Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Program Overview

The B.S. in Chemistry at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) gives students a strong foundation in analytical, physical, organic and inorganic chemistry before allowing them to specialize in Biochemistry and Natural Products, Environmental Chemistry, or Natural and Synthetic Polymer Chemistry. It is particularly suited to students interested in applying chemistry to areas such as health sciences, environmental problems, drug discovery, biotechnology, materials and sustainable technologies, with laboratory and research experience integrated into the degree.

Curriculum Structure

Year One: Students establish their scientific foundation through FCH 150/151 – General Chemistry I and Laboratory I and FCH 152/153 – General Chemistry II and Laboratory II, while also studying General Biology and Calculus. This first year combines chemistry theory with laboratory practice and quantitative skills that prepare students for advanced chemical sciences.

Year Two: The curriculum progresses into FCH 221/222 – Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory I and FCH 223/224 – Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory II, supported by calculus-based physics and probability and statistics. Students also take FCH 232 – Career Skills for Chemists, EWP 290 – Research Writing & Humanities, and ESF 200 – Information Literacy, building both scientific and professional communication skills.

Year Three: Students develop deeper expertise through FCH 380 – Analytical Chemistry I, FCH 360 – Physical Chemistry I, FCH 410 – Inorganic Chemistry, and FCH 325 – Organic Chemistry III. Analytical laboratory work, scientific writing and professional electives help students connect core chemical principles with practical applications and their developing area of interest.

Year Four: Students move into advanced study and research through FCH 495 – Introduction/Professional Chemist, FCH 498 – Introduction to Research, and FCH 497 – Undergraduate Seminar, alongside option-specific coursework. Depending on their chosen pathway, students can study Biochemistry I and II, Environmental Chemistry, or Polymer Science and Polymer Techniques, allowing the final year to align closely with their intended career or graduate-study direction.

Focus Areas

Analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry and natural products, environmental chemistry, natural and synthetic polymer chemistry, chemical analysis, polymer science, sustainability

Learning Outcomes

Students develop practical and theoretical knowledge across the major areas of chemistry, apply chemical principles through laboratory and research experiences, develop scientific communication and information-literacy skills, and investigate open questions through faculty-guided research.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official ESF Chemistry pages describe the degree's professional preparation, laboratory training and research opportunities, but the current program information does not state a separate professional accreditation for the B.S. in Chemistry. Therefore, no specific accreditation should be recorded for this program without additional official confirmation.

Reputation (Employability / Official Statistics)

ESF reports that its chemistry graduates enter employment as well as advanced study, with graduates accepted at institutions including MIT, Yale, Caltech and Cornell. In ESF's 2023 outcomes report, the combined Biochemistry/Chemistry group reported 100% employed or continuing education, with 33% employed and 67% continuing education; the report also lists employers and research/internship destinations including Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Raytheon and Upstate Freshwater Institute.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Practical experience is a central part of the B.S. in Chemistry at SUNY ESF: students develop laboratory skills throughout the curriculum and all chemistry majors participate in research projects. The department is based in the Edwin C. Jahn Laboratory, a 71,000-square-foot facility equipped for modern chemical research and teaching, while the program also provides opportunities for undergraduate research, study abroad and faculty-guided senior research.

The program's research environment provides access to advanced analytical and chemical instrumentation, including mass spectrometry, NMR, FTIR, chromatography and microscopy facilities. Students can progressively move from structured teaching laboratories into faculty research and independent investigation:

General Chemistry Laboratories: FCH 151 and FCH 153 provide laboratory experience alongside the first-year general chemistry sequence.
Organic Chemistry Laboratories: FCH 222 and FCH 224 give students practical experience with organic chemistry experiments and techniques.
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory: FCH 382 accompanies Analytical Chemistry I and develops practical analytical chemistry experience.
Biochemistry Laboratory: Students following the relevant advanced pathway can undertake dedicated biochemical laboratory work, including techniques connected with biochemistry and natural products.
Research Projects: All chemistry majors participate in research projects, with some undergraduate projects resulting in co-authorship of papers in major scientific journals.
FCH 498 – Introduction to Research: Students undertake formal research experience as part of the upper-level chemistry curriculum.
Senior Research: Each Chemistry option culminates in a research project designed with a chemistry faculty member, allowing students to investigate open scientific questions.
Edwin C. Jahn Laboratory: The department's research facility houses instrumentation including ICP-OES, ICP-MS, FTIR, GC/MS, high-resolution MS, MALDI/MS, UV/VIS, LC/MS and multinuclear 600- and 800-MHz NMR.
Advanced microscopy and materials analysis: Research facilities include FE-TEM and SEM equipment as well as thermal-analysis equipment such as TGA, DSC and DMA.
Computational chemistry: The research facilities include Linux computers used for computational chemistry and atmospheric modeling.
Environmental field equipment: Chemistry research facilities include boats, water and sediment samplers, in-situ sensors, radiometers, spectroradiometers and air-quality monitoring equipment, particularly relevant to environmental chemistry.
Study Abroad: Students can use international study opportunities to fulfill electives, general education or research requirements.
Undergraduate research funding: ESF's Office of Research Programs provides opportunities designed to place undergraduates in research laboratories and foster faculty mentoring and substantive research experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Chemistry prepares graduates for professional chemistry roles as well as graduate and professional education, with ESF specifically identifying opportunities in biotechnology, forensic chemistry, industrial chemistry, environmental science, drug discovery and related areas. The department reports that chemistry graduates have progressed to employment, graduate schools and professional programs, with examples including MIT, Yale, Caltech and Cornell.

Typical career roles include Analytical Chemist, Chemist, Quality Control Chemist, R&D Scientist.

Students can build their career progression through several ESF resources and outcomes:

Career Services: ESF Career Services provides career development support and uses Handshake to connect students and alumni with jobs, internships and professional opportunities.
Career development: The Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation-supported Career Development Program promotes students' career and professional development.
Chemistry employment and graduate study: ESF's 2023 outcomes report for combined Biochemistry/Chemistry graduates recorded 100% employed or continuing education, with 33% employed and 67% continuing education.
Chemistry employers: The official outcomes report lists organizations such as Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Raytheon and Magnanini Winery among chemistry/biochemistry graduate destinations or experience providers.
Internship and research experiences: Reported destinations include Air Force Technical Applications Center, Australian Antarctic Division, Baystate Health, New York Water Environment Association, Raytheon, Syracuse University REU, SUNY ESF Faculty Research, University of Rhode Island and Upstate Freshwater Institute.
Current ESF-wide outcomes: For the Class of 2025, ESF reported 91% employment or continued education, with 67% in full-time employment and 20% continuing education; the reported average starting salary for undergraduate degree recipients was $58,000. These figures are institution-wide rather than specific to Chemistry.
Employer engagement: ESF Career Services offers career/internship fairs, employer partnership programs, job-posting opportunities and customized engagement with employers.
Professional pathways: ESF provides pre-professional advising for students interested in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and law.
Honors and research: Eligible juniors can join the ESF Honors Program after completing at least 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.5, providing an additional route for students seeking deeper academic and research experience.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Chemistry, students can progress to graduate study in chemistry and related fields. ESF itself offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry, with research areas including biochemistry, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry of natural products and polymer chemistry; ESF also reports graduates progressing to medicine, engineering and other advanced professional programs.