Skip to main content
Converse University
    • Undergraduate
      • Majors, Minors, & Pre-Professional Programs
      • Applying to Converse
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Financial Aid
      • Find Your Counselor
    • Graduate
      • Master’s Degrees & Doctoral Programs
      • Tuition and Fees
      • Financial Aid
      • University Center of Greenville (UCG)
    • About Converse
      • Our Mission & Values
      • Converse at a Glance
      • The Converse Community
      • The Converse Advantage
      • About Spartanburg
    • Visit Converse
      • Campus Map
      • Virtual Tour
      • Visit Converse
      • COVID-19 Info
    • Converse-admissions-at-glance-admission

      See clearly, decide wisely, and act justly

      Converse offers over 100 majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs. We guarantee all undergraduate, full-time students will graduate from Converse in four years.

      Converse at a Glance

    • Majors & Programs
      • Undergraduate Majors & Minors
      • Graduate Programs
      • Career Tracks, Certificates & Partnerships
      • Course Offerings & Academic Catalogs
    • Schools & Departments
      • The Arts
      • Education & Graduate Studies
      • Humanities, Sciences & Business
      • Converse College for Women
      • Converse International School 康沃斯大学国际学院
    • Beyond the Classroom
      • Research
      • Nisbet Honors Program
      • Model Programs
      • Career Development
      • Travel & Study Abroad
    • Academic Resources
      • Mickel Library
      • Registrar
      • Faculty Directory
      • Academic Support
      • Academic Calendars
    • Converse grant science program NIH

      Create, innovate, and transform.

      Converse puts you in the middle of it all. From research, real-world experience, and engaging faculty, to internships and career advisement teams, we put your future first.

      Academics

    • Campus Services
      • Bookstore
      • Campus Safety
      • Technology Support
      • Dining Options
      • Venue Rental
    • Student Life
      • Student Development & Success
      • Clubs & Organizations
      • Campus Events
      • Health & Counseling
      • Leadership & Service
    • Converse Alumni
      • Stay Connected
      • Service Opportunities
      • Transcripts
      • In Memoriam
      • Reunion
    • Life at Converse
      • First-Year Experience
      • Residential Students
      • Commuter Students
      • First-Generation Student Support
      • Diversity, Community & Inclusion
    • 50399412677_dcf97d8c7d_c

      Your college life starts here.

      From residential campus life to clubs and athletics, to beyond Spartanburg, see what life outside the classroom is like.

      Life at Converse

  1. AthleticsGo Valkyries!
  1. MyConverse
  2. Calendar
  3. Directory
  1. apply
  2. visit
  3. give
Converse University
  • Home
  • Academics
  • Programs

Chemistry

Position yourself for various career paths with Converse’s Chemistry major and minor program, as you study materials and the changes that these materials undergo. Sometimes referred to as the “central science”, chemistry unites physics and mathematics, biology and medicine, and the earth and environmental sciences. Studying Chemistry at Converse will position you for a variety of career paths in a wide range of fields, as well as graduate programs.

Degrees Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
  • Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
  • Minor in Chemistry

Related Programs

  • BS in Biochemistry
  • Physics Minor

About Chemistry

Chemistry is an intriguing field that involves five basic areas: organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry. Chemists work to answer basic questions about atoms and molecules–such as why leaves turn colors in the fall and how a battery operates–and then apply this basic knowledge to solving problems. From food science to the creation of new pharmaceuticals, the study of chemistry will provide you with innumerable career paths.

  • Small classes and labs taught by professors
  • Hands-on research experience
  • Converse’s chemistry and biochemistry curricula recommended by national professional organizations
  • BS degree is recommended by the American Chemical Society
  • Work in state-of-the-art facilities

Research

Natacha Karambizi and Victoria Bobo worked with graduate-level researchers for the National Science Foundation

Converse is a leader in the state in the number of student/faculty research proposals funded by the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) consortium.

100% of our Chemistry students work with their faculty to complete research projects by the time they graduate.

Some recent topics include:

  • Electrochemical biosensor development for diagnosing disease states
  • Synthesis and characterization of colorimetric molecules
  • Detection of pesticides in soil organisms
  • Use of liquid phase microextraction to identify the presence of pesticides in produce

Internships

 Chemistry student Gillian Horn '19 was recently named a Goldwater Honorable Mention
Chemistry student Gillian Horn ’19 was named a Goldwater Honorable Mention

As a Chemistry major, you can be guided through an intensive training through internships, shadowing, or undergraduate summer research experience.

Our recent students and graduates completed training at:

  • Mayo Clinic Summer Research program
  • Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Virginia Tech Summer Research Program
  • National Institute of Standards
  • U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Med Ex Academy
  • Greenville County Forensics Lab
  • Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (Forensics Lab)

As a Chemistry major, you will observe processes on the macroscopic level and then learn to explain them on the microscopic level. In courses such as Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, and Biochemistry, you will learn about the structure and reactions of atoms and molecules.

By studying chemistry, you will gain a high level of critical thinking skills and hands-on experience with a variety of instrumentation that will prepare you for career paths in industrial and governmental laboratories as well as for further training in graduate school, pharmacy school, and medical school.

You may receive either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree as a Chemistry major. Both degrees will prepare you to pursue a career in research, teaching or in health professions such as medicine, physical therapy, nursing, veterinary medicine, and many others.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Chemistry

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, you will understand the fundamental chemical principles and integrate these principles from the major areas of chemistry (analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry). You’ll acquire laboratory skills in chemistry, develop communication skills in written and oral forms that are appropriate for chemists, and engage in the scientific process, demonstrating an advanced understanding of research, methods, and analysis.

View the BA in Chemistry Major requirements.

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry

The BS will provide you with a more rigorous science and mathematics background than the BA major. As a Chemistry major, you will receive research experience and give scientific presentations in the Junior and Senior Seminar courses.

View the BS in Chemistry Major requirements.

Minor in Chemistry

A Chemistry minor will complement many majors. This versatile minor will expose you to each of the areas in the chemistry curriculum and give you a strong foundation in the major areas of chemistry.

View the Chemistry Minor requirements.

Course Offerings & Academic Catalogs

What are common careers in Chemistry?

  • Health Professions: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Optometry, Chiropractic, Nursing
  • Laboratory: Industrial, governmental, environmental, or forensics
  • Education: college, middle school, high school
  • Sales representative: Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Scientific Supply

What are Chemistry alumni doing?

Our chemistry graduates work in a wide variety of careers. Some are also in graduate school and PhD programs.

Grad Schools

  • Medical University of South Carolina
  • USC, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • University of Virginia
  • State University of New York at Albany
  • Texas A&M University
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Vanderbilt University
  • North Carolina State University
  • University of Florida College of Pharmacy

Jobs

  • Quality Control Chemist, Contec, Inc.
  • Senior Lab Technician, Contec, Inc.
  • Chemist, Ortec, Inc.
  • Chemist, IRIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Chemist, Perrigo Company
  • High School Chemistry Teacher, Raleigh, N.C.
  • Nuclear Pharmacist, Triad Isotopes, Tallahassee, FL
  • Peace Corps
  • Serve America
  • Forensic Scientist, San Diego, CA

Next Steps

  • Request info Connect with us
  • Visit the campus We will be your home
  • Apply online Start your journey

Department News

Converse’s 2022-2023 Faculty Symposia Lineup

The Office of Research and Engagement at Converse University promotes collegewide engagement in research and scholarly creative work. The office supports and assists faculty, students, and staff from the conception …

Read More

Russel Hill ’24 Stars in Documentary “Leap and Grow”

Russel Hill ’24, Converse Chemistry major with a minor in American Sign Language (ASL) and Mathematics, had the incredible experience of road tripping across the state of South Carolina with …

Read More

Kathryn Grace Neal ’25: A Doctor in the Making

A sophomore in Biochemistry with a minor in Hispanic Studies, Kathryn Grace Neal ’25 thrives on connecting with others. In between studies, she is a tutor with Converse’s Center of …

Read More

Programs of Study

Converse offers over 100 majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs across 2 campuses and online.

    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Graduate Programs
    • Arts
    • Education and Graduate Studies
    • Humanities, Sciences, and Business
Request Information Visit Campus Apply Now
Converse University
  1. Campus Map
  2. Employment Opportunities
  3. Human Resources
  4. Title IX
  5. Alumni
  6. Converse College for Women
  7. Lawson Academy
  8. Strategic Plan 2023-2026
  9. Converse International School
  10. About Converse
  11. Converse Box Office
  12. Accreditations and Affiliations
  13. HEERF Disclosure Statements
  14. Employers and Recruiters

Contact Us

580 E. Main Street
Spartanburg, SC 29302
864.596.9000

Contact Converse University

Follow Us

  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Add us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on YouTube

© Converse University

Privacy Policy
Copyright
Converse University
2023
Employment Opportunities