Chemistry

From Chemical Principles to Biochemistry, the classes and curriculum required for a Chemistry degree at Fairmont State University are approved by the American Chemical Society. Students in Chemistry experience the following:

Small class sizes
Innovative teaching approaches
Access to research quality tools

Fairmont State University Chemistry instructors focus on the fundamentals of modern chemistry.

Students can work toward any of three Chemistry degrees. They are:

B.A. in Education with Chemistry teaching field
B.S. in Chemistry
B.S. in Chemistry with an emphasis in biotechnology

Career Opportunities

Our chemistry graduates are trained in the laboratory skills required of a practicing chemist. Chemistry graduates from Fairmont State University often choose to attend graduate school in chemistry, biochemistry or the pharmaceutical sciences, or work as technicians in the chemical industry. The Chemistry program is also a great start for students who are interested in medical, dental, veterinary or physical therapy programs.

Demand for qualified chemists is high in West Virginia and expected to grow by ~15% by 2031.

The median annual wage for a chemist in West Virginia is around $68,060.

A chemistry degree can open the door to a variety of career opportunities.

A Day in the Life

Additonal Resources

ACS Student Affiliates Club Chemistry Education Model Schedule

Chemistry Model Schedule

Outcomes

Program Outcome	Direct assessment measure	Satisfactory performance standard
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:	Student performance with respect to this outcome will be measured by:	Satisfactory student performance on the direct assessment measure will consist of:
1. Demonstrate competency in the laboratory skills expected of a practicing chemist.	a. Faculty assessment of specified lab competencies in chemistry courses using a general programmatic rubric b. Faculty review of a professional skills resume during the second semester of physical chemistry using a general programmatic rubric.	Satisfactory target is an average score on the rubrics corresponding to "Student meets the expectations of a competent, practicing professional in chemistry."
2. Demonstrate foundational knowledge needed by chemical professionals.	a. performance on nationally standardized exit exams for chemistry from ETS and American Chemical Society (ACS)	Satisfactory targets are 49th and 47th percentiles, respectively.
3. Apply foundational knowledge to analyze complex problems.	Performance on selected projects in Analytical Chemistry (nonlinear least squares), Physical Chemistry (rotational/vibrational spectroscopy project), and Synthetic Methods and Materials (Green Chemistry project)	Satisfactory targets are class averages of 85%, 70% and 80% on the projects, respectively.
4. Competently access, evaluate and learn new chemical information and skills.	Performance on selected projects in Synthetic Methods and Materials (synthetic procedures from primary literature) and Instrumental Analysis (interdisciplinary take home exam based on literature paper).	Satisfactory targets are class averages of 80% and 70%, respectively.

Program Mission

The mission of the Chemistry Program at Fairmont State is to help students learn chemistry, and how chemistry connects to mathematics, biology, physics and other professional fields. We expect and encourage our students to develop the analytical, experimental, computer and problem-solving skills necessary to successfully pursue chemistry and other science-based careers.

The Chemistry Program Offers:

general studies courses
service courses for a variety of majors
a biotechnology area of emphasis
chemistry teaching specialization (grades 9-12)
minor in Chemistry
B.S. in Chemistry