Skip navigation

Chemistry

SFU Chemistry majors are achieving their goals! Our students go on to earn their PhD in Chemistry, work in FBI and other crime laboratories, excel in chemistry industrial positions, and succeed in Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, and Optometry schools. We invite you to come visit, and we'll help you tailor your studies to your specific career goals.  

Main Menu
Academics
Academic Calendar
Beyond the Classroom
Faculty Directory
Program Index
School of Arts and Letters
School of Business
School of Health Sciences
School of Sciences
Adult Degree & Continuing Studies
Graduate Degrees and Programs
Online Programs
    • Science Center Student on Stairs

      Facilities >

    • ROCK Program Van

      ROCK Program >

    • Chemistry Banner 1D

      Meet our Faculty >

    • Chemistry Students at ACS Conf

      Student Opportunities >

    • Facilities >

    • ROCK Program >

    • Meet our Faculty >

    • Student Opportunities >

  • Chemistry: A Team Approach

    Collaboration is the heart of our chemistry program. Our teaching philosophy is to foster a colleague relationship between you and our faculty. For example, classroom lectures are active learning environments where you work directly with faculty on problem solving skills. You will also partner with faculty on undergraduate research opportunities, lab teaching assistantships, and service projects. 

    To succeed in chemistry, be ready to work hard and develop an aptitude for critical thinking and problem solving. But don’t worry; it’s not all work and no play. Our chemistry majors enjoy a dedicated hang-out area and spend lots of time having fun and working on projects with faculty members in this close-knit department. The Science Center has been designed with the student/faculty collaboration in mind, with dedicated research spaces and an awesome student study zone.

  • Take a Tour of the Chemistry Floor

    The Chemistry Department is located on the third floor of the 70,000 square-foot Science Center facility. The Science Center houses enhanced teaching and lab spaces, research and outreach facilities, and state-of-the-art collaboration areas for students.

    Chemistry Facilities

    ROCK (Rural Outreach Chemistry for Kids)

    ROCK ThumbnailOutreach opportunities are available to practice new skills while helping others through Rural Outreach Chemistry for Kids (ROCK) and Southern Alleghenies Learn and Serve Alliance. In 2017/2018, the ROCK program conducted over 216 outreach events reaching 5,660 regional K-12 students in Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Somerset, Westmoreland, and 
    Clearfield counties.


    Learn more about the ROCK program

    Undergraduate Research

    Undergraduate Research ThumbnailUndergraduate research is a key component in the chemistry program at SFU.

    Students can start doing undergraduate research as early as their freshman year. The chemistry department is currently working on a five-year NSF STEP grant with the environmental engineering and mathematics departments. Research students are working in collaborative teams between the three departments to better understand environmental chemistry. Specifically, projects are focusing on a local problem involving acid mine drainage from regional abandoned coal mines.

    Individual Attention

    Individual Attention thumbnailOne-on-one instruction from our faculty.

    Students often work directly with our faculty to further their knowledge through actively participating in research projects and presentations. Dr. Rose Clark is working with Griffin Sangrey on the electrochemical analyzer.

    Small Class Sizes

    Small Class Sizes Thumbnail12:1 upper-class student-to-teacher ratio

    Our small class/laboratory sections in our new Science Center allow for close interaction with faculty. Dr. Michele Hargittai is teaching a special topics course on advanced organic mechanisms.

    American Chemical Society (ACS) Accreditation

    ACS Logo

    The Saint Francis University Chemistry Program has been approved by the American Chemical Society to offer ACS certified degrees. An institution with an ACS-approved program in chemistry is committed to providing  a broadly based and intellectually challenging experience in chemistry. The ACS Committee on Professional Training (CPT) carefully evaluates a chemistry department’s program with respect to its breadth and depth, the qualifications of the chemistry faculty, the adequacy of the facilities, condition of instrumentation, access to current chemical literature, and opportunities for a meaningful research experience. An academic institution whose chemistry department meets the guidelines for ACS approval is placed on a nationally recognized list of approved chemistry programs. For more information, visit American Chemical Society.

Academic Programs Visit Campus