Undergraduate Students

The Chemistry and Biochemistry department offers two majors leading to degrees of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or Biochemistry. A student who chooses the chemistry major will be prepared for graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry, for professional employment or professional education in fields related to science, or for teacher certification.

Biochemistry majors will emerge with a strong background in the basic sciences and mathematics as well as biochemistry qualifying them for graduate study in biochemistry or professional employment.

With appropriate elective course selections, students in either major can satisfy the requirements for pre-health professional programs, pre-medical, pre-dental or pre-chiropractic. Our undergraduate programs also meet the criteria established by the American Chemical Society (ACS) allowing students that complete the proper sequence of courses to receive the ACS Certification.

Sponsoring a challenging honors program for academically outstanding chemistry majors (GPA > 3.70), an undergraduate research program, and offering cooperative education work experiences the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is committed to helping our students not only succeed, but excel! Those interested should contact the chairperson for information.

Business Concentration Program

This program includes the core Chemistry courses with an additional selection of Business courses. Within the Business concentration, three tracks are offered: entrepreneurship, professional selling, and management.

This new concentration is designed for students with an interest in the business aspects of the (bio)chemical and pharmaceutical industry, such as technical and chemical sales, management, logistics, and marketing. Students will receive a strong foundation in chemistry and learn the fundamentals of business. They will be well prepared for entry-level positions in the chemical industry and related fields.

Students can apply for this program after their freshman year if they have a GPA of 2.7 or higher. Interested students should contact the chairperson or Dr. Hendrik Eshuis for more information.

General Chemistry I (CHEM 120) and CHEM 106 Enrollment Requirements

Students wishing to enroll in CHEM 120 should take the ALEKS PPL Assessment, which is coordinated by CAST. The score determines placement in either CHEM 106 or CHEM 120.

Requirements for Chemistry transfer courses

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry does not view online or hybrid courses as acceptable equivalent substitutions for the Chemistry courses offered on campus at Montclair State. To obtain transfer credit in chemistry, the coursework at another institution should be:

1. fully in-person on campus at a 2 or 4 year institution
2. have received prior approval through the official process which includes the Chemistry Department’s evaluation of each course.

It is the student’s responsibility to provide evidence that the coursework will be, or was, taken in person.

Programs

• Biochemistry (B.S.)
• Chemistry (B.S.)
  • Combined Five Year B.S./M.S. in Chemistry
  • Business Concentration
  • Teacher Certification in Chemistry (Preschool-Grade 12) with optional Teacher of Students with Disabilities
• Chemistry Minor

Other Programs

• Articulation (BS/MD, BS/PharmD) Programs
• Data Science (B.S.) with a Chemistry Minor

Advisors

All Chemistry and Biochemistry majors have been assigned a faculty advisor according to the schedule below. Continuing students should stay with their previously assigned faculty advisor. Under special circumstances, they may request a change of faculty advisor. All new freshmen and transfer students have been assigned a faculty advisor according to the list below. Freshman have also been assigned a CSAM academic advisor.

Office Hours for faculty are posted on the bulletin board outside the department office. Before meeting with your assigned advisor, if you have general inquiries, there is also advising available specifically for CSAM students. Visit the Academic Advising for CSAM Students page to learn more!

Scholarships

The Hans-Ulrich Gubler Award

Amount: $1200

Eligibility Biochemistry major and demonstration of academic excellence.

Purpose: This award was established in memory of Hans-Ulrich Gubler (1922 – 2010). Hans Ulrich Gubler was a Swiss microbiologist whose professional career spanned four decades. During that time he worked in a variety of biological research areas, most notably on the immunosuppressant properties of cyclosporine. His younger son immigrated to New Jersey in 1980 and his daughter-in-law is an Montclair State University Department of Biology alumna.

Deadline: February 15, notification by April 15

Application: The Hans-Ulrich Gubler Award (PDF)

The Gawley/Becker Science Education Award

Amount: Varies

Criteria: Final semester student must complete comprehensive science requirements to be determined by Chemistry and Biochemistry department chair and faculty.

Contact: Department Chairperson

George Placek Award

Amount: Varies

Criteria: Most outstanding sophomore scholar in Chemistry classes.

Contact: Department Chairperson

Margaret and Herman Sokol Freshman Chemistry Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: Incoming freshmen chemistry majors recommended by their high school principals and/or high school chemistry teachers.
Contact: Department Chairperson

Racemics Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Criteria: Awarded to Junior chemistry or biochemistry major

Contact: Department Chairperson

Rufus Reed/Dorothy Schroeder Lehmkuhl Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Criteria: Awarded to a full-time undergraduate chemistry or biochemistry major with a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Contact: Department Chairperson

Noyce STEM-4-STEM Scholarship for preservice teachers

Amount: About $32,000 (tuition, stipends, costs related to certification, etc.) over two years.

Deadline: May 2, 2022