Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of… everything. Well, not everything, exactly, but the substances that make up everything—the parts and particles of all the matter that make up what we know as the world, including building materials, clothes, drugs, food, and a million other things.

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Degree Types

Major, Minor

Institution

Complementary Programs

Biochemistry

Biology

Health Sciences

Heart

Distinctive Requirements

Capstone

Document

Research Facilities

4 research labs

Why McDaniel for Your Chemistry Degree?

The Chemistry Department meets the needs of a diverse population of students. The goal of our Chemistry courses is to produce active, inquisitive learners who have competence, integrity, and professionalism. Our Chemistry graduates are able to acquire and analyze data, formulate and critically evaluate hypotheses, and communicate results. We seek to provide our students with a sound foundational knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of the discipline of chemistry, including the areas of inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry. We also provide students with training in the skills of traditional, instrumental, and computational methods of investigation.

You’ll also have plenty of opportunities for internships and research to give you practical experience. Recently, internships for McDaniel students have ranged from participation as research assistants in the genomics lab at the National Cancer Institute to shadowing physicians in the Emergency Department of a nearby full-service hospital.

What do chemists do?

Chemists investigate matter’s structure and composition, its properties, and the way it behaves when it interacts with other types of matter. In McDaniel’s classrooms and laboratories, you’ll have ample opportunity to discover what parts of the vast field of Chemistry are most interesting to you. And your professors will be with you every step of the way, counseling you to ensure that you take the courses that will help you discover and best meet your career goals.

Chemistry Major Classes

The second half of the two-semester, general chemistry sequence is designed primarily for those students who are interested in majoring in the sciences and have sufficiently solid backgrounds in science and mathematics to allow for a more in-depth investigation of the field. The course starts with an overview of the physical properties of solids, liquids and gases and how they can be interpreted using kinetic molecular theory. Major topics also include an introduction to chemical kinetics, the principles of chemical equilibrium, and chemical thermodynamics. Finally, a detailed study of two important classes of reactions, acid-base and reduction-oxidation, will be covered. In the laboratory, students explore gases, solutions, kinetics, and equilibrium, using conventional and instrumental techniques, applying their skills in a problem-solving environment.

Bioinorganic chemistry examines the role of inorganic species in the chemistry of life. The topic lies at the interface of inorganic chemistry and biochemistry. Representative topics of study include the role of Iron in oxygen transport and the respiratory chain, the biochemistry of Zinc, and Inorganics in medicine. The associated laboratory comprises two components: guided inquiry experiments, and open inquiry experiments. The guided inquiry experiments provide students with experience in synthesis and property determination for selected inorganic species. The open inquiry experiments involve students designing and undertaking experiments on biologically related inorganic themes.

A study and analysis of functional processes in animals and the involvement of these processes in homeostatic regulation. Topics include osmotic and ionic regulation, excretion, respiration, circulation, muscles, nervous communication, and hormones.

An introduction to modern searching of the scientific literature using electronic databases, including Chemical Abstracts. Specific instruction is given in the techniques and strategies used in searching subjects, authors, and substances in retrospective, forward, and relational databases. As a culminating experience in this course, students will perform a comprehensive literature search on a subject and then produce a concise review of the topic.

Requirements for Chemistry Majors

Chemistry Major Chemistry Minor Chemistry Major with Education Minor Chemistry – American Chemical Society Specialization

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Department Faculty

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Special Opportunities

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American Chemical Society Specialization

The American Chemical Society specialization offers a nationally recognized standard in chemistry education. With a rigorous curriculum (adding in subjects like biochemistry and calculus), this specialization gives you a strong foundation in chemical knowledge and experimentation. By graduation, you'll be prepared for careers in industry or advanced studies.

Student teaching one-on-one in elementary school setting.

Chemistry Major with Education Minor

Thinking about teaching someday? A minor in Education is a great place to start.

McDaniel students and faculty pose for a group photo in front of an ACS conference sign

Attend a Research Conference

Opportunities for on-campus student-faculty research often lead students to presenting — and earning awards — at national conferences!

In the spring of 2024, students who conducted Chemistry research presented their original work at two national conferences, the American Chemical Society Conference and the Intercollegiate Student Chemists Convention.

The McDaniel Commitment in Action

The McDaniel Commitment—a series of opportunities guaranteed to all students—provides enhanced mentoring and coaching, and ensures every undergraduate student completes at least two meaningful experiential learning opportunities.

McDaniel’s women’s basketball team in France.

Study Abroad

Internships

Research

What can you do with a Chemistry major?

McDaniel chemistry graduates go on to great graduate school programs and exciting jobs for Chemistry majors at a wide variety of companies. Students have recently been employed at places like:

The University of Texas Health Science Center
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Food and Drug Administration
Kimmell Cancer Center
Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania
LabCorp

Recent graduates have also gained acceptance in Chemistry PhD programs at several of the top tier graduate schools including:

University of California, Davis
University of California, Santa Barbara
Northeastern University
University of Maryland

124,170

Annual median wage for Maryland chemists in 2023

Projected job growth in the U.S. (2023-33), higher than average

Green Terror Alumni

Hira Khan poses in front of blooming tree with white flowers

Student Spotlight Hira Khan '26 Biology major | Chemistry & Arabic minors

From a molecular level to a global scale, Hira Khan has broadened her horizons during her time at McDaniel. "Throughout my time at McDaniel, I've greatly expanded my intercultural competence by being an active Global Fellow, developing fluency in Arabic and Mandarin Chinese, and studying abroad in Hong Kong. I've grown into a person who has a nuanced understanding of the world and can navigate new environments with ease."

Read about Hira's McDaniel experience.

Alumni Spotlight Lauren Logue '24 Health Sciences major | Chemistry & American Sign Language minors

Through her Health Sciences major, Lauren Logue was introduced to her love for Chemistry. "I was able to conduct research on cobalt complexes with Dr. Craig. Thanks to this experience, I was then able to attend and present my research at the National American Chemical Society conference in New Orleans during the spring of 2024. This experience was amazing, and it allowed me to create connections with others from all around the world, while also vastly broadening my own chemical knowledge."

Read about Lauren's McDaniel experience.

Katana Ngala stands in a college lab wearing a white lab coat.

Faculty Spotlight J. Katana Ngala, Ph.D.

J. Katana Ngala specializes in inorganic chemistry and has published research that investigates materials for batteries and fuel cells. He teaches lab courses on campus, helping students see chemistry in action. “I hope that what students take away from my classes is the knowledge of the principles,” he says. He holds a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Faculty Spotlight Dana Ferraris Professor of Chemistry and The John Desmond Kopp Professorship in the Sciences

“I spent over 15 years as a medicinal chemist working on drug discovery projects in the pharmaceutical industry. I am still passionate about teaching undergraduates medicinal chemistry and oncology based drug discovery.”

Read a Q&A with Dana Ferraris, Ph.D.

Recent News for Chemistry

McDaniel students inducted into academic honor societies

McDaniel students were inducted during spring 2026 into academic honor societies.
McDaniel College receives major grant for scientific equipment

McDaniel College has been awarded a four-year grant totaling $580,100 from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation to purchase new state-of-the-art scientific equipment for research and teaching in McDaniel’s Biology, Chemistry, and Health Sciences departments.
Annual Academic Symposium showcases the liberal arts in action

McDaniel's Academic Symposium on Monday, May 5, highlights the original research, scholarship, and creative achievements of McDaniel students, faculty, and staff. Plus, two special events take place including a Community Networking Breakfast & Presentation of the Phi Beta Kappa Lifelong Learner Award and a Keynote Lunch with McDaniel College Budapest Professor Gábor Molnár (advance registration is required for both the breakfast and lunch events).

Biochemistry Health Sciences Biology Teaching, M.S. Environmental Studies

Keep in Touch

Tell us a little about yourself and we'll share updates & information. (We'll also make sure you don't miss any important deadlines.)

Request More Info

See Yourself Here

Take your first steps on the Hill! Visiting campus is one of the best ways to determine if McDaniel is right for you.

Visit McDaniel

Department Faculty

Learn more about the faculty and staff behind this program.

See Chemistry faculty

Chemistry

Why McDaniel for Your Chemistry Degree?

What do chemists do?

Chemistry Major Classes

CHE 1104 - General Chemistry II: Chemical Reactivity

CHE 1104 - General Chemistry II: Chemical Reactivity

CHE 2206 - Bioinorganic Chemistry

CHE 2206 - Bioinorganic Chemistry

BIO 3316 - Animal Physiology

BIO 3316 - Animal Physiology

CHE 3205 - The Chemical Literature

CHE 3205 - The Chemical Literature

Requirements for Chemistry Majors

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See Yourself Here

Department Faculty