Chemistry

Major and Minor

Chemistry is one of the core scientific disciplines underlying modern life. An understanding of chemistry is necessary for careers in everything from the health sciences to the development of new products to the protection of the environment.

Knox's chemistry program has been accredited by the American Chemical Society for 40 years, a mark of the college's consistent success in the national arena. In a recent study, Knox College was ranked sixth in the nation for the proportion of its graduates who were chemistry majors.

A hallmark of the Knox chemistry program is the personal experience you will receive in well-equipped instructional laboratories, individualized laboratories and specialized instrumentation rooms. The department strongly encourages collaborative research with faculty.

Chemistry Program
The Knox chemistry curriculum has three levels of comprehensiveness:

The major requires 11 credits in general, analytical, organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, advanced studies, calculus and the senior seminar.

In addition to major requirements, students preparing for graduate school or professional careers in chemistry are advised to take advanced inorganic and physical chemistry, two upper-level courses in instrumentation, and a two-term sequence in general physics.

Students may also receive certification by the American Chemistry Society by taking, beyond the professional major, one biochemistry course and two additional advanced electives in the department (one elective may be in advanced physics or mathematics). Also recommended for ACS certification are a course in expository writing and an introductory course in computer science.

Chemistry Resources
Because modern chemistry relies heavily on sophisticated instruments, a well-equipped chemistry department is important. Knox provides all the instrumentation a chemist needs, including:

NMR and ESR -- Nuclear and electronic spin resonance spectrometers

Spectrophotometers -- Computerized IR and UV/visible

Chromatographs -- Electrokinetic, permeation and research-grade gas and liquid chromatographs

Spectrometers -- Laser, mass, fluorescence, circular dichroism, and polarimetry

Computers -- Data gathering, analysis, molecular modeling

Drybox and Schlenk Manifolds -- Allowing for the synthesis of molecules in an oxygen-free environment

Extensive Biochemistry Equipment -- Including peptide synthesis and liquid chromatography.