Salem College to Present “An Evening of New Music”
March 23, 2023
Faculty and friends from the Salem College School of Music will present “An Evening of New Music” on Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m.
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Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of molecules made up of everything we see, smell, touch, and feel! That is from our household items and food to medicine. As a chemistry student, you will learn the theories of chemistry and familiarize yourself with the laboratory techniques that are fundamental to its practice. Students may also take advantage of the programs offered by our Women in Science and Mathematics Program, including guest speakers and research opportunities.
Career paths in Chemistry
Career paths for Chemistry or Biochemistry in health fields with post-graduate training:
- Physician
- Physician Assistant/Pathologist Assistant
- Dentistry
- Physical Therapist
- Veterinarian
- Pharmacist
- Optometrist
- Chiropractor
Fun facts
In 2020, two female biochemists shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their pioneering work in CRISPR gene editing, and one biochemist shared a third of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine:
Program Faculty
Jing Ye
Chemistry and Physics Program Director, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
336-721-2722
Melissa Totten
Nutrition Program Director, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Nutrition
336-917-5771
Brandon Walker
Chemistry Lab Coordinator and Instructor of Chemistry
336-721-2786
Overview
Your Program
As a chemistry student, you will learn modern theories of chemistry and familiarize yourself with the laboratory techniques that are fundamental to its practice. Salem offers a BA in chemistry, a minor in chemistry, and a minor in nutrition that pairs well with our chemistry and biochemistry program. The bachelor of arts degree in chemistry provides the student with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry. The degree is designed to provide the student with the flexibility to combine her interests in chemistry with interests in other areas.
Your Faculty
As chemistry practitioners, Salem’s faculty members are able to convey the importance of learning through hands-on experience. Salem’s intimate size means you will receive one-on-one training from the chemistry faculty, who will assist you in gaining extensive hands-on experience in our laboratory and will encourage you to take advantage of the programs offered by the unique Women in Science and Mathematics Program.
Your Results
As a chemistry major, you will join other Salem majors who have been very successful in graduate programs, medical schools, and other professional programs. The personal connections made through internships and research projects will be invaluable to you when you enter a career in science.
Major/Minor
Chemistry Major (BA)
This is an example of course requirements. Actual requirements depend on the year declared and can be found in the academic catalogs. The bachelor of arts degree in chemistry provides the student with a strong understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry. The degree is designed to provide the student with flexibility to combine her interests in chemistry with interests in other areas. The major requires the completion of a minimum of 44 semester hours:
Required courses:
CHEM 110. General Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 120. General Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 201. Organic Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 202. Organic Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 207. Quantitative Analysis (4 hrs)
CHEM/BCHM 311. Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (3 hrs)
CHEM/BCHM 390. Senior Seminar (3 hrs)
PHYS 210. College Physics I (4 hrs)
MATH 100. Calculus I (4 hrs)
In addition, select a minimum 6 semester hours of CHEM electives, which can include BCHM 305, BCHM 306, and BCHM/NUTR 225.
Students who have taken the advanced placement examination in chemistry may receive advanced placement and/or credit in CHEM 110 and 120. Students with scores of three on the AP examination will receive advanced placement into CHEM 120, while a score of four or five merits advanced placement and credit in CHEM 110 and 120. The department reserves the right to require students deficient in laboratory skills to complete the laboratory portions of CHEM 110 and 120.
Chemistry Minor
This is an example of course requirements. Actual requirements depend on the year declared and can be found in the academic catalogs. The minor in chemistry requires completion of the following:
Required Courses:
CHEM 110. General Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 120. General Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 201. Organic Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 202. Organic Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
In addition, select a minimum of 4 semester hours of CHEM electives. BCHM/NUTR 225 may be included. Students must take two of the chemistry courses at Salem.
Students must take two of the chemistry courses at Salem.
Nutrition Minor
The minor in nutrition requires the completion of five nutrition-related courses for a minimum of 15 semester hours and must include Introduction to Nutrition (NUTR 210) plus four nutrition-related electives at the 200-level or above.
Required Courses:
NUTR/EXER 210. Introduction to Nutrition (3 hrs)
Choose 4 electives from the following:
NUTR/EXER 212. Sports Nutrition (3 hrs)
NUTR 215. International Nutrition and Cultural Foods (3 hrs)
NUTR/BCHM 225. Diet and Disease (3 hrs)
NUTR/CHEM 230. Food Science (3 hrs)
NUTR/CHEM 235. Vitamins, Minerals, and Bioactive Compounds (3 hrs)
BCHM 306. Biochemistry II Metabolism (4 hrs)
One elective from the list above may be substituted with one of the following courses:
BCHM 200 (3 credit minimum and a topic focused on nutritional biochemistry), BCHM 270 (3 credit minimum and a project focused on nutritional biochemistry), BIOL 205, or SCIE 210.
Success Stories
Salem gave me interpersonal skills that few schools will ever offer. Women seeking careers in STEM fields will inevitably find that the culture has historically been male-dominated, and learning science in a single-sex environment eliminates a perceived inadequacy towards science material by the student. I gained immense leadership skills through the American Chemical Society on campus and participating in the Lehman Scholar program.
Rynne Ambrose
Class Year:
2012
Major:
Chemistry
Internships:
- Studied global positioning systems in the Caribbean Sea as a sophomore.
- Worked as a chemist for Texas Pete Hot Sauce in junior year.
- Researched organic synthesis at the Autonomous University of Madrid in senior year.
- Worked as a chemist for local pharmaceutical company during the school year
Graduate Studies:
- PhD in chemistry, University of Texas, with a full fellowship
- Received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to continue her research of designing molecules to inhibit cancer tumor growth.
Additional professional involvement:
Works as the research coordinator for Endeavorist, a scientific start-up, and as an active entrepreneur through her recently started consulting company.
Your Program
As a chemistry student, you will learn modern theories of chemistry and familiarize yourself with the laboratory techniques that are fundamental to its practice. Salem offers a BA in chemistry, a minor in chemistry, and a minor in nutrition that pairs well with our chemistry and biochemistry program. The bachelor of arts degree in chemistry provides the student with a basic understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry. The degree is designed to provide the student with the flexibility to combine her interests in chemistry with interests in other areas.
Your Faculty
As chemistry practitioners, Salem’s faculty members are able to convey the importance of learning through hands-on experience. Salem’s intimate size means you will receive one-on-one training from the chemistry faculty, who will assist you in gaining extensive hands-on experience in our laboratory and will encourage you to take advantage of the programs offered by the unique Women in Science and Mathematics Program.
Your Results
As a chemistry major, you will join other Salem majors who have been very successful in graduate programs, medical schools, and other professional programs. The personal connections made through internships and research projects will be invaluable to you when you enter a career in science.
Chemistry Major (BA)
This is an example of course requirements. Actual requirements depend on the year declared and can be found in the academic catalogs. The bachelor of arts degree in chemistry provides the student with a strong understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry. The degree is designed to provide the student with flexibility to combine her interests in chemistry with interests in other areas. The major requires the completion of a minimum of 44 semester hours:
Required courses:
CHEM 110. General Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 120. General Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 201. Organic Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 202. Organic Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 207. Quantitative Analysis (4 hrs)
CHEM/BCHM 311. Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (3 hrs)
CHEM/BCHM 390. Senior Seminar (3 hrs)
PHYS 210. College Physics I (4 hrs)
MATH 100. Calculus I (4 hrs)
In addition, select a minimum 6 semester hours of CHEM electives, which can include BCHM 305, BCHM 306, and BCHM/NUTR 225.
Students who have taken the advanced placement examination in chemistry may receive advanced placement and/or credit in CHEM 110 and 120. Students with scores of three on the AP examination will receive advanced placement into CHEM 120, while a score of four or five merits advanced placement and credit in CHEM 110 and 120. The department reserves the right to require students deficient in laboratory skills to complete the laboratory portions of CHEM 110 and 120.
Chemistry Minor
This is an example of course requirements. Actual requirements depend on the year declared and can be found in the academic catalogs. The minor in chemistry requires completion of the following:
Required Courses:
CHEM 110. General Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 120. General Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 201. Organic Chemistry I with Lab (5 hrs)
CHEM 202. Organic Chemistry II with Lab (5 hrs)
In addition, select a minimum of 4 semester hours of CHEM electives. BCHM/NUTR 225 may be included. Students must take two of the chemistry courses at Salem.
Students must take two of the chemistry courses at Salem.
Nutrition Minor
The minor in nutrition requires the completion of five nutrition-related courses for a minimum of 15 semester hours and must include Introduction to Nutrition (NUTR 210) plus four nutrition-related electives at the 200-level or above.
Required Courses:
NUTR/EXER 210. Introduction to Nutrition (3 hrs)
Choose 4 electives from the following:
NUTR/EXER 212. Sports Nutrition (3 hrs)
NUTR 215. International Nutrition and Cultural Foods (3 hrs)
NUTR/BCHM 225. Diet and Disease (3 hrs)
NUTR/CHEM 230. Food Science (3 hrs)
NUTR/CHEM 235. Vitamins, Minerals, and Bioactive Compounds (3 hrs)
BCHM 306. Biochemistry II Metabolism (4 hrs)
One elective from the list above may be substituted with one of the following courses:
BCHM 200 (3 credit minimum and a topic focused on nutritional biochemistry), BCHM 270 (3 credit minimum and a project focused on nutritional biochemistry), BIOL 205, or SCIE 210.
Salem gave me interpersonal skills that few schools will ever offer. Women seeking careers in STEM fields will inevitably find that the culture has historically been male-dominated, and learning science in a single-sex environment eliminates a perceived inadequacy towards science material by the student. I gained immense leadership skills through the American Chemical Society on campus and participating in the Lehman Scholar program.
Rynne Ambrose
Class Year:
2012
Major:
Chemistry
Internships:
- Studied global positioning systems in the Caribbean Sea as a sophomore.
- Worked as a chemist for Texas Pete Hot Sauce in junior year.
- Researched organic synthesis at the Autonomous University of Madrid in senior year.
- Worked as a chemist for local pharmaceutical company during the school year
Graduate Studies:
- PhD in chemistry, University of Texas, with a full fellowship
- Received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to continue her research of designing molecules to inhibit cancer tumor growth.
Additional professional involvement:
Works as the research coordinator for Endeavorist, a scientific start-up, and as an active entrepreneur through her recently started consulting company.
See our Academic Catalog for all of our course offerings.