Chemistry

Why Choose Chemistry?

Chemistry is an exciting and diverse science that has relevance to hundreds of different industries and careers. A degree in chemistry is challenging and rewarding. You will spend a lot of time in the lab getting your hands dirty while doing experiments and seeing chemistry in action.

Our Faculty

Unlike what you may find at a large research institution, the chemistry faculty at Manhattan College offer each student personal attention and are focused on teaching exclusively undergraduate students. Our faculty are here because they are great teachers and because they love to teach. As a chemistry major, your courses will be taught by faculty members, never graduate students. And our small class sizes mean that you will really get to know your professors and they will get to know you, and how to best help you succeed.

State-of-the-Art Technology

The Kakos Center for Scientific Computing opened in 2014 and gives our students access to the same state-of-the-art technology used at the world’s top universities and research laboratories. It boasts a liquid-cooled 64GB high speed GNU/Linux server complete with four Tesla graphics processing units. Projects that our students and faculty use the Kakos Center for include:

• Developing algorithms
• Modeling 3D structures of molecules
• Solving equations that require high performance computing

Undergraduate Research

As an undergraduate student, you will have the opportunity to do hands-on research directly with a faculty member, an experience that students at larger institutions may not have until graduate school. Our students present their research work at local and national conferences, including the American Chemical Society Conference, where they can network with industry professionals.

Recent research projects include:

• Water remediation and applications of green synthetic technologies
• Natural product synthesis
• Solar energy conversion
• Environmentally friendly synthesis of bio-fuels
• Synthesis of ruthenium(II) and rhodium(III) complexes
• Structure and properties of zeolites

Thanks to expanded research funding, students can also apply to College-wide research programs like Jasper Research Scholars or Summer Fellows.

Visit Campus Request Information

What Will You Learn?

Coursework includes in-depth study of general chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Through your research and classes, you will learn to:

• Design and conduct experiments
• Analyze and interpret data
• Understand the implication of scientific discoveries and their impact on humanity
• Think analytically and independently
• Understand your professional and ethical responsibilities as a scientist

Chemistry is also offered as a minor.

See degree requirements

What Will You Do?

Chemistry is a broad science, making it excellent preparation for numerous different careers. Many students plan to enter medical or dental school, or work in the health professions. A chemistry major can also lead to careers in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, forensics and research industries.