The department of Chemistry at Illinois State University is one of the largest and finest undergraduate chemistry programs in the nation. The department is consistently among the top producers nationally in number of Bachelor of Science graduates earning the professionally certified American Chemical Society degree.

The department's success is due to its combination of the best qualities of small, private, liberal arts colleges and those of large, multipurpose universities. Students are taught by professors, not graduate assistants; and the focus is on teaching and advising students in addition to research. The 21 faculty members are experts in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry as well as biochemistry and chemical education.

Curriculum
A student graduates from the Department of Chemistry with a Bachelor of Science degree that is certified by the American Chemical Society. The degree requires 39 semester hours of chemistry containing core courses and electives that provide a solid background for graduate study, professional school, industrial careers, or teaching. The department, in conjunction with the Department of Biological Sciences, also offers a Biochemistry-Molecular Biology degree for students interested in careers in biochemistry, biotechnology, or medicine.

Chemical Education Program
The chemical education program provides prospective secondary chemistry teachers with all the chemical expertise that the B.S. degree provides (chemical education majors take the same core sequence as all majors), extensive study in related fields, and solid preservice preparation in teaching.

Cooperative Education
The Department of Chemistry has a nationally-recognized cooperative education program that provides students the opportunity to do chemistry in an industrial environment. More than 200 students have been placed with 30 companies since the department's co-op program was started in 1974. Qualified students who elect to participate in this program alternate between periods of academic study and industrial work/study. During periods of industrial work/study, students earn a salary and college credit while working for major chemical or pharmaceutical companies. For further information contact the cooperative education advisor.

External Corporate Support
The Department of Chemistry has been fortunate in obtaining funding from industrial corporations. The department offers scholarships for promising first-year students, women, and minorities; research assistantships for juniors and seniors; and travel support for students to attend scientific meetings to present the results of their research.

Equipment
Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience using the Department of Chemistry's sophisticated instrumentation. New equipment valued at $3,000,000 that was added to the department with the opening of the Science Laboratory Building in the fall of 1997.

Alumni Success
Since 1980 more than 200 Department of Chemistry alumni have completed or are pursuing their doctorates in chemistry at more than 40 universities throughout the nation. Department alumni have been placed in more than 160 different chemistry-related firms, including chemical manufacturers, pharmaceutical firms, and specialty products companies. More than 35 chemistry graduates have gone on to careers in medicine and dentistry. Illinois State continues to be one of the leading producers of high school chemistry teachers in the state with more than 100 chemistry education graduates so employed.

Undergraduate Research
About 80% of our majors participate in undergraduate research, working side by side with faculty and nearly 50 MS candidates. Chemistry students may participate in the Undergraduate Research Symposia at both the department and university levels. Many present their results at regional and national scientific meetings and are frequent coauthors of publications in scientific journals. These experiences help students develop confidence and sharpen communication skills.

Chemistry Club
The Chemistry Club is a student affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society. Among its activities are the Undergraduate Research Symposium, Homecoming and Parent's Day events, chemistry presentations at elementary schools, and field trips to chemical companies. The Club has been recognized as an outstanding student affiliate chapter by the American Chemical Society 3 times in recent years.

Library Resources
Milner Library resources include more than 1.4 million catalogued books, 300,000 government publications, and 8,400 serial subscriptions including approximately 100 in chemistry. Full-text versions of several scientific journals, including all ACS journals, are also available online.

Faculty
The Chemistry faculty at Illinois State University consists of 21 scientists with a breadth of expertise and background. The department prides itself in the dedication of the faculty to teaching excellence.