BW receives nearly $780,000 in new 'Choose Ohio First' STEM funding December 9
The State of Ohio awarded BW new Choose Ohio First funding — enabling the University to provide students with scholarships and learning opportunities.
School of Science and Engineering
(440) 826-2312
Research opportunities that parallel those of graduate school students make BW's chemistry program ideal for career preparation and advanced studies.
The rigorous program blends theoretical study with practical application. You can work one-on-one with a faculty mentor and delve into complex research.
Convenient access to bench space and equipment provides you with remarkable laboratory and research experience at the undergraduate level.
BW's technologically advanced classrooms and labs are equipped with specialized instruments and computer systems to provide engaged learning experiences.
Independent research studies, field experiences and internships offer hands-on application. Opportunities to work on real-world research projects enhance the visibility and credibility of research you may be asked to present at scholarly conferences or for publication.
The chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). If you are interested in pursuing an intensive program of study, you can opt for the ACS certified major, which requires additional coursework beyond that needed for completion of a chemistry major. A chemistry leading to engineering program is also available.
A bachelor's degree in chemistry can be a stepping stone to post-graduate education or can lead directly to a career in a variety of fields including:
Chemistry is comprehensive and rigorous. It is offered as a major and minor.
BW offers a strong, broad-based foundation in the principles of chemistry as well as focused areas of study in biochemistry, instrumentation, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry.
You'll learn from faculty who hold doctorates in their subject matter and have decades of teaching experience.
Students interested in chemistry can choose from three programs of study:
The chemistry major prepares students to:
Small class sizes, individual attention and faculty mentoring are at the core of BW's chemistry program.
At BW, student success is a top priority. You'll be encouraged to present at conferences, work with a partner company for research, submit a paper for publication and apply for summer research positions.
Over the years, BW chemistry students have earned coveted national summer research positions with major medical centers, corporations and academic institutions.
Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities that include:
Baldwin Wallace's chemistry department has laboratory facilities used by students and faculty in thesis work and collaborative research.
The quality of thesis and collaborative research conducted by BW students is outstanding. Students present research at professional conferences and have had their research published in journals.
BW's chemistry department offers impressive laboratories that provide easy and open access to equipment, projects and consultation with faculty. Spacious and safety conscious, the labs feature specialized instruments and dedicated space that enable students to work on complex research projects as a team or individually.
Juniors and seniors interested in intensive work in a particular subject can do a thesis study under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The caliber of this research often parallels that of graduate level students and makes an impressive addition to a vita or resume for employment or for graduate or professional school.
The chemistry department has a wide array of specialized instruments, including:
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer
FT-IR spectrometer
Ultraviolet/visible spectrometer
HPLC
Atomic absorption
Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer
Independent study offers enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom for individualized and advanced study. Students work one-on-one with a faculty member.
BW's proximity to Cleveland puts you within a 20-minute drive to outstanding opportunities.
Summer internships are available in local industries and research labs. National internships are also available.
In recent years, BW chemistry students have interned at Colorado State University, The University of Akron, Purdue University, Cleveland Clinic and PPG. Others have participated in the BW Summer Scholar's program and Gund Fellowship under the mentorship of BW professor Dr. Raymond Shively. Another student received a Chester's Scholar Fellowship at MetroHealth in Cleveland.
Personally and professionally rewarding, student organizations and activities foster career skills, leadership and teamwork. Opportunities include:
American Chemical Society
The Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society helps chemistry majors explore opportunities in the field.
Pre-Medical Society
Delta Omega Chi, the Pre-Medical Society, sponsors medically-related volunteer activities, guest speakers, tours to institutions with professional programs and mentoring with pre-medical upperclassmen and the faculty advisor. This organization is ideal for students interested in healthcare professions such as physicians, physician assistants and dentists.
The BW Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program is open to Ohio residents who are entering Baldwin Wallace in the fall as a first-year student or transfer student and are interested in chemistry. Students are eligible to apply to the program which also offers the Choose Ohio First scholarship, awarding substantial annual, renewable scholarships.
Diana Barko
Chair, Department of Chemistry
Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Sarah Binkley
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., University of Akron
Lisa Ponton
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Iowa State University
Raymond Shively
Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Stephen Tytko
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., Northwestern University
Mira Beshai
Lecturer in Chemistry
M.S., University of Windsor
David Binkley
Lecturer in Chemistry
M.S., University of Akron
Adam Kois
Lecturer in Chemistry
Ph.D., University of Alabama
Gerrie Paino
Coordinator, School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics & Computing
B.A., Baldwin Wallace University