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B.A. B.S. Chemistry

Major Minor Teaching Endorsement
120 credit hours
90% career outcome rate1

15:1
Student-to-faculty ratio

Chemistry is the examination of matter: what makes up the parts of the world and how those substances interact, combine and change to form new substances. The chemistry major connects the physical, life and applied sciences, which means it is a flexible degree that can prepare you for multiple career paths, whether you decide to continue on in a chemical science field or branch out into another area of study, such as agriculture, education or criminal justice.

A degree in chemistry from Concordia University, Nebraska expands your understanding of general chemistry and gives you the practical, hands-on experience you need to continue a career in chemistry after graduation. Your classroom and chemistry lab experience will help you on your journey to use your passion for chemistry to serve in healthcare, industry, research and more.

Chemistry majors at Concordia Nebraska begin with a base of general chemistry courses such as organic and inorganic chemistry, calculus and physics, before continuing on to more advanced topics like physical chemistry, quantitative analytical chemistry and biochemistry. These courses will prepare you to enter graduate schools in pharmacy, biomedical science, medicine or professional chemistry, should you choose to continue your education. As a Concordia Nebraska chemistry major, you would participate in on-campus research and laboratory work. Concordia has a chemistry instrumentation suite that includes a Flame AA, FT-IR, benchtop FT-NMR, bomb calorimeter and spectrophotometer – some of the instrumentation available for you to do your research. You would also have access to the chemistry research lab and specialized molecular modeling software. There are also off-campus research and internship opportunities that will help you use your knowledge in professional applications as you pursue a career in the chemistry field.

Chemistry Courses

Program Differentiators

Core Concepts

The chemistry program at Concordia University, Nebraska integrates science and faith together, rather than seeing them as opposing ideas. Chemistry courses and labs are taught by faculty with the highest degree available in the field of chemistry who are committed to the academic, personal and spiritual well-being of Concordia’s students.

Dr. John Jurchen - Chemistry

Dr. John Jurchen, chemistry professor, is on a mission to help students match their unique gifts to a fulfilling vocation. Learn more about Dr. Jurchen in this Faculty 5 video.

Dr. Kristy Jurchen - Chemistry

Dr. Kristy Jurchen, chemistry professor, gets excited about demonstrations in the classroom, from pops and fizzes to big pillars of flame. Learn more about Dr. Jurchen in this Faculty 5 video.

 

 

Testimonials

 

I think someone should choose Concordia because they will receive a quality education in a Christ-centered atmosphere while being supported by a community of friends and professors who care about them.
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Mason Koeritz
Northrop, Minnesota
Read Mason's story

Concordia NebraskaChemistry: Learning Objectives

Students studying chemistry at Concordia University, Nebraska will learn basic concepts of inorganic chemistry, common elements and their compounds, as well as phases of matter, chemical reactions, molecular structure and fundamental qualitative analysis.

In advanced chemistry courses, students will master organic and inorganic chemistry principals, biochemistry, physical chemistry and quantum mechanics.

Students will also have the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a chemistry- or biochemistry-related field by working in an internship position under supervision of a chemist or biochemist.

Concordia NebraskaChemistry: Program Goals

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Students in the chemistry program at Concordia University, Nebraska will receive a broad foundation in chemistry that emphasizes scientific reasoning and analytical problem solving.

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Students will be able to understand and critically interpret chemistry literature and effectively communicate scientific information and research results.

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Students will be exposed to a variety of experimental techniques in a lab environment, including utilizing modern chemistry instruments, lab notebooks and safety procedures.

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Students will be prepared to succeed in advanced chemistry degree programs, for careers in the chemistry industry or to teach in secondary and post-secondary schools.

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Chemistry Faculty

As experts in chemistry, our faculty and instructors bring years of experience to the classroom.

Meet the faculty

Concordia NebraskaChemistry: FAQs

Concordia Nebraska Chemistry: Career Outcomes

Nanotechnologist

Nanotechnologists use chemistry to design and conduct experiments by manipulating nanoscale matter. The information gathered is used to develop practical applications, such as tests for pollutants in the air or water, new ways of storing DNA or biological fragments for testing and manipulation or packaging to help keep food fresh and disease-free for longer periods of time.

4% Annual Growth Rate2
$50,750 Entry-Level Salary2
$96,980 Mid-Level Salary2
$155,650 Late-Level Salary2

Pharmacologist

Pharmacologists use chemistry to develop drugs and research their effectiveness and safety, including how pharmaceuticals interact with biological systems, using cells or animal tissue to predict what effect the drug might have on humans. Typically, pharmacologists work with other scientists and medical personnel as part of a scientific research team.

8% Annual Growth Rate2
$87,790 Entry-Level Salary2
$126,120 Mid-Level Salary2
$161,250 Late-Level Salary2

Toxicologist

As a toxicologist, you would use your chemistry background to examine the impact of toxic materials on the environment and on human and animal health. Through laboratory and field studies, you would identify, monitor and evaluate the impact of toxic substances or radiation, and advise on the safe handling of harmful chemicals, biological agents or drugs.

8% Annual Growth Rate2
$51,000 Entry-Level Salary2
$74,509 Mid-Level Salary2
$111,000 Late-Level Salary2

Analytical Chemist

Analytical chemists investigate the chemical nature of substances to identify and understand how the substance behaves in different conditions. Depending on your area of expertise and place of employment, as an analytical chemist, you may be involved in product development, quality control or analysis of chemicals, in fields such as cosmetics, agriculture or public health.

6.5% Annual Growth Rate2
$42,960 Entry-Level Salary2
$74,740 Mid-Level Salary2
$130,560 Late-Level Salary2

Healthcare Scientist

As a healthcare scientist working in a clinical laboratory, usually in a hospital setting, you would use your chemistry degree to analyze samples of patients’ blood, urine or other bodily fluids to assist medical doctors with diagnosis, management and treatment of diseases, as well as advise clinical staff on necessary tests or follow-up lab research.

8.9% Annual Growth Rate2
$42,990 Entry-Level Salary2
$76,690 Mid-Level Salary2
$121,360 Late-Level Salary2

Concordia NebraskaChemistry: Related Programs

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Environmental Science

The environmental science program at Concordia University, Nebraska will prepare you for a variety of environmental careers by providing a core of required courses in different disciplines. You can then choose your area of emphasis: natural resources, geography, chemistry or business.

Discover the Environmental Science Program

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Criminal Justice

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice will allow you to study and become an expert in the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts and corrections. Through the criminal justice program at Concordia Nebraska, you’ll learn to use scientific perspectives and methodologies to examine society’s response to crime in local communities and around the world.

Discover the Criminal Justice Program

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Biology

With a degree in biology from Concordia Nebraska, you will be prepared to begin a career in the biological sciences right away, or to continue your education in graduate, medical, dental or veterinary school. As a biology major at Concordia, you learn essential skills such as time management and mastering complex material, as well as studying more in-depth topics such as microbiology, human anatomy and immunology to give you the knowledge you need to be successful in the field of biology.

Discover the Biology Program

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Agricultural Science

Through Concordia’s ag degree, you will study a broad selection of agriculture courses that look at food production from start to finish so you are ready for a career in agriculture or natural resource-related sales, ag finance, or work in an extension office, government agency, land use organization or in production agriculture as a farmer or rancher.

Discover the Agricultural Science Program

1 Recent graduates attending graduate school or employed within six months of graduation.

2 Career salary and wages sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.