CONTACT:
School of Adult and Graduate Education
610-740-3770
sage@cedarcrest.edu
Traditional Admissions
800-360-1222
610-740-3780
admissions@cedarcrest.edu
Chemistry is one of science’s most versatile degrees and is becoming increasingly important in today’s global environment.
Chemistry and biochemistry are among science’s most versatile majors—touching every aspect of our lives and our world. By earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or biochemistry, you will be prepared for a career in almost any science-related field.
Here at Cedar Crest, you will receive a strong foundational education in organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry. But it’s what Cedar Crest offers beyond these foundations that makes our chemical and physical sciences programs so strong: namely, an emphasis on developing complementary liberal arts-based skills, including leadership and communication, and enhanced opportunities for hands-on research and experience.
Beginning your first year, you will work with faculty to conduct valuable research and provide written and oral presentations to prestigious organizations such as the American Chemical Society and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. By the time you graduate, you will be prepared to assume a dynamic role within one of many organizations—many of which positively impact society and the environment.
If you have an interest in crime scene reconstruction, you can add the forensic science concentration and study in one of the top programs in the nation with accreditation from the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Once you attain your bachelor’s degree from Cedar Crest, you can enroll in the College’s Master of Science in Forensic Science program and earn an advanced degree in as little as one year (it typically takes two years for students with undergraduate degrees from other colleges).
Graduates of our chemistry and biochemistry programs work at some of world’s largest and most prestigious companies, including Merck, Air Products and Chemicals, DuPont, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Rohm and Haas, Exxon research, and GlaxoSmithKline. Those who graduate with the forensic science concentration or from the forensic science master’s program are employed by some of the busiest labs in the country, including the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York City and the United States Army Forensic Science Lab.
A degree in chemistry or biochemistry is also an excellent foundation for graduate studies, including medical, dental or pharmaceutical school. Over 50 percent of our undergraduates go on to seek advanced degrees, such as the master’s of science in forensic science program at Cedar Crest. Our students have been accepted into graduate programs in many prestigious institutions across the nation and around the world including Princeton University, Syracuse University, Temple University School of Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, and the University of Copenhagen.
Faculty experience and affiliations
Our faculty members are recognized leaders in their fields. Our department's faculty help shape policy for the local chapter of the American Chemical Society, and our forensic science program director was a past chair of the Forensic Science Educational Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academic of Forensic Sciences and past president of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists. Affiliations such as these provide our students with more opportunities for research, networking, internships, and a quality education.
Personalized attention
As a small, private college, our faculty provides you with more personalized attention in the classroom and the laboratory. You won’t find any 500-student labs here.
A well-rounded curriculum
Here, you will gain proficiency in all five areas of chemistry: organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry. You will also enjoy all of the benefits of a liberal arts education, including an increased emphasis on developing complementary skills such as leadership and communication.
State-of-the-art facilities
At Cedar Crest, you will be trained on the cutting-edge tools and technology currently utilized by science professionals in the workplace. For example, we’re one of the few undergraduate programs in the nation to provide access to Mass Spectrometry (Tandem) technology, which is used for determining masses of particles and their composition.
A focus on leadership
Our program offers plenty of opportunities to head research projects, give presentations, and to serve as a teaching assistant during your final semesters. You can also play a key role in one or more of the College’s many clubs and organizations, such as the Chemistry Club or Forensic Science Student Organization.
The mission of the department of chemical and physical sciences is to develop the conceptual, analytical, and technical skills to allow departmental majors to be leaders in their scientific professions and/or productively pursue graduate or professional studies in science. The department will also provide a foundational knowledge in the area of chemistry for majors and non-majors that will contribute to the development of scientifically responsible citizens who can have a better understanding of the world and the role of science and scientific thinking in the global community.