Department of Chemistry

Chemistry allows us to understand the way atoms and molecules behave and how those behaviors lead to everything we know and love. It's the study of matter and all of the changes that matter can undergo. Chemistry allows us to study things as large as the universe and as small as amino acids. Everything is chemistry. Chemistry is life, and life is chemistry. If you enjoy solving problems and understanding diverse phenomena from a molecular point of view, you will want to learn more about chemistry.

Introduction to the Department

The department's curriculum is designed for students interested in a career in chemistry and biochemistry, but also for those pursuing pre-medicine, biology, engineering, geology, and pre-law. Students graduating with a major in chemistry from Ohio Wesleyan University have gone on to top graduate programs, leading medical schools, and careers in industry, education, business, and government.

As an OWU chemistry student, you have the opportunity for hands-on learning experiences in well-equipped modern laboratories. You work closely with professors to develop the ability to design experiments, solve problems, analyze and interpret data, and reason quantitatively.

The Department of Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society. 

Available Majors

B.S. Chemistry

This major prepares you to pursue professional careers in the chemical industry, graduate work in chemistry, or other fields that require a strong chemistry background with a foundation in all five of the major subdisciplines of chemistry. This major is also appropriate for students intending to pursue careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, secondary school teaching, industrial sales, or other fields that require a solid chemistry background and who want a more developed major than the B.A. Chemistry Major.

B.S. Chemistry Major

B.A. Chemistry

This major is designed for students who want a chemistry background that is ancillary to another major or area of interest. It's appropriate for students intending to pursue careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, secondary education, industrial sales, or other fields that benefit from a chemistry background. This major is not intended for students planning on pursuing graduate work in chemistry or a professional career as an industrial chemist.

B.A. Chemistry Major

ACS Certified Chemistry

The ACS Certified Chemistry major is no longer accepting new students.

ACS Certified Chemistry

B.S. Biochemistry

This major is for students intending to pursue professional careers in the biochemical industry or graduate work in biochemistry or other fields such as molecular biology, immunology, or microbiology. It's also appropriate for students intending to pursue careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, secondary school teaching, industrial sales, or other fields that require a solid biochemistry background, but who want a more developed major than that offered by the B.A. Biochemistry major.

B.S. Biochemistry Major

B.A. Biochemistry

This major is designed for students who wish to obtain a biochemistry background that is ancillary to another major or area of interest. This major is appropriate for students intending to pursue careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, secondary school teaching, industrial sales, or other fields, such as graduate work in molecular biology, that benefit from a biochemistry background.

B.A. Biochemistry Major

Available Minors

Chemistry Minor

Requirements

To minor in chemistry, you must complete CHEM 110, CHEM 111, CHEM 260, CHEM 261, and one of CHEM 270, CHEM 340, or CHEM 350.

Meet Our People

OWU is people. Brilliant, engaging, passionate, friendly, genuine people. Meet some of them here.

Paul Schimmel '62

Member of the National Academy of Sciences and founder of three biotech companies

“In order to make true breakthroughs in the fight against cancer, especially difficult-to-treat cancers such as glioblastoma, we need to explore unique technological approaches.”

Ashley Hejmanowski

Chemistry Lab Manager

Ashley Hejmanowski coordinates the instructional laboratories in the Chemistry Department. Her educational background is in molecular pathology.

Katherine Thomas

Associate Professor of Chemistry

In her research, Professor Thomas has focused on medicinal chemistry, specifically looking at bridging microbiology and organic chemistry to find new antibiotics. 

Heather Grunkemeyer

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Professor Grunkemeyer's research interests include designing optical sensors for water contaminants and studying the fluorescent properties of ink, which could have forensic implications.

Bethany Rudd

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Current research in the Professor Rudd's laboratory is focused on molecular organization at air-aqueous interfaces of biological and atmospheric relevance.

Cold Room

The biochemistry laboratory features a walk-in cold room that provides an environment for work with proteins or other species that need to be handled at lower temperatures.

Teaching & Research Labs

The Department of Chemistry at Ohio Wesleyan features seven modern laboratories for classroom research and four dedicated labs for use in independent research with faculty.

Schimmel/Conrades Science Center

The Chemistry Department is housed on two floors the Schimmel/Conrades Science Center. The department's facilities include classrooms, instructional laboratories, and individual research laboratories that were designed largely by the Chemistry Department faculty.

Gas Chromatographs

Gas chromatography separates components of a volatile liquid mixture by taking advantage of differences in boiling points and, to some extent, differences in polarities. The department has four Shimadzu GC-14A gas chromatographs equipped with flame ionization detectors.

HPLC

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used to separate two or more components of a liquid sample. The department has a Rainin HPLC that is equipped with a Varian Prostar UV/Vis detector to assist in identification and quantification of the concentrations of the components.

Dry Box

The dry box is housed in the inorganic chemistry laboratory. It makes it possible to handle reagents and to carry out reactions that require inert atmosphere conditions.

Soybean Research Lab at OWU

Airable Research Lab, a business line of the Ohio Soybean Council that has been at the forefront of soy-based research and development for more than 20 years, rents three chemistry labs inside OWU’s Schimmel/Conrades Science Center. OWU students have research internships with Airable.

Department Contact Info

Location

Schimmel/Conrades Science Center
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3907
F 740-368-3999

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Department Contact

Interim Chair: Barbara Andereck
Interim Chair of Chemistry; University Ombuds; Professor Emerita of Physics & Astronomy
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 137
740-368-3773
bsandere@owu.edu

Academic Assistant: Judy Arlington
Academic Assistant to the Sciences
Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 201
740-368-3907
jaarlington@owu.edu