Chemistry Bachelor of Arts

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Brandeis University

Program Overview

The Chemistry Bachelor of Arts provides broad training across modern chemistry while allowing students to develop interests across biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, making it a strong choice for students considering scientific research, healthcare, graduate study, or chemistry-related careers. Students combine chemistry with mathematics and physics and develop practical laboratory experience through foundational and advanced chemistry courses, with opportunities to pursue independent research and departmental honors.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students typically begin with CHEM 11a,b or CHEM 15a,b General Chemistry alongside CHEM 18a,b or CHEM 19a,b General Chemistry Laboratory, establishing their foundation in chemical principles and experimental work. They also take MATH 10a,b and begin the physics sequence required for progression into physical chemistry.

Second Year: Students progress to CHEM 25a,b Organic Chemistry with CHEM 29a,b Organic Chemistry Laboratory, developing a deeper understanding of molecular structure, reactions and laboratory techniques. Students are encouraged to complete PHYS 10a,b, 11a,b or 15a,b by the end of the sophomore year because physics is a prerequisite for physical chemistry and advanced experimental chemistry.

Third Year: Students move into advanced chemistry through courses such as CHEM 121a or 122b Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM 141a or 142b Physical Chemistry, exploring the behavior and properties of matter from complementary chemical perspectives. They also begin completing the BA's advanced laboratory requirement through courses selected from CHEM 39b, CHEM 49a, CHEM 59b or CHEM 69a.

Fourth Year: Students complete their third advanced lecture course, which can be selected from higher-level CHEM or CBIO courses numbered 30 or higher or BCHM courses numbered 100 or higher, allowing them to develop a more specialized interest. The remaining advanced laboratory work can be combined with independent research through CHEM 99d Senior Research for students pursuing departmental honors, culminating in a research thesis.

Focus Areas: Biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, chemical biology, biophysical chemistry, materials chemistry, environmental science, pharmacology, polymer science.

Learning Outcomes: Modern chemistry knowledge, chemical analysis, laboratory techniques, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry foundations, quantitative reasoning, scientific communication, experimental research, interdisciplinary scientific problem-solving.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): NECHE institutional accreditation — Brandeis University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also states that students who complete a B.S. in Chemistry with departmental honors and take CHEM 39b and CHEM 59b will usually fulfill requirements for an American Chemical Society-certified degree; the university does not state that the standard Chemistry BA itself is ACS-certified.

Reputation (Employability): 98% of Brandeis' Class of 2025 were employed, attending graduate school, or engaged in other meaningful activities within six months of graduation. Brandeis Chemistry specifically reports graduates progressing to advanced study at institutions including UC Berkeley, Caltech, MIT, Harvard and the University of Michigan, while others enter pharmaceutical, chemical, financial and consulting industries.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Chemistry Bachelor of Arts at Brandeis gives students substantial practical training through required general and organic chemistry laboratories and two advanced laboratory courses. Students can also move beyond coursework into faculty-mentored research, where undergraduates may begin as laboratory assistants and progress to individual research projects, with opportunities to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and complete a senior research thesis.

Students can build practical and research experience through:

Advanced chemistry laboratories: The BA requires two advanced laboratory courses selected from CHEM 39b, CHEM 49a, CHEM 59b, and CHEM 69a, allowing students to develop experimental skills beyond the introductory laboratory sequence.
Faculty-mentored research: Students can join a professor's laboratory, initially as lab assistants and later through individual research projects supervised by faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students. These projects can develop into senior honors theses.
Research instrumentation: Brandeis chemistry facilities provide access to NMR spectrometers from 400–800 MHz, mass spectrometry, ESR, UPLC-MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, solid-state NMR, fluorescence spectrometers, GC/MS, computerized UV-visible and FT-IR spectrometers, as well as chromatography equipment, laser sources, and controlled-atmosphere dry boxes.
Brandeis University Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility (BrUNMR): The facility includes four well-equipped NMR spectrometers, supporting small-molecule analysis and multidimensional structural and dynamic studies of biomolecules.
Mass Spectrometry Facility: Students involved in research can work within a facility supporting proteomic, metabolomic, and structural-confirmation analyses, including sample preparation, mass spectrometry, and data analysis.
Independent research and publications: Brandeis reports that chemistry undergraduates have co-authored almost 260 peer-reviewed research publications since 2003, demonstrating opportunities to participate in research that extends beyond classroom laboratory exercises.
Summer research opportunities: Students can pursue summer research with financial support through a range of summer undergraduate research fellowships, providing an opportunity to concentrate on laboratory research outside the academic-year course schedule.
Research internships: Brandeis supports research internships through programs such as the World of Work (WOW) Fellowship, which can provide funding for students who secure eligible unpaid internships, including laboratory research placements.
Undergraduate research support: The Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations (URCC) office helps students identify research topics and mentors and access funding for research projects; Brandeis also provides library support through subject librarians for student research.
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC): Chemistry students can also pursue the MRSEC Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), a 10-week hands-on summer research program in Brandeis MRSEC laboratories with faculty mentoring, professional development and a final poster presentation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Chemistry Bachelor of Arts at Brandeis University gives students a broad chemistry foundation that can lead directly into scientific careers or prepare them for graduate and professional education. The program is particularly suitable for students interested in chemistry alongside another discipline, with Brandeis highlighting pathways into research, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and graduate study.

Typical career roles: Chemist, Laboratory Researcher, Pharmaceutical Scientist, Environmental Scientist.

Career development and progression are supported through:

Career services: Brandeis’ Hiatt Career Center provides career counseling, internship and job-search support, employer connections, networking opportunities, and access to career resources to help students move from undergraduate study into employment or further education.
Research experience: Chemistry students can participate in faculty-led research, gaining practical experience in areas such as chemical biology, materials chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry. Brandeis also provides opportunities for undergraduate research through its Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects.
Internships and experiential opportunities: Students can pursue internships and research placements that complement their chemistry studies and build laboratory, analytical, communication, and professional skills.
Employment statistics: Brandeis publishes university-wide post-graduation outcomes through its First Destination Survey; a current Chemistry B.A.-specific employment rate or salary figure is not stated on the official program information, so no Chemistry-specific figure is inferred.
Salary information: Brandeis does not state a current Chemistry B.A.-specific graduate salary figure on the official program page; therefore, a specific salary range or median is not stated.
University–industry and research connections: Students benefit from Brandeis' research ecosystem and connections with organizations and institutes such as the Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Volen National Center for Complex Systems, and Brandeis Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), creating opportunities to connect chemistry with biomedical, materials, and interdisciplinary research.
Professional accreditation: The Brandeis Chemistry B.A. is not stated as having a professional accreditation on the official program information. Students should therefore view the degree's value primarily through its academic preparation, research opportunities, and preparation for graduate or professional education.
Graduation outcomes: Brandeis graduates can progress into employment, graduate school, medical school, dental school, pharmacy programs, and other professional programs, depending on their academic and career goals.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Chemistry B.A., students can pursue master's or doctoral degrees in chemistry and related sciences, as well as professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other health-related fields. The broad liberal-arts structure of the B.A. can also support interdisciplinary postgraduate study when combined with appropriate chemistry coursework and research experience.