School of Chemistry & Physics

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Kyle Knust, Director

Chemistry & Physics Faculty

Full-Time: Paris Barnes, George Bennett, Kyle Knust, Anne Rodriguez, Casey R. Watson

Chemistry

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Professional Training certifies the Millikin University Chemistry Department. By completing the courses meeting guidelines established by the ACS, students may earn a bachelor’s degree certified by the ACS.

Chemistry is a broad and rapidly developing field pervading both natural and applied sciences. Chemists are often members of interdisciplinary teams addressing current global challenges. The Chemistry Department prepares majors for careers in diverse fields by developing each student’s ability to solve problems, thereby enhancing their capacity to apply their knowledge and skills to address real-world scenarios in chemistry and other disciplinary communities. Moreover, there is strong emphasis throughout the chemistry major to improve a student’s ability to communicate effectively through writing and orally.

Through a combination of general, organic, analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, physical, and specialized chemistry courses, the Chemistry Department prepares majors to pursue careers in numerous fields including research, medicine, teaching, industry, pharmacy, biotechnology, dentistry, agriculture, nanotechnology, engineering, sales, forensics, law, and governmental policy.

Chemistry majors beginning their careers directly following their undergraduate studies pursue both science and non-science related positions to apply their skills. Most often, students working in science fields find positions in industry and government. Alternatively, chemistry majors often pursue graduate studies with many ultimately earning a terminal degree in their chosen field. The chemistry major facilitates entry into graduate studies in a variety of areas including chemistry, medicine, biochemistry, pharmacology, dentistry, engineering, law, materials science, energy, nutrition, and environmental science.

Pre-Professional Programs in Health Science

Many students choosing to pursue careers in health professions first earn an undergraduate degree in chemistry. While any major may be completed prior to professional school, a biochemistry degree delivers an excellent preparation for professional school by providing interdisciplinary training across the natural sciences and the flexibility for students to expand their education in the liberal arts. Students interested in pursuing a professional career in the health sciences will have an advisor in the Chemistry Department and also receive guidance from the Director of Pre-Professional Programs to navigate the application process for professional school. With their advisors, students will select courses meeting the prerequisites and ensuring preparedness for professional training in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and optometry. In addition to coursework traditionally completed before professional school, chemistry majors develop professionally, and gain sought after communication and critical thinking skills by working one-on-one with a Chemistry Department faculty member to complete and defend a research project.

Pre-Medicine, Dentistry, and Optometry

Medical, dental, and optometry schools emphasize the importance of a diverse education. Therefore, in addition to the strong foundation in natural science and mathematics provided by a chemistry major, students are encouraged to pursue courses of interest in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It should be emphasized that quality and breadth of the undergraduate experience are more important to future success than narrow specialization in science. Students will work with their chemistry and pre-professional advisors to select appropriate coursework to complete the academic competencies necessary for admission to professional school and to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), or Optometry Admission Test (OAT).

Pre-Pharmacy

Most accredited pharmacy schools require at least two years of pre-pharmacy work for admission to their professional programs. The required preparation consists of basic science courses as well as foundational courses in other areas. The recommended curriculum is similar to the first two years of a chemistry major and typically includes one or two semesters of calculus, two years of chemistry, two years of biology, and a year of physics. Because students often need more than two years to complete the prerequisites for admission to pharmacy school, students are strongly encouraged to complete their bachelor’s degree in chemistry prior to attending pharmacy school. Since some pharmacy schools require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) and others recommend it, students in this program should consider taking the standardized aptitude test in January of their application year.

Chemical Engineering 3+2 Program

Millikin University maintains a chemical engineering dual-degree program with Washington University in St. Louis. With this program, students complete the first three years of their undergraduate studies at Millikin University and then transfer to Washington University in St. Louis to complete the final two years of their undergraduate work. Upon graduation, a bachelor’s degree in chemistry is earned from Millikin University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering is earned from Washington University in St. Louis.

Undergraduate Research

On-campus research: Students work one-on-one with a Chemistry Department faculty member to complete a research project. Undergraduate research is most often performed for two semesters or more. Upon completion of their research project, students present their research orally and through a written report. Students wanting to pursue summer research opportunities may write a research proposal with their faculty mentor to apply for funding through a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF).

Off-campus research: With prior consent of the Chemistry Department Chair, appropriate research projects completed off-campus in the summer or during the school year may qualify as an Honors Study Project. Students may complete an approved semester-long or summer program such as a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at a graduate university, federal laboratory, medical school, or cooperative work in an industry research and development department. for undergraduate research or internship is given for a minimum of six laboratory hours per week over two semesters or equivalent. At least one semester of research must be done on campus.

Leighty Science Scholars

Leighty Scholars are typically selected from freshman students who interview for the Millikin University Honors Program in the spring. To qualify as a Leighty

Scholar, students should have the following qualifications:

• Major in one of the sciences (biology, chemistry, or physics)
• Scored 27 or higher on the ACT or 1200 or higher on the SAT
• Have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.5/4.0 or higher
• Rank near the upper 10% of his/her high-school graduating class

Whether or not they participate in the Honors interviews, prospective Leighty Scholars must complete a Leighty Scholars application form (obtained from Admissions or off the Internet) and return it to the Admissions office.

Students selected as Leighty Scholars will receive an annual $2,500 scholarship (separate and in addition to other financial aid) as long as they remain science majors and maintain a 3.5 GPA at Millikin. In addition, Leighty Scholars will do research during the summer after their sophomore year in collaboration with a Millikin science faculty. Each Leighty Scholar will receive a $6,000 summer stipend for doing research. Contact Millikin University Admissions or the Leighty website for details of this program.

Physics

Physicists study the natural world - from the exceedingly small to the astronomically big, trying to understand nature from the structure of atoms and elementary particles to the history and structure of the universe as a whole. Studying physics will train you to think critically and to analyze and solve complex problems, skills which will serve anyone well in any career. Simply put, a major in physics can take you anywhere. Students majoring in physics go on to graduate schools in physics and engineering, positions in industry, business, and medicine, and become, among other things, researchers, professors, doctors, and MBA’s.

Because of the myriad options that students with physics degrees have after graduation, the Physics department offers a B.S. degree which is designed to fit the needs of each student. Each physics major, in conjunction with his or her advisor, will choose a program of courses that will best serve their post-graduation plans. For those students who plan on advanced work in physics, engineering, or astrophysics, the coursework will be heavier on physics and mathematics. Students who want to pursue a career in another field will take a core group of physics courses as well as certain upper-level courses in other areas (say, biology courses for a student going into biophysics or medicine, business courses for someone going into consulting, etc.). Some sample programs of study are described below. In general, each physics major will enroll in PY 151 , PY 171 , and MA 140  in the fall semester of freshman year, and PY 152 , PY 172 , and MA 240  in the following semester, and then develop a program from there.

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