Department of Chemistry
Programs of Study
- Biochemistry
- Biochemistry/Pre-Health
- Chemistry
Minor
- Chemistry
Preparation for the professional study of dentistry, engineering, forensic science, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, physician assistant and Ph.D. programs.
Course requirements and descriptions can be found in the Huntingdon College Catalog.
Department Chair
- Chair, Department of Natural Sciences; Professor of Biology; Pre-Veterinary Adviser
Biochemistry Program Coordinator
Chemistry Program Coordinator
Why Huntingdon?
At Huntingdon, our goal is your success. A broad-based curriculum and small classes ensure a “Know and Be Known” atmosphere, with individual attention from faculty who will mentor you toward a career path. Critical thinking, a skill in demand by employers and graduate programs, is reinforced in every Huntingdon course.
Huntingdon’s Chemistry/Biochemistry programs offer a number of advantages, including:
- Every Chemistry/Biochemistry major conducts two original research projects during the junior and senior years, working alongside professors.
- Students have opportunities to publish research and/or to present at regional, national, or international World Chemistry Congress and American Chemical Society meetings.
- Hands-on laboratory training in the use of advanced instrumentation (GC, UV-Vis, FT-IR, polarimeter, PAGE electrophoresis, and ICP-OES) and computational chemistry studies are part of the program.
- Competitive internships have placed students at the Alabama State Forensics Lab, FBI, Los Alamos and Brookhaven National Labs, Mayo Clinic, Institute for Ecosystems Studies, Carnegie Institute for Geophysical Sciences, UAB Forensic Chemistry, pharmacies, hospitals, and laboratories.
- Departmental road trips take students to pharmacy, graduate, and medical schools.
Huntingdon College offers a Biochemistry BA degree accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Visit the ASBMB website. Summer fellowships are available with Merck, the DOE Nuclear Summer School Program, and other programs, with a track record of placements with National Science Foundation summer REU programs.
- A Pre-Professional Advising Group prepares students interested in admission to professional health science programs, as do a free week-long Chemistry Boot Camp and the Student Mastery and Review for Tests (SMART) program, preparing students for the PCAT, MCAT, and DAT.
- Faculty and peer tutors lead supplemental instruction (SI) weekly.
- Beyond the classroom, Huntingdon offers an active and national award-winning Student Affiliate Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Facilities
Huntingdon’s science laboratories and classrooms are housed in historic Bellingrath Hall. Huntingdon students enrolled in chemistry and biochemistry laboratories receive hands-on instruction in the use of advanced equipment.
The SMART Program
Students who are interested in practicing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), or Dental Admission Test (DAT) may participate in the Student Mastery and Review for Tests (SMART) program. SMART provides access to American Association of Medical Colleges online MCAT practice tests, PCAT Professor online tests and tutorials, or sample online DAT examinations and tutorials. The result: preparation for the best possible scores on these tests.
Faculty
- Professor of Chemistry, Chemical Hygiene Officer
- Professor of Chemistry
- Instructor of Physics
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Placement Rates
Placement Rates of Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors
| Program Type | Applied | Accepted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical School | 19 | 14 | 74% |
| Pharmacy School | 31 | 31 | 100% |
| Dental School | 6 | 4 | 67% |
| Ph.D./Graduate Programs | 14 | 14 | 100% |
1997–2018 Placement Rates of Biochemistry and Chemistry Majors
| Program Type | Applied | Accepted | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy | 49 | 48 | 98% |
| Ph.D./Graduate Programs | 38 | 38 | 100% |
| Medical School | 28 | 24 | 86% |
| Dental School | 8 | 6 | 75% |
| Law School | 6 | 6 | 100% |
| Divinity School | 2 | 2 | 100% |
(124 acceptances to professional school for Biochemistry and Chemistry majors, 1997–2018.)
Alumni
Huntingdon Chemistry and Biochemistry graduates have been accepted to respected health professions schools and Ph.D. programs with regularity. Likewise, Huntingdon student-chemists have been accepted to strong summer internship/fellowship programs.
- Schools of Medicine: University of Alabama-Birmingham, Indiana University, University of South Alabama, Armed Forces, Universidad Iberoamericana (D.Rep.), University of Oklahoma
- Schools of Osteopathic Medicine: Edward Via Virginia, West Virginia, Philadelphia, Michigan State, Pikeville College, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Auburn University
- Schools of Pharmacy: Auburn University, Samford University, University of Louisiana, Mercer University, South University (S.C.), South College (Tenn.), University of Southern Nevada, Florida A&M University, Belmont University, Ohio State University
- Schools of Dentistry: University of Alabama-Birmingham, Temple University, University of Florida
- Ph.D./M.S. programs: Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, Emory University, Kansas University, University of Colorado, University of Nevada, University of Mississippi, Vanderbilt University, University of Washington, Washington University, Georgia Tech, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of Iowa, University of New Haven, University of Memphis, University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, George Mason University, Auburn University, Michigan State University, University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville), University of Cincinnati, Lewis & Clark University, Indiana University, Washington University, University of Southern Mississippi
- Our alumni serve as high school chemistry teachers and as chemistry professors at colleges and universities across the U.S., and as researchers and in myriad professions.
