10+ Frequently Asked Questions

Why Study Chemistry?

• The chemistry and biochemistry majors are excellent preparation for many careers. Chemistry is a fundamental science and therefore serves as a solid foundation for further study or work. Regardless of your chosen career path, the rigorous study and skills you learn earning a chemistry degree will serve you well. For example, recent Otterbein Chemistry and Biochemistry graduates have gone on to:
  • Graduate school in chemistry and biochemistry at Yale, Washington University, and OSU, among others.
  • Employment in chemical industry and research labs including Ashland Chemical, Ross Laboratories, and Battelle Memorial Institute, among others
  • Medical school at OSU, Cincinnati, and Ohio University
  • Graduate school in chemical engineering
• As a chemistry or biochemistry major you will develop skills that employers seek. As a chemistry or biochemistry major you will learn to communicate the results of your library or laboratory work both in written and oral form. You will learn to work in groups together with other students both in class and in lab. Modern instrumentation and computers are integrated into classes and laboratories and you will learn to use these tools to answer important questions. Finally, advanced laboratories and independent research will teach you to research and solve problems on your own.
• Chemistry is challenging. Chemistry is not for everyone, but the excitment is in the challenge. If you decide to major in chemistry or biochemistry and succeed, you will have the confidence to attack and solve problems both in chemistry and other areas as well.
• Chemistry is FUN! As a chemistry student at Otterbein, you will learn chemistry by doing, performing hands-on experiments, using modern instrumentation, and even designing your own experiments. Many students work one-on-one with faculty on an undergraduate research project where they learn to work independently. The ACS Student Affiliates group plans activities every quarter such as tie-dying lab coats, chemical demonstrations for elementary students, tutoring, and tours of local chemical research labs.
• Chemistry is fundamental. Look around you - chemistry is everywhere in our modern society. Plastics, foods, cosmetics, medical diagnostics, microchips, the environment, genetic engineering. Learning chemistry gives you a unique and powerful perspective on understanding the world around you.
• Otterbein has a strong program that is approved by the American Chemistry Society. The American Chemical Society has reviewed and approved the program and curriculum at Otterbein. What does this mean? This means the faculty, staff, curriculum, and facilities have been reviewed extensively to ensure that the program is up-to-date. The ACS-approved chemistry major meets the requirements set by the American Chemical Society and is comparable to an ACS-approved major at any school in the country. All five full-time faculty have Ph.D. degrees from major research universities. The department is well-equipped with modern instrumentation.
• At Otterbein you have the opportunity to learn chemistry in a personal and supportive environment. Otterbein is an environment where you will work one-on-one with the faculty to learn the fundamentals of chemistry. You will know all of your professors personally. The faculty are available and eager to help you both with specific questions about chemistry and larger questions about career development.

How many students will be in my chemistry classes at Otterbein? How about lab?
As a small liberal arts college, Otterbein values close student-faculty interactions and small class sizes. The largest current chemistry course (General Chemistry) at Otterbein has 35 students enrolled. This is a typical size for the lower-level courses like General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. Upper-level courses range in size from 3-4 students up to around 15. Laboratory enrollments are limited to 24 students per section. Again, upper-level labs will naturally have smaller enrollments.

Will a chemistry major prepare me for medical school and the MCAT?
The Biochemistry and Chemistry tracks are excellent preparation for medical school and for the MCAT. All medical schools require at least two years of chemistry for admission.

What is a typical sequence of courses?
A very general outline of courses is given below. The specifics will depend on your high school preparation in math and foreign language as well as whether you chose the Chemistry or Biochemistry track. Also not shown are the Integrative Studies (IS) and Senior Year Experience (SYE) requirements.

Year	Chemistry	Other
1	General Chemistry	Math, Language
2	Organic Chemistry	Physics/Biology
3	Analytic, Inorganic, Physical	Physics/Biology
4	Biochem/Electives	Electives

For more information about Chemistry course offerings and requirements, please see the Course Listings page.

Will I be taught by professors?
Yes. All courses and all laboratories at Otterbein are taught by the faculty. Otterbein has no graduate program in Chemistry, so the chemistry faculty are responsible for all the courses. Undergraduate teaching assistants facilitate the laboratories, but faculty are almost always present in the lab.

Do I have to start chemistry my first year at Otterbein?
If you think you might be interested in majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry then you should definitely take the General Chemistry sequence during your first year. It is possible, however, to graduate with a Chemistry or Biochemistry major after starting General Chemistry in the second year. These students will simply have a more demanding schedule in their junior and senior years.

What is an ACS-certified degree in Chemistry?
The American Chemistry Society (www.acs.org) is the largest scientific society in the world with over 163,000 members worldwide. The Otterbein College Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is approved by the American Chemistry Society and offers an ACS-certified Chemistry major to those students interested in a rigorous program of study that will prepare them for a range of careers or graduate study. Employers and graduate programs will recognize and appreciate the stronger preparation of those students who have obtained an ACS-certified degree.

How much math do I have to take?
The Chemistry and Biochemistry degrees both require two quarters of calculus. One to two additional quarters of pre-calculus may be required depending on your high school preparation. The ACS-certified degree in Chemistry requires one additional quarter of calculus.

Can I get a job with a chemistry major?
Yes. The combination of a chemistry or biochemistry degree with a liberal arts core creates a diverse range of employment opportunities. The Central Ohio area is fortunate to have a large number of companies, both large and small, that employ bachelor-level chemistry students. Some students will choose to work in industry for several years before deciding to pursue graduate work in chemistry or a related field. Otterbein Chemistry alumni have found employment in a wide spectrum of fields including secondary education, forensic science, environmental science, business, and law. See the Careers page for more information about potential careers.

Will I get to use the expensive instruments?
Yes. Unlike many larger institutions, the Otterbein College Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has no graduate student assistants and no technicians. You will be trained and work hands-on with a wide range of instruments ranging from the high-field NMR spectrometer to the modern Raman microscopy system. See the Facilities and Equipment page for more information.

Will I get to do independent research?
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry provides numerous opportunities to do independent research sometimes starting as early as the sophomore year. The Department encourages students to participate in the Honors and Distinction programs.