Chemical Science
Program Details
The Bachelor of Science in Chemical Science focuses on the foundations of chemistry in connection with careers in the business world (like analytics, economics, finance, marketing or education). As a chemical science major, you’ll conduct experiments and research alongside expert faculty while tailoring the rest of your degree to your interests outside the field of chemistry.
This program has fewer chemistry and math course requirements than the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, allowing more free elective hours that can be applied to courses in accounting, business administration, economics, education, etc.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes. 99 percent of our students, including those in the chemical science major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022).
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Chemical Science major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- CHEM 160 General Chemistry I............ 3cr.
- CHEM 161 General Chemistry Lab I............ 1cr.
- MATH 120 Elementary Functions............ 3cr.
- SECOND LANGUAGE 102............ 3cr.
- ENGL 101/115 English Composition/Rhetoric............ 3cr.
- Core 100: First-Year Seminar............ 3cr.
Spring
- CHEM 162 General Chemistry II............ 3cr.
- CHEM 163 General Chemistry Lab II............ 1cr.
- MATH 140 Concepts of Calculus............ 3cr.
- SECOND LANGUAGE 201............ 3cr.
- THEO 111 Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- CHEM 180 Intro to Chemical Enterprise............ 1cr.
Fall
- CHEM 240 Organic Chemistry I............ 3cr.
- CHEM 241 Organic Chemistry Lab I............ 1cr.
- PHIL 100 Ethics as Intro to Philosophy............ 3cr.
- SOCIAL SCI ELECTIVE............ 3cr.
- PHYS 160 College Physics I............ 3cr.
- PHYS 161 Introductory Physics Lab I............ 1cr.
Spring
- CHEM 242 Organic Chemistry II............ 3cr.
- CHEM 243 Organic Chemistry Lab II............ 1cr.
- CHEM 226 Quantitative Analysis............ 3cr.
- CHEM 227 Quantitative Analysis Lab............ 1cr.
- PHYS 162 College Physics II............ 3cr.
- PHYS 163 Introductory Physics Lab II............ 1cr.
- ENGL 205 Literature & Moral Imagination............ 3cr.
Fall
- CHEM 340 Instrumental Analysis............ 3cr.
- CHEM 220 Principles of Physical Chemistry............ 3cr.
- HISTORY PERSPECTIVE............ 3cr.
- PHIL 290 Theory of Knowledge............ 3cr.
- THEO 2XX Theology Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- CHEM 341 Instrumental Analysis Lab............ 1cr.
- HUMANITIES ELECTIVE............ 3cr.
- E/RS ELECTIVE............ 3cr.
- CREATIVE PERSPECTIVE............ 3cr.
- Free Electives............ 6cr.
Fall
- Chemistry 400: Research............ 1cr.
- CHEM 4XX Chemistry Elective............ 3cr.
- Free Electives............ 12cr.
Spring
- CHEM 400 Research............ 1cr.
- Free Electives............ 13cr.
Sample Courses
Xavier is known for providing an education that's both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the chemical science major at Xavier:
Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 226) - An introductory course in analytical chemistry covering gravimetric and titrimetric methods of analysis. Statistical analysis of data is performed.
Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 240) - This course is the first in a two semester sequence of organic chemistry. This is a pre-professional course approved by the American Chemical Society for chemistry majors and required of many other science majors. This course examines the basic structure, properties, preparation and reaction mechanisms of organic compounds.
Instrumental Analysis (CHEM 340) - Discussion of modern analytical chemistry with emphasis on instrumentation and measurement techniques.
Student Clubs
Alchemyst Club
The Alchemyst Club was established to inform and educate the Xavier community about the merits of science, especially chemistry and to lend support to the Xavier chemistry community. The club's purpose is to facilitate the propagation of chemical knowledge and to assist in making the chemistry major a viable option.
Career Outcomes
99 percent of our students, including those in the chemical science major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022).
Careers: Analytical Chemist, Biotechnologist, Chemical Engineer, Chemical Technician, Clinical Scientist, Dentist, Food Scientist, Organic Chemist, Forensic Lab Analyst, Industrial Chemist, Pharmacist, Physician, Research and Development Chemist, Synthetic Chemist, Toxicologist, Water Quality Analyst
Explore more career options with the career portals at the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Take the Next Step
Chemistry Department Lab Facilities and Equipment
Students in the chemical science major have access to campus labs that include equipment like a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer, infra-red spectrometers, gas chromatographs, a multichannel analyzer, a high performance liquid chromatograph and more.
Cincinnati: No. 1 City for Recent College Grads
Cincinnati, Ohio features some of the largest companies in the world, which means students in the chemical science major have countless opportunities for careers, internships and mentorships at places like Kroger, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Trihealth. The city is ranked the #1 Best City for College Graduates (smartasset.com) and is home to some of the nation’s leading hospitals and healthcare networks.
What is Jesuit Education?
A Xavier education is more than your typical college experience. Drawing on a Jesuit Catholic educational model 400 years in the making, students in the chemical science major get the personal attention and support they need to succeed and make a difference in the world. The result is an education that’s as encouraging as it is challenging, and as enriching as it is demanding.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Chemical Science Major at Xavier University
The Chemical Science program at Xavier University is a minimum 120-hour degree program that focuses on, among other things, relaying knowledge in connection with a career in the business world, e.g., in sales or marketing, or in secondary education. The course requirements in chemistry and mathematics are less than those of the B.S. in Chemistry program.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."