristics can be expected. They prepare small amounts of the substances, while other scientists test samples. A new pharmaceutical, for example, must be widely tested for effectiveness and for possibly dangerous side effects. Chemical engineers design equipment and develop process details for large-scale economic production and packaging. Processes are tested on a small scale in a pilot plant before full-scale production begins.
Skills gained in this program include:
- Preparing chemicals by combining other chemicals
- Developing new products for specific purposes
- Using heat, light, energy, and chemical catalysts to change substances
- Improving industrial processes
- Developing new, more economical methods for making chemicals
- Setting up, standardizing and using scientific instruments and equipment
- Devising new equipment for making, analyzing, storing, or transporting chemicals
- Analyzing substances (such as ores or drugs) to discover their composition
- Analyzing biological substances, such as herbal cures or hormones, and finding ways to duplicate them artificially
- Testing products to see if they meet specifications
- Identifying contaminants in products or in the air and water
- Finding uses for chemicals, including byproducts
- Predicting what will happen when chemicals are mixed under various conditions, and warning of hazards
- Using logic, scientific thinking, and knowledge of natural laws to solve problems in industry, agriculture, mining, medicine, or space
- Organizing large projects by harnessing the talents of diverse groups of people and allocating responsibilities accordingly
- Teaching, instructing and consulting various people and organizations on complex issues and theories
- Using complex pieces of equipment for data input and analysis
- Impacting political environments to produce changes
- Writing and explaining complex information in a way that is readily understandable to others
Career Choices
Various specializations are possible in chemistry. Environmental chemists study the chemistry of air, soil, and water pollution. Organic chemists specialize in carbon compounds. Biochemists study the chemical reactions (involving acids, proteins, steroids, and enzymes) that make life possible. Clinical chemists specialize in diagnostic tests, pharmaceutical chemists in drugs, and metallurgists in metals and alloys. Forensic chemists work with law enforcement to solve crimes.
What percentage of graduates goes on to find related employment?
90%
Potential career areas include:
- Education
- Electronics
- Environmental science
- Food and drug administration worker
- Forensic science
- Government lab research
- Industrial research
- Medicine and health related fields
- NASA
- Oceanography
- Patent or environmental law
- Petroleum products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pollution analysis
- Specialty chemicals
- Veterinary medicine
- Waste disposal research
Work settings include:
- Airlines
- Banks
- Ceramic/glass distributors
- Chemical/pharmaceutical sales and retail
- Chemical producers
- Clothing manufacturers companies
- Conservation labs
- Dairy producers
- Drug research centers
- Engineering rirms
- Equipment (chemical) manufacturers
- Food manufacturers
- Government agencies
- Government health agencies
- Hospitals
- Industrial firms
- Industries with pollution
- Insurance companies
- Law office/self employed lawyer
- Medical schools
- Meteorological (TV or radio)
- Mining companies
- Museums
- National/state parks service
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Pharmacy
- Petroleum refineries
- Private research foundations
- Secondary schools
- Technical libraries
- Technical publishers/journal editors
- Universities/colleges
- U.S. Patent Office
Degree Level Required
An advanced degree is needed for research; a Ph.D. for teaching in a college or university. Without an advanced degree, chemists work as assistants or technicians, doing analyses, preparing chemicals to formula, or doing quality-control work.
Salary Information
Salaries can vary greatly among different occupations, geographic areas, organizations and companies. According to the Winter 2000 NACE national salary survey for bachelor's degree graduates, the average annual salary for the field of chemistry is $34,808; for chemical engineering is $49,418; for environmental engineering is $38,179; and for pharmacy is $61,800.
What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school?
45%