Welcome!
Welcome to the chemistry program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College! You are entering a department with many opportunities for you to learn about the world of chemistry. We hope that this website will give you a sense of some of the unique experiences at Penn State Behrend and help prepare you for your chosen profession once you leave.
One of the best aspects of Penn State Erie Chemistry is the engaging lecture and laboratory classes by enthusiastic professors. Information on each professor and their specialty can be found through the faculty links above. As a chemistry major, initially you will study the fundamentals of chemistry with introductory courses in general, organic and analytical chemistry. Later, you will take advanced courses in physical and inorganic chemistry, chemical instrumentation, and literature. There are special interest courses that may interest you, including biochemistry, advanced organic, spectroscopy, crystallography, and other special topic courses offered throughout the year to allow you to pursue the area of chemistry that most relates to your chosen career path. In advanced laboratory courses, you will have the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience with modern instruments. Throughout these courses, you will benefit from a close working relationship with the faculty in small classes.
A particular strength of the Behrend chemistry program is the requirement to participate in scientific research with a faculty member. By doing independent research under the direction of a faculty member, you will work on novel scientific problems that have never been explored. You may be synthesizing new materials that may lead to presentations at meetings with scientists from across the nation, or perhaps your analytical study of a process may lead to results that are published in a scientific journal. This experience enhances your experimental skills necessary to apply for a career in industry or graduate school.
There are also outside activities you will want to explore. The Behrend Chemistry Club is a student-affiliate group of the American Chemical Society at Penn State Erie. They participate in hands-on science demonstrations for the community during National Chemistry Week, arrange scientific speakers for a student seminar series, take field trips to science museums, and much, much more. The club is also a social one. They have picnics and go out to dinner as a group during the semester. Through these activities, you will form friendships that will last beyond college.
The chemistry program at Penn State Behrend has a lot of possibilities for you to explore. At times this can be a bit overwhelming and confusing. This handbook has been designed to help you sort through all of these possibilities and requirements. Included in this material is information about the professors in the department and their individual research interests, contact information for different offices and programs related to chemistry, specific course sequences and guidelines for each concentration within chemistry, and career information for your post-college life. We hope this information will be a guide for you to begin to learn about life in the Chemistry Department at Behrend.
Remember:
Please do not use the information contained here as a substitute for your academic advisor. The chemistry major and required courses are constantly changing. The only sure method to obtaining accurate information is to see your academic advisor at least once a semester or check the official university catalog..
