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Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of the interactions between the atoms, molecules, and ions that make up matter. As a Chemistry major, you’ll learn how materials combine and change – and you'll witness some exciting reactions and transformations. 

Students in a chemistry lab speak to their professor during a class at the Nucleus

About Our Chemistry Program

  • Learn how to apply Chemistry, Physics, and Math to solve chemical problems. 
  • Develop a broad understanding of the various branches of Chemistry and a mastery of the skills and techniques used by chemists.
  • If you have an interest in research, teaching, or medicine, Pitzer’s Chemistry program might be for you. 
  • As a Chemistry major, you’ll take classes and conduct research with world-class faculty from Pitzer and Scripps Colleges through our Department of Natural Sciences. 
  • Take advantage of labs, classrooms, offices, and even a community greenhouse in the 65,000 square-foot Nucleus, our brand-new science building.
     
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At a Glance

Degree Awarded

  • Bachelor of Arts

Field Group

Chemistry (Department of Natural Sciences)

Program Type

Area of Study

This program is offered through the Department of Natural Sciences

Chemistry & Our Values

Interdisciplinary Learning

Majoring in Chemistry at Pitzer means taking your skills and applying them to diverse fields. Our faculty have research interests that draw on fields such as genetics, ecology, microbiology, and medicine.

5+ Majors represented in Pitzer chemistry labs

Our labs pull in students with expertise in fields from science management to human biology.

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Student Engagement

“In college, you get to be an active participant in science. You’re not learning science just to learn it, you’re learning it to apply it to important problems that can really shape the world around you.”

Aaron Leconte

Associate Professor of Chemistry, Department of Natural Sciences

18+ Papers produced with student coauthors in chemistry

Pitzer chemistry students routinely work with faculty to publish top-notch research.

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Get Involved

Pitzer alumnus Antonio Godoy presents his poster at the American Chemical Society's annual conference

Research

Antonio Godoy ’18, a science management major, presented at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting. His research — conducted in Chemistry Professor Kathleen Purvis-Roberts’ lab — helped show the unintended consequences of attempts to cut the carbon emissions of coal-fired power plants.

Pitzer's brand-new science building, Nucleus West

Resources

Pitzer’s chemistry program is offered through the Department of Natural Sciences, a joint department that serves students from Pitzer and Scripps College. The department has more than 50 full-time faculty, and places an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and research.

Chemistry Program Details

View Course Catalog

What You Will Learn

  1. How to solve chemical problems using your knowledge of Chemistry, Physics, and Math.
  2. How to work in various subfields of Chemistry, including analytical, physical, organic, inorganic, and biochemistry.
  3. How to use the skills and techniques of Chemistry in practical lab work.

More Information

For more information on our chemistry program, visit the chemistry program page in the course catalog.

Visit the Course Catalog
Next:

Required Courses

The major in Chemistry requires a minimum of 13-15 courses:

  • CHEM 014L KS -Basic Principles of Chemistry-CHEM 015L KS -Basic Principles of Chemistry; or CHEM 029L KS -Accelerated General Chemistry; or CHEM 042L KS - Integrated Biology and Chemistry.
  • CHEM 116L KS -Organic Chemistry-CHEM 117L KS -Organic Chemistry 
  • CHEM 121 KS -Principles of Physical Chemistry-CHEM 122 KS -Principles of Physical Chemistry 
  • PHYS 033L KS -Principles of Physics-PHYS 034L KS -Principles of Physics; or PHYS 030L KS -PHYS 031L KS -General Physics for the Life Sciences, with permission of adviser; or both semesters of the AISS course
  • CHEM 126L KS -Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry-CHEM 127L KS -Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry 
  • CHEM 128 KS -Inorganic Chemistry 
  • CHEM 177 KS -Biochemistry 
  • Electives: one advanced elective (two halves) in chemistry, molecular biology, or interdisciplinary electives involving chemical concepts of techniques, chosen in consultation with the chemistry faculty
  • Senior Thesis in Chemistry: chemistry majors must complete one of the following: CHEM 188L KS-CHEM 190L KS, or CHEM 191 KS. For further information, see “Senior Thesis in Science.”

NOTES: MATH 031 PZ -Calculus II is co-required of CHEM 121 KS and MATH 032 PZ -Calculus III is co-required for CHEM 122 KS. Additional electives in chemistry, mathematics, physics and computer science are strongly recommended for all chemistry majors.

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A minor in chemistry consists of:

  • CHEM 014L KS -Basic Principles of Chemistry-CHEM 015L KS -Basic Principles of Chemistry (or CHEM 029L KS -Accelerated General Chemistry), or CHEM 042L KS - Integrated Biology and Chemistry, Chem014L KS,
  • Four upper-division courses (CHEM 116L KS or higher). The four courses chosen should be chosen in consultation with a member of the chemistry faculty to provide a coherent overall program. Only one course can double-count as a major and a minor requirement.
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A combined major in chemistry requires seven upper-division courses, in addition to senior thesis. This reduces the load of a regular chemistry major by two courses. 

The seven courses must include: 

  • CHEM 116L KS -Organic Chemistry and CHEM 117L KS -Organic Chemistry, 
  • At least one semester of Physical Chemistry, CHEM 121 KS -Ppls Phys Chem: Thermochemistry or CHEM 122 KS -Ppls Phys Chem: Quantum Chem
  • At least one semester of Advanced Laboratory (either CHEM 126L KS or CHEM 127L KS) CHEM 128 KS -Inorganic Chemistry or CHEM 177 KS -Biochemistry. 
  • The remaining elective can consist of either a single upper-division course or two ipper-division half-courses. 
  • All lower-division courses and prerequisites in other disciplines (math, physics) must still be met.
  • Students completing a chemistry combined major must complete a 1- or 2-semester thesis. 
  • Students completing a combined major in chemistry are not eligibly for the ACS accredited major in chemistry. 
View Course Catalog

Chemistry Program Faculty

No profile image for Amy Babbes

Amy Babbes

  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Professor Bethany Caulkins

Bethany Caulkins

  • Assistant Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Thomas Davis

Thomas Davis

  • Lab Lecturer/General Chemistry
No profile image for Christopher Dettmar

Christopher Dettmar

  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Franck Fu

Franck Fu

  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Mary Hatcher-Skeers

Mary Hatcher-Skeers

  • Professor of Chemistry
  • Scripps Dean of Faculty
No profile image for Aaron Leconte

Aaron Leconte

  • Associate Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Joel L. Mackey

Joel L. Mackey

  • Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Sadie Otte

Sadie Otte

  • Lab Lecturer/Organic Chemistry
No profile image for Kathleen Purvis-Roberts

Kathleen Purvis-Roberts

  • Professor of Chemistry & Environmental Science
No profile image for Ethan Van Arnam

Ethan Van Arnam

  • Associate Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Anna G. Wenzel

Anna G. Wenzel

  • Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Nancy S.B. Williams

Nancy S.B. Williams

  • Associate Professor of Chemistry
No profile image for Sierra Williams

Sierra Williams

  • Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Contact Us

Office of Admission

(909) 621-8129

Pitzer Hall, 1st Floor

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