The chemistry and biochemistry curriculum is designed to teach students how to deal effectively with a world increasingly dominated by the ideas and methods of modern science. The department provides three routes to the bachelor's degree:

• A bachelor of arts program for students intending to pursue fields such as dentistry, medicine, secondary school teaching or other areas requiring a strong chemistry background. Earning a B.A. does not preclude a professional scientific career, although an additional year of undergraduate study may be required for admission to some graduate programs.
• A bachelor of science program for students wishing an intensive study of chemistry in preparation for professional careers or graduate work in chemistry.
• A bachelor of science major in biochemistry, which is a rigorous course of study providing a strong background for professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacology, veterinary) as well as graduate schools in biochemistry and related fields.

Denison students and faculty enjoy a unique environment for active learning throughout the year - small classes, excellent laboratory and library facilities, top level instrumentation and computer resources and proximity to important industrial and academic research laboratories.

Several scholarships are available to chemistry majors, and many students work for the department as laboratory assistants, librarians or computer assistants.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Major and Minor

All majors must complete the following requirements:

• 27 credits of required chemistry courses
• One elective chemistry course for B.A. major or two for B.S. major
• Two required math courses
• Two required physics courses.

In addition, B.S. majors must complete:

• Two additional required chemistry courses
• Two other chemistry courses or one semester of laboratory research
• Chem. 431 and Chem. 302, if the student desires to be certified to the American Chemical Society.

B.S. major in biochemistry must complete:

• six biology courses, as well as all courses needed for a chemistry B.A. major.

A minor in chemistry requires 20 semester hours of work.

What do chemistry and biochemistry majors do after Denison?

Majors are qualified for immediate employment in industry. Many attend graduate school in chemistry, biochemistry, or related areas, or enter schools of medicine, dentistry, or engineering. Recent graduates are engaged in a variety of pursuits:

• Christopher Bennett '10 - Yale University - Physical Chemistry
• William Doss '10 - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Robert Fresch '10 - Ohio University of Osteopathic Medicine
• Chuan-Xing Ho '10 - Teach for America
• Kari Kurtzhalts '10 - St. John Fisher Wegman's School of Pharmacy
• Stephanie LaCount '10 - Ohio State University Medical School
• Mitchell Legg '10 - LECOM Bradenton, Osteopathic Medicine
• Patrick McNamara '10 - Baylor College of Medicine Cell and Molecular Biology
• Colin Murphy '10  - Indiana University Medical School
• Elizabeth Soucy '10 - St. Louis University School of Medicine
• Ashley Thomas '10 - Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
• Russ Bornschein '09 - University of Michigan - Analytical Chemistry
• Michael Hardman '09 - Marshall University - Medical School
• Melanie Huffman '09 - Indiana University - Medical School
• Sara (Sadie) Orlowski '09 - UNC Chapel Hill - Biomedical & Bioscience PhD Program
• Kaitlin Prather '09 - Michigan State University - Masters of Forensics in Chemistry
• Kyle Sheetz '09 - University of Michigan - Medical School
• Courtney Alexander '08 - Cornell Medical School - Pharmacology
• Adamberage (Rukie) DeAlwis '08- UNC Chapel Hill - Biological & Biomedical Science Program
• Lauren O'Connor '08 - University of Kentucky - Integrated Biomedical Science Program
• Ali Snedden '08 - Notre Dame - Physics
• Natasha Strande '08 - UNC Chapel Hill - Biology
• Jason Wright '08 - University of Tennessee - Phamacology
• Evan Buchanan '07 - Purdue University - Chemistry
• Justin Carlisle '07 - University of Wisconsin - Chemistry
• Lillian Lamech '07 - University of Texas, Austin - Microbiology
• Punya Navaratnarajah '07 - University of North Carolina - Biophysics
• Ryan Ress '07 - Barry University, Nursing Practitioner
• Michael Robinson '07 University of Toledo - Medical School
• Hillary Stevenson '07 - University of Pittsburgh - Interdisciplinary Bioscience
• Jenna Walters '07 - Ohio State University - Dental School
• Megan Warner '07 - University of California, Irvine - Physical Chemistry

Majors are encouraged to participate in on-going departmental research projects, which are supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and other agencies. Additional research opportunities are available in the department during the summer and as part of the Oak Ridge Science Semester.

Who are our professors?

Our faculty are both scholars and teachers, and they welcome the opportunity to do one-on-one research with their students.

• Department Chair and Associate Professor Peter L. Kuhlman joined the faculty at Denison in 1998. He earned a B.A. at St. Olaf College and an M.S. and a Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego. His research interests include molecular/cellular/development biology and biochemistry and molecular evolutionary genetics.
• Assistant Professor Annabel M. Edwards joined the faculty in 2007. She earned her B.A. at Williams College and her Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
• Associate Professor Jordan L. Fantini joined the faculty at Denison in 1997. He earned a B.S. at Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. and a Ph.D. at Cornell University. Fantini's research interests include the study of calixarenes.
• Associate Professor Michael M. Fuson joined the faculty at Denison in 1989. He earned a B.A. at Haverford College and an M.S. and a Ph.D. at Yale University. His research interests include the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study molecular motion in complex systems. Applications have been polymers in solution and model biomembranes.
• Assistant Professor Dr. Jordan Katz joined the faculty at Denison in 2010.  He earned his B.A. at Reed College in 1999 and a Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology in 2008.
• Associate Professor Sonya L. McKay joined the faculty at Denison in 2000. She earned a B.A. at Kenyon College and a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her research interests are in organic chemistry.
• Assistant Professor Joseph J. Reczek joined the faculty in 2007. He earned his B.A. at Cornell University and his Ph.D. at the University of Texas, Austin. He also has pursued post-doctoral study at Trinity University.
• Associate Professor Charles W. Sokolik joined the faculty at Denison in 1993. He earned a B.A. at Vassar College, a Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles and was a Welch post-doctoral fellow at the University of Texas Medical School. His research interests include biochemistry and post-transitional modifications of proteins.
• Associate Professor Kimberly M. Specht joined the faculty at Denison in 2003. She earned a B.S. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. and a Ph.D. from Princeton University. Her research interests include the role carbohydrates play in cell function and in cell signaling.

Emeriti faculty members include:

• Professor Emeritus Richard R. Doyle, who earned his B.S. at Drexel Institute of Technology and an M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. His research interests include the chemistry and biochemistry of mushrooms and the isolation and synthesis of novel amino acids from the mushroom, Phyllstopsis nidulans. He is membership secretary and treasurer of the Ohio Mushroom Society.
• Professor Emeritus Thomas A. Evans, who earned his B.A. at Grinnell College and a Ph.D. at Michigan State University. Among his research interests are intensive studies related to carbocation rearrangements and carbohydrate structures and the function of chlorophyll and related molecules.
• Professor Emeritus George L. Gilbert who earned his B.S. at Antioch College and his Ph.D. at Michigan State University. He has published two-volumes for laboratory studies, "Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry" and "Selected Demonstrations from the Journal of Chemical Education" and edits the Tested Demonstrations feature in the Journal of Chemical Education.
• Professor Emeritus William A. Hoffman Jr. who earned his B.S. at Missouri Valley College and his M.S. and Ph.D. at Purdue University. His research interests include solution/atmospheric chemistry.