Chemistry
With a chemistry major, you might make a discovery that leads to a new life-saving medication, create eco-friendly materials for art, develop a safe alternative food coloring for a food science company, or test DNA to help solve a crime.
At Alverno, you’ll gain the knowledge, scientific tools and hands-on experience you need to excel in this exciting field. Whether you decide to jump straight into the workforce or go to graduate school, Alverno’s chemistry program will be the catalyst for your success.
In the classroom
Alverno’s small classes offer a much more intimate atmosphere than the large chemistry lecture halls you might find at other colleges. You will be on a first-name basis with your dedicated faculty mentors, who will personally guide you through coursework and help you select the right classes, internships, research experiences and other opportunities to reach your career goals.
You’ll get plenty of hands-on experience using cutting-edge instrumentation in Alverno’s labs to explore chemistry’s real-world applications. For example, you might use Alverno’s greenhouse to develop a variety of methods for isolating and identifying components in essential oils, or you might explore the interplay of chemistry and art through courses on textiles, color and glass.
In our laboratory courses, you not only learn the basic skills and knowledge inherent to chemistry, but also design, implement and evaluate your own investigations. You’ll also be prepared to consider the ethical dimensions of the field and your responsibilities as a citizen and a professional, exploring how you can use your chemistry knowledge to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
Beyond the classroom
Outside of class, you might work as a paid lab assistant or tutor or help mentor and inspire young women and middle or high school girls to explore STEM. You may also participate in faculty-student research.
You’ll intern for at least one semester, giving you a valuable opportunity to build your resume while getting hands-on experience. Alverno’s Career Studio, which is connected to more than 2,000 partner sites, can help you find the right internship for you. Chemistry majors at Alverno are interns across the Milwaukee area and beyond, applying their knowledge and abilities in a variety of settings. These internships lead to networking opportunities and in many cases employment in chemistry right out of college.
Chemistry Quick Links
— Shivani, chemistry majorAlverno is my gateway to my future career. In my summer research fellowship, I have learned the basic skills of working in a research lab and explored the chemical characteristics of water. Real-life application of the sciences has opened new opportunities for me.
Chemistry + The Alverno Difference
We create women leaders who are ready to succeed and shatter ceilings in traditionally male-dominated STEM fields. At Alverno, you’ll find an empowering, supportive environment that helps you achieve your best.
Instead of letter grades, we focus on your personal development and real-world skills — equipping you with the crucial communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills you need to thrive as a scientist. Our learning approach is centered around the 8 Abilities, which will set you apart from the crowd.
Chemistry Minor
In addition to the chemistry major, Alverno offers a chemistry minor that complements many areas of study. With a chemistry minor at Alverno, you will become
well-grounded in the conceptual and practical knowledge that you need to do pure and applied research.
