The philosophy of the chemistry department is to help each one of our students succeed. We do this by maximizing the attention that we give to each and every one of our students. Our first semester general chemistry classes have unusually small enrollments: Chem 125 is limited to 16 and is a discussion-based seminar; Chem 120 usually enrolls 25-35 students. We currently teach three sections of Chem 125 and two sections of Chem 120. Our second semester organic chemistry class is taught in two sections to hold enrollments to around 40 per section. The third semester organic course has enrollments of 25-30 per section. The fourth semester classes in inorganic chemistry & materials, and in biochemistry, typically have enrollments of 12-24.
Besides small class sizes, the other distinctive feature of our curriculum is our program to provide early introduction to research. Every year we have roughly an equal mix of incoming students, rising sophomores, rising juniors, and rising seniors participating in research projects with the faculty. We average working with more than 25 students per summer, and many of these research projects continue into the academic year. Many of our students work multiple summers. Over the past four years our students have made 37 presentations at national conferences and published 14 papers with their faculty mentors. All of our majors in chemistry, chemical physics, and biochemistry complete senior thesis projects, and our students graduate with a high degree of competence in science, research, and technical communication skills. Our program has been recognized as a top quality undergraduate research program by Presidents and Academic officers of other liberal arts colleges.
The results of this education are well-documented. Our graduates are very successful in a wide range of fields, from the typical ones that you would expect like excelling in graduate schools in chemistry and biochemistry, and professional schools in medicine and dentistry, but also in many other fields. We count successful teachers, social workers, investment bankers, and management consultants among our alumni, and you can find out more by exploring this web site. Most of our majors did not pick Hamilton specifically for chemistry, and we enjoy working with students who are surprised to find that they really enjoy the conceptual nature of the central science. Working with great students who develop a passion for our field is a special treat. Please explore our web site, and write, call, or visit if you have any questions. Best of luck on your college application process!
Sincerely,
Ian Rosenstein, Department Chair
