The Chemistry major requires strong math skills as well as a willingness to persist through challenges. There is a focus on in-person hands-on laboratory work, as well as lecture classes. Expect to take 1-3 lab courses per semester, with each requiring 3-5 hours in lab per week. While not a requirement, original undergraduate research is available to all students starting as early as the first semester at JMU.

We are a relatively small department (200 total students, 25 faculty) with an emphasis on establishing community between students, as well as between students, faculty and staff. We also place a high value on inclusive behaviors and social justice.

For a Chemistry major, students planning to transfer into our program might bring in credit for (in addition to General Education):

• General Chemistry I & II lecture with laboratory (recommendation is to bring in both, if possible)
• Calculus with Analytical Geometry I & II (recommendation is to bring in neither or both, if possible)
• Organic Chemistry I & II lecture (labs are transferable for non-chemistry majors, and might be transferable for majors depending on instrument experience).

Because most courses must be taken in a certain sequence, students who bring in a lot of General Education credit may need to declare a minor to maintain full-time status.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and James Madison University within your first year via College Connect

There are 7 concentrations to choose from within the Chemistry major, including 4 that are certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS). All concentrations are pretty similar for the first two years. The General, Chemistry Business and Chemical Education Concentrations are great for students who plan to enter the chemical industry, work for or run their own business, apply to a preprofessional health program (medical, pharmacy, etc), or become a high school teacher. The ACS concentrations have additional lecture and laboratory requirements and prepare students for graduate school in many science areas: ACS Biochemistry, ACS Chemistry, ACS Materials Chemistry, ACS Chemical Education.

Past students have chosen double majors in related majors like biology, physics, engineering, as well as completely different fields like theater or art. Many students choose minors to match their interests in areas like business, biochemistry, math, honors, and the pre-health professions (pre-med, pre-pharmacy, etc). Many transfer students will need to choose at least one minor to maintain full-time status.

Chemistry undergraduates have the opportunity to work for credit or for pay as Learning Assistants in lecture and/or lab courses, as well as participate in paid summer research experiences at JMU or other universities.

Because our department focuses 100% on undergraduate students, there are nearly limitless opportunities to gain hands-on research experience in both laboratory courses and research projects. This provides technical and communication skills that are highly valued by employers, graduate schools, and pre-professional health schools. In recent years, about 50% of our graduates move directly into the workplace, 30% enter graduate school with full tuition waivers and assistantships, and 20% enter professional school (medicine, pharmacy, law, etc) within 6 months of graduation.

Nearly all of our students complete the Chemistry major and other graduation requirements in 4 years or less, depending on credits transferred. Those who stay longer are often completing 2nd majors.

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: James Madison University