Why Study Here?

The 51°µÍø Department Chemistry provides students with the key tools, skills, and knowledge to help answer important questions facing our society.

Whether aspiring for a career in industry, medicine, or academia, our comprehensive curriculum, which includes B.S., B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, provides students with the necessary knowledge and experience to excel in their careers. Chemistry majors have the opportunity to work closely with faculty scientists and scholars, who are experts in their fields and pride themselves in providing a high quality education.

Department Features

faculty in class

Diverse coursework

Courses prepare students to help answer important questions facing our society, including the origin of life, mortality, energy, environmental sustainability, and national security.

Elfi Kraka

Award Winning Faculty

Elfi Kraka, Professor of Chemistry, won a 2019 Dean's Research Council award. A new quantum chemical toolbox for structural biology – applied to the building blocks of DNA.

two students in lab

Research Opportunities

Undergraduate students have opportunities to be involved in faculty research.

Get involved

  • student

    State-of-the-art laboratories, research facilities, lecture halls and conference rooms

    The Department of Chemistry is located in the Fondren Science Building and provide computational resources such as ManeFrame II/CSC.

    Facilities

  • student at event

    Faculty Expertise

    Faculty conduct research in diverse areas such as quantum chemical methods, the designing, synthesizing, and development of new antibiotic agents, and theoretical and experimental chemical chaos.

    Faculty research

  • student at event

    Making News

    Patricia Nance, a chemistry and math major, has been developing a new polymer for breast implants to reduce infections for women who get reconstructive surgery after breast cancer. For Nance, this research is personal and has a purpose: to benefit women like her grandmother.

    News

  • student at event

    Department Excellence

    Accredited by the American Chemical Society, the Department of Chemistry at 51°µÍø supports the commitment of the University to undergraduate learning, while also maintaining a strong graduate and research program.

    Student research