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The
Department of Physical Sciences, housed in Wallace
Hall, provides courses in astronomy, chemistry, and
physics. The Department offers a major and minor in
chemistry as well as a chemistry education major. In
addition, many students planning for careers in
pharmacy, medicine, or dentistry find that a degree
in chemistry from UWA provides an excellent
springboard for continuing their education in those
professional schools.
It is an exciting time to be part of the chemistry
program at UWA. The program is growing with the
addition of new faculty, new equipment, and a new
capital campaign. The student chapter of the
American Chemical Society engages in a variety of
extra-curriculum activities. Student participation
in undergraduate research projects is at an all time
high.
The one thing that has not changed, however, is the
commitment to close personal relationships between
faculty and students. Classes are kept small to
assure that every student feels like an individual,
not a number. Instructors get to know you by name
and are happy to see you and help you outside of the
classroom. There are no graduate teaching assistants
separating you from your chemistry or physics
professor at UWA.
A key element of this close faculty/student connection
is the department’s emphasis on undergraduate
research that gives you the chance to work
one-on-one with faculty. Undergraduate research also
provides an excellent foundation for later studies
in graduate school. Thanks to the generosity of many
patrons, our labs are surprisingly well equipped for
a small, regional university. Instruments currently
being used can be found on this webpage and the
department has purchased a brand new research-grade
Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer. Working
with a professor engaging in original research gives
you the chance to become more intimately involved
with the faculty and to feel like part of the
departmental team. You can be more than just a
student; you can be a partner in advancing the
frontiers of science.
If money is a concern, the Department has scholarships
earmarked specifically for chemistry majors. And of
course, the UWA Office of Financial Aid has many
other sources of financial aid available if you
qualify, whether you are an incoming freshman or a
transfer student. Call us for assistance in this
area if we can be of help.
Please contact any of our faculty if you have
questions; they will be happy to talk to you. Or
better yet, why not plan a visit to see us? Just
call us and we’ll work with you to make arrangements
for your visit. |
