A.B./ Sc.B. in Chemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Brown University

Program Overview

Brown University’s A.B./Sc.B. in Chemistry combines a rigorous foundation in chemistry with Brown’s Open Curriculum, allowing students to explore chemistry alongside biology, medicine, physics, engineering, and nanoscience. The A.B. provides a core education in chemistry, while the Sc.B. offers deeper scientific preparation through the standard Chemistry pathway or optional Chemical Biology and Materials Chemistry tracks, with opportunities for undergraduate research from the first year.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students typically begin with CHEM 0330 – Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure, Brown’s foundation course for students with appropriate chemistry preparation, combining lecture, conference, and laboratory work. Students may also progress into CHEM 0350 – Organic Chemistry I, depending on their preparation and course placement; Brown now provides an optional self-assessment to help students choose their introductory chemistry course.

Year 2: Students build broader chemical knowledge through CHEM 0360 – Organic Chemistry II, CHEM 0500 – Inorganic Chemistry, and CHEM 0600 – Preparative Chemistry Lab, developing their understanding of organic and inorganic systems while gaining practical laboratory experience. Sc.B. students can begin shaping their pathway toward Chemical Biology or Materials Chemistry through their concentration choices.

Year 3: Advanced study expands into areas such as CHEM 1140 – Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry, CHEM 1150 – Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, and CHEM 1160 – Physical Chemistry Laboratory. Students following the Chemical Biology track can also study CHEM 1230 – Chemical Biology and CHEM 1240 – Biochemical Reactions and Mechanisms, while Materials Chemistry students can progress toward CHEM 1060 – Advanced Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM 1700 – Nanoscale Materials: Synthesis and Applications.

Year 4: Students use Brown’s flexible academic structure to complete upper-level chemistry and interdisciplinary coursework aligned with their interests, with Sc.B. students undertaking two semesters of CHEM 0980 – Undergraduate Research or CHEM 0981 – Undergraduate Research – Writing Designated. Students pursuing Chemistry Honors additionally complete a senior thesis and present a senior poster at the Chemistry Department’s spring undergraduate poster session.

Focus Areas

Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Materials Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nanoscience, Molecular Science.

Learning Outcomes

Chemical characterization, molecular synthesis, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, laboratory experimentation, quantitative analysis, interdisciplinary problem-solving, independent research, scientific communication. Brown describes the Sc.B. as providing preparation for graduate study or entry-level technical positions in the molecular sciences.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Not stated on Brown University’s official Chemistry undergraduate/concentration pages as an ACS-accredited or ACS-certified degree. The department does provide an official American Chemical Society resource for undergraduates and recognizes ACS-related student awards, but this should not be interpreted as confirmation of program accreditation.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Brown University — #69 globally; this is a university-level ranking rather than a Chemistry-specific ranking. Brown’s official website previously reported #47 in QS Graduate Employability Rankings, but that figure relates to an earlier QS ranking and should not be presented as a current 2026 employability position.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The A.B./Sc.B. in Chemistry at Brown gives students substantial opportunities to move beyond classroom learning through laboratory courses, faculty-led research, and access to departmental research facilities. Students can begin chemistry research as early as their first year, work directly with faculty and other lab members, and pursue research for academic credit, volunteering, or funded summer opportunities. Brown’s MacMillan Hall houses state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, while the GeoChem building provides specialized research infrastructure including NMR and mass spectrometry facilities.

Students build practical experience through:

Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 0370): Provides dedicated laboratory experience within the standard Sc.B. Chemistry curriculum, complementing the theoretical study of organic chemistry.
Preparative Chemistry Lab (CHEM 0600): Gives students practical experience in preparative chemistry as part of the standard Sc.B. pathway.
Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 1160): Students can undertake advanced experimental physical chemistry work, connecting chemical theory with laboratory investigation.
Undergraduate research: Students at every undergraduate level—first-years through seniors—can work with Brown’s more than 20 Chemistry faculty members on research in chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, nano & materials chemistry, organic chemistry, physical/theoretical chemistry, and chemical education.
Faculty research projects: Research students work closely with a faculty member and other laboratory members on projects connected to the laboratory’s research interests, providing direct experience with active scientific research rather than simulated projects.
NMR Facility: Undergraduate students can access Brown’s NMR facility after training and qualification, with instruments including 600 MHz and 400 MHz Bruker NMR spectrometers and 60 MHz Magritek Spinsolve NMR spectrometers used for teaching.
Mass Spectrometry Facility: Undergraduate researchers can use modern mass-spectrometry instrumentation after training; the facility supports sample preparation, data interpretation, experimental design, and method development.
Computational chemistry: Students pursuing computationally oriented chemistry can study CHEM 1560K: Computational Chemistry, which covers Hartree-Fock, density functional theory (DFT), Monte Carlo sampling, and molecular dynamics, with students performing calculations using their own simple codes and advanced software packages.
Scientific computing resources: Brown Chemistry provides support for scientific computing and connection to the department’s computing cluster, alongside Brown-licensed software and departmental research computing resources.
Summer research and internships: The department lists funded summer research opportunities both at Brown and elsewhere, including REU programs, the Amgen Scholars Program, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Summer School, and other external research programs.
Research and teaching facilities: The W. Duncan MacMillan Hall contains undergraduate teaching laboratories, while the GeoChem Research Building houses Chemistry research laboratories, NMR and mass spectrometry facilities, a machine shop, electronics workshop, and chemistry stockroom.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Brown University’s A.B./Sc.B. in Chemistry prepares graduates for entry-level technical positions in the molecular sciences as well as further graduate and professional study. The Sc.B. offers a particularly strong research foundation, while both degrees can support interdisciplinary progression into areas connecting chemistry with biology, medicine, physics, engineering, and nanoscience.

Typical career roles: Chemist, Laboratory Researcher, Pharmaceutical Researcher, Materials Scientist

Career development and progression are supported through:

CareerLAB: Brown’s career services provide undergraduate students with career advising, employer connections, recruiting support, internships and employment resources to help translate their academic experience into career opportunities.
Undergraduate research: Chemistry students can begin research as early as their first year, working directly with faculty and other laboratory members. Opportunities include research for academic credit, volunteering and funded summer research at Brown or elsewhere.
Research across Brown: Chemistry students can also conduct research beyond the Chemistry Department, including in Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Molecular Pharmacology & Biotechnology, and clinical departments within the Alpert Medical School.
Research and internship opportunities: Brown Chemistry lists external opportunities including the Amgen Scholars Program, NSF REU programs, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Summer School, Research in Chemistry at WVU, and other summer research programs, alongside Brown-funded Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs).
Employment statistics: Brown's official Chemistry pages establish that the Sc.B. is designed for entry-level technical positions and further graduate study, but Brown does not publish a current Chemistry-specific undergraduate employment rate on the official program pages.
Salary figures: Brown's official Chemistry sources do not state a Chemistry-specific starting salary or median salary for A.B./Sc.B. graduates; therefore, no program-specific salary figure is inserted.
University–industry and research connections: Brown Chemistry research operates across areas including chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, nano & materials chemistry, organic chemistry, and theoretical/experimental physical chemistry, with faculty research supported by organizations including the NSF, NIH, DARPA, Department of Energy and American Chemical Society.
Professional recognition: Brown's Chemistry Department maintains strong engagement with the American Chemical Society (ACS) through departmental awards, student recognition and faculty professional activities. The official Brown program information does not state that the A.B./Sc.B. Chemistry concentration itself carries ACS certification, so this should not be presented as a program accreditation.
Graduation outcomes: The Sc.B. is explicitly positioned by Brown as preparation for further graduate study or entry-level technical positions in the molecular sciences, while the A.B. provides a core chemistry education that can be combined with broader academic and professional goals.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the A.B./Sc.B. in Chemistry, students can progress to graduate study in chemistry and related molecular sciences, including Brown's Ph.D. in Chemistry. The Sc.B. also provides preparation for advanced study in interdisciplinary areas such as chemical biology, materials chemistry, biochemistry, chemical physics, medicine, nanoscience and engineering, depending on the student's academic pathway.