Chemistry

What is Chemistry Pre-Major?

Chemistry often referred to as the “central science”, is a vast area of study that forms the basis of many scientific disciplines and human activities. Chemical principles are evident in health sciences, physical sciences, food science, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, to name a few. The SPC Chemistry Pre-Major will prepare students to successfully transition to further careers in industry or academia.

What will I learn?

Chemistry is the study of matter – its properties and the changes it undergoes during reactions. Chemistry courses at SPC give the students a solid understanding of the fundamentals of these areas, and cover the intricacies of stoichiometry, balancing equations, rates of chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium, acid-base interactions, organic synthesis, and reactivity. Students typically learn from hands-on instruction and SPC instructors focus on the relationship between the application of theoretical knowledge to tangible reactions and experiences.

What can I do with this course of study?

We offer courses that cater to nursing and other similar fields, through to organic chemistry for graduate fields of study such as dentistry, veterinary studies, pharmacology, animal sciences, medicine, etc. Our courses prepare students for a wide array of career possibilities and our instructors and advisers are only too happy to discuss potential career options with students.

What's special about Chemistry at SPC?

Our college offers great instructors, who want every student to succeed. SPC has a strong culture of students first, and our instructors are committed to meeting the students where they are academically and providing the resources and instructional delivery that fosters academic achievement and helps students perform to meet the high expectations that our instructors strive for.

We have a dedicated tutoring/study laboratory on the second floor of our science building, which is solely provided to allow students to meet with instructors to gain help with their courses. This study center is known as the Byrd Sanctuary and is recognized as a key benefit that SPC students have access to.

Here at St. Philip’s we also have several instructors who also dedicate their time to providing research opportunities to exceptional students who wish to broaden their experience in chemistry. These research projects run throughout the regular semesters, and through the summer, and serve to help students to further develop their skills and prepare them for future graduate studies.

Aside from research, many of our chemistry faculty choose to offer community engagement activities that directly support student learning. These community activities are a welcome part of the SPC experience and help students to see how what they are learning in the classroom has real-world applications.

For Chemistry online syllabi, go to Online Syllabus.