The Department of Chemistry offers an excellent program for undergraduate science and engineering students.

• We offer the essential introductory classes that every chemistry student needs, including general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry and inorganic chemistry. Because Rose-Hulman attracts excellent students, these classes are considerably more demanding than comparable classes offered at most other colleges.
• We offer outstanding research opportunities for undergraduate students, in some cases beginning during the freshman year. Recent examples include: study of organic material in Antarctic lake water; the use of microfluidics for trace detection of biomolecules; a computational study of the properties of carbon nanotubes; possible metabolic roles of glucose bis-phosphate.
• Our students regularly present their research work at public forums. Most popular is the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference, held annually in Indianapolis – Rose-Hulman students constitute a large fraction of the chemistry presenters. Other students present at American Chemical Society conferences. Some students are successful authors of publications in the refereed literature. All Rose-Hulman students will have a tangible outcome from their research efforts that can be put on their resume and will help establish them as professional chemists.
• The Rose-Hulman chemistry department has 12 faculty members supervising approximately 30 chemistry majors – we put a very high premium on individual instruction. All classes and labs are taught by full-time professors – we do not use graduate teaching assistants, and only very rarely employ adjunct faculty. Our faculty are hired for two reasons: they love teaching, and they love working with students on research projects. Our faculty are encouraged to write grant proposals to raise money for their research, but unlike many other schools, grant-writing is not a requirement for employment or tenure at Rose-Hulman. Excellent teaching and research with our students is all that counts.
• Class sizes are usually under 30 students, and never exceed 40 students per section. Except for general chemistry, no laboratory class has more than 18 students. Compare that to some public universities, which will frequently have 30 students in an organic chemistry lab, all taught by a graduate student.
• The chemistry department aspires to purchase the very best equipment that undergraduate students can use. To a large extent we have accomplished this goal. Other schools will have more equipment, but it will be run by technicians, post-docs, or graduate students. Few undergraduate institutions have as large and diverse an equipment list as Rose-Hulman. All of the equipment is intended for hands-on student use, either in class or as part of a research project, and as soon as possible in the student’s college career. Our students (once trained) have keys to labs and permission to use the equipment.
• Much of your education will come from your fellow students. The Rose-Hulman chemistry department has excellent and ambitious students. Our small size means that we can sponsor department social events, such as picnics. These are very popular. The department is active in Alpha Chi Sigma (the chemistry professional fraternity) and we also have a student affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society.
• Many students choose to attend graduate school after receiving their Bachelor’s degree at Rose-Hulman. All Rose-Hulman students who have chosen to attend graduate school have received a full tuition waiver, along with a research or teaching assistantship that pays a salary. Recent graduates have chosen to attend the University of Illinois, University of Notre Dame, California Institute of Technology, Ohio State University, Colorado State University and the University of Alabama. This diverse list illustrates the opportunities that are available to Rose-Hulman chemistry graduates.

Please browse through our website and see what we have to offer. Better yet, we’d be happy to show you our department and campus, and introduce you to our students and faculty. Write or call Mike Mueller at (812) 877-8450 to set up an appointment.