Degree Programs

Our students graduate with a very high success rate when applying to grad schools and professional programs. Studying chemistry and biochemistry at Hope gives you the best of both worlds — a liberal arts education that offers smaller class sizes, and a large, diverse faculty with a well-equipped laboratory equal to what you’d find at a larger university. Plus, our research program was the first of its kind to offer student/faculty collaboration. You’ll find that you’re well-prepared for medical, dental or veterinary doctoral programs if you choose biochemistry, and your options are wide-ranging with a chemistry degree.

We offer degrees that are certified through national scientific organizations — including the American Chemical Society (ACS).

"The Hope College Chemistry Department provided me an incredible foundation of chemistry knowledge from which to build logical sequences into my lesson plans. Because I know the chemistry content inside and out, I can create engaging lessons for my students and allow them access to the information from multiple entry points."
—Anna Krueger ’16, chemistry teacher in Memphis, Tenn.

View biochemistry and molecular biology degree programs 

Majors

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WHICH MAJOR IS RIGHT FOR ME? 

If you’re planning to teach high school or are an education major, you should work toward a B.A. degree. If you’re interested in grad school or work in the chemical industry, choose the more extensive B.S. degree. If you know that you want to pursue grad school and ultimately get a Ph.D., you should plan on fulfilling the requirements of the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) certified program, which requires more hours in the lab than a B.A. or a regular B.S.

If you’re planning to enter medical or dental school, or pursue a career in secondary education, we can design a program to guide you down those paths. We recommend discussing your plans with the chairperson of your department or a chemistry advisor early in your program, since there are many paths to achieving your career goals.

Detailed Degree Requirements Summary – Through Spring 2023

Detailed Degree Requirements Summary – Beginning Fall 2023

Minors

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Program Outcomes

Chemistry B.S. Student Learning Outcomes

Hope College students completing a Chemistry B.S. degree will:

• Demonstrate knowledge in all major fields of chemistry including analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical
• Understand the theory and practice of laboratory techniques and major instrumentation, and use safe procedures in a chemistry laboratory
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills, chemical information skills (including reading the literature) and computer/computational skills
• Demonstrate an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
• Be proficient in scientific communication including laboratory notebooks, laboratory reports, research proposals, journal articles, oral and poster presentations and working in groups
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility, of the impact of chemistry in a global, social context, and of the importance of inclusive excellence in chemistry
• Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between chemistry and other science disciplines
• Have a successful transition to their post-college activities

Chemistry B.A. Student Learning Outcomes

Hope College students completing a Chemistry B.A. degree will:

• Demonstrate knowledge in organic chemistry and at least two of analytical, biochemistry, inorganic,and physical
• Understand the theory and practice of laboratory techniques and major instrumentation and use safe procedures in a chemistry laboratory
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills, chemical information skills (including reading the literature) and computer/computational skills
• Demonstrate an ability to conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data
• Be proficient in scientific communication including laboratory notebooks, laboratory reports, journal articles, oral and poster presentations, and working in groups 
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility, of the impact of chemistry in a global, social context, and of the importance of inclusive excellence in chemistry
• Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between chemistry and other science disciplines
• Have a successful transition to their post-college activities