Chemistry
Offered by the Chemistry department.

Chemistry matters. It’s involved in nearly everything we do in every aspect of our lives: cooking, cleaning, clothing, cures, you name it. Majoring in chemistry opens you up to exciting careers in research and development, regulation and quality control, public health, environmental protection, education, forensics, manufacturing and business. Chemistry also is a major of choice for many students interested in pursuing a career in medicine. As a chemistry major at Wheaton, you’ll explore and experiment in small, close-knit classes and labs and have chances to collaborate with your professors on research projects.

Programs

Outcomes

100% of Chemistry majors from the past five years have found employment or achieved a service opportunity within six months of graduation *

100%
of Chemistry majors

Recent Graduates


Sample First Jobs

  • Analytical Chemist & Microscopist, ZINK Imaging
  • Associate Organic Chemist, Nova Biomedical
  • Chemist, Colgate Palmolive
  • Clinical Research Coordinator, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Research Associate, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center


Sample Graduate Schools

  • New York Medical College
  • Northeastern University
  • University of Maryland
  • University of North Carolina
  • University of Vermont

*outcomes data is based on a knowledge rate of 81% for the classes of 2014-2018

Recent student internships

The Wheaton Edge offers experiences beyond the classroom.

Saralynn Spear

2021, Chemistry

Davis International Fellowship

Tenuta San Vito, Florence, Italy

After studying Italian at Wheaton for two years, I was so fortunate to experience Italian life, culture and language for myself this summer.

Gail Pires

2020, Chemistry

Davis International Fellows

Child Family Health International: Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, La Paz, Bolivia

I was able to explore pediatric healthcare this summer. Having already explored obstetrics and gynecology, I was able to compare the two fields and determine which one I like better.

Matthew Goodwin

2021, Chemistry

Merit Scholarship

Wheaton College Chemistry Department, Professor Christopher Kotyk, Norton, MA

This experience has reaffirmed my desire to go to graduate school and pursue a career in chemistry.

Mynaja Ferguson

2021, Chemistry

Porter Cleveland Fellowship

Boston Public Health Commission, Boston, MA

I learned that self-care is important at a young age, in order to understand and maintain a healthy relationship with yourself and others.

Faculty

Jani Benoit

Professor of Chemistry; Program Coordinator of Environmental Science

M. Thandi Buthelezi

Professor of Chemistry

Raluca Craciun

Professor of the Practice of Chemistry

Matthew J. Evans

Professor of Chemistry and Geology

Hilary Magruder Gaudet

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biochemistry Program Co-coordinator

Christopher Kalberg

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Christopher Kotyk

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Nancy Lane

Teaching Associate in Chemistry

Chris Leishman

Professor of the Practice of Chemistry

Emeritus Faculty

Herbert Richard Ellison

Elita Pastra-Landis