Chemistry Department
Excel in your future careers
About the Department
Chemistry education in the liberal arts tradition.
Valpo’s chemistry students go on to excel in careers from pharmacy to environmental science to synthetic chemistry.
To acknowledge these diverse interests, the chemistry department offers six degree programs, each one leading to a specialized major, as well as a chemistry minor. The chemistry department also collaborates with other science faculty to offer a pre-medical arts program and an environmental science major.
No matter which career students aim toward, they graduate with critical thinking skills and a deep understanding of the scientific process. The department emphasizes laboratory experience and student research, which engage students’ curiosity and allow them to see themselves as scientists. After all, science isn’t a set of facts — it is a method for discovery.
Valpo’s chemistry department is approved by the American Chemical Society to offer certified degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. Valpo hosts the Beta Sigma Chapter of the Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry Honorary Society.
Valpo graduates successfully pursue careers after graduation or continue their education in graduate school. Recent graduates have entered industries specializing in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, petroleum, and analytical services as well as government agencies like NASA. The list of graduate schools accepting Valpo majors is extensive. Many students attend medical school or pharmacy school at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country.
News & Stories
Chemistry Spotlight
Chemistry Department
Dive Deeper
Shining Brightly, Together
Voices of Valpo
Here’s what makes our program stand out
Why Study Chemistry or Biochemistry at Valpo?
Your professors and fellow students will help you meet your goals and support you every step of the way whether that is in the classroom, research lab, or everyday life.
Work directly with faculty on impactful research projects, including battery development, solar energy storage, anti-fungal drug synthesis, environmental studies on microplastics, host-guest chemistry, and more.
such as battery development, solar energy storage, organic synthesis including development of anti-fungal drugs and utilizing enzymes to catalyze chemical reactions, environmental research including microplastics and chemical contaminants, host-guest chemistry, and analysis of how small molecule binding can affect changes in protein shape and function.
Seeks to introduce you to what’s happening in the real world of chemistry/biochemistry. This includes talks by alumni, professors from other universities, employees of chemistry/biochemistry companies, current research happening within the department, and career building events such as resume preparation.
Experiential Learning
Hands-on Learning
At Valpo, chemistry students gain real-world experience through labs, internships, and research—building the practical skills needed for successful careers.
Contact the Department
Valpo welcomes inquiries from prospective students, fellow researchers, and community members.
Department Chair: Kevin Jantzi, Ph.D.