Chemistry 

Why Study Chemistry?

Dive deeper into the universe's building blocks through the study of matter with a degree in chemistry. Conduct chemistry research with faculty in labs with state-of-the-art equipment at Pacific University.

Chemistry is a fundamental key to understanding the world around us. Pacific students with a chemistry major or minor participate in directed projects dealing with the study of matter — its properties, transformations and, ultimately, its applications to materials, biology and manufacturing. 

As a chemistry major, you’ll get hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment, starting in your first year. Chemistry degree students gain experience operating instruments, designing experiments, and analyzing instrumental data in analytical chemistry classes. You'll get to work closely with caring faculty, who are active researchers in the field.  Every student completes a senior capstone that can include a research thesis, internship or independent study.

Pacific University’s chemistry major and minor offer a full range of courses, including advanced studies in organic, bioinorganic, solid state, environmental and surface chemistry, instrumentation, biochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics and quantum mechanics. Example chemistry major requirements include:

• General chemistry
• Fundamentals of organic and inorganic chemistry
• Quantitative analysis
• Physical chemistry
• Biochemistry 

There are also a wide range of elective course options in addition to foundational chemistry major requirements as well as career pathway specializations in:

• Essentials of Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Environmental Chemistry
   

COURSE CATALOG