Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Examine Chemistry Through the Experimental Process
About the B.S. in Chemistry Program
Build Knowledge Through Scientific Evidence
The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of St. Thomas in Houston is UST’s most comprehensive chemistry degree. Students study chemistry as both a body of knowledge and an experimental process, examining the structure, properties and transformations of matter while learning how scientific evidence is collected, analyzed and interpreted.
B.S. in Chemistry Curriculum
Explore Advanced Chemistry Coursework
The B.S. in Chemistry curriculum includes General, Organic, Analytical, Inorganic, Biological and Physical Chemistry, including a two-course Physical Chemistry sequence. Students also complete Advanced Organic Chemistry, Calculus, Differential Equations, Physics, Scientific Communication, Laboratory Research Methods and a Senior Thesis.
Students select two advanced chemistry courses from areas such as Computational Chemistry, Advanced Biochemistry, Advanced Analytical Techniques and Environmental Chemistry.
Earn an ACS-Certified B.S. in Chemistry
Approved by the American Chemical Society
The University of St. Thomas chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training. Students who complete the requirements of the approved B.S. in Chemistry curriculum earn an ACS-certified degree and receive a certificate and electronic credential from the ACS. This rigorous course of study prepares graduates for advanced study, scientific research and careers in the chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, environmental, materials and biotechnology industries.
Frequently Asked Questions: B.S. in Chemistry
What is the UST advantage for B.S. in Chemistry students?
UST offers the scientific depth of an American Chemical Society-approved chemistry program within a highly personalized learning environment. Small classes let students work directly with faculty, receive individualized academic and career guidance, and build strong professional relationships with research mentors.
What scientific technologies and resources are available to students?
Students have access to modern scientific instrumentation and computational technologies, including NMR, LC-MS, GC-MS, HPLC, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence analysis, cyclic voltammetry, molecular modeling, density functional theory, Python programming, and more.
Houston provides an exceptional setting for studying chemistry. The region is a global center for energy, petrochemicals, manufacturing, healthcare, biotechnology, environmental science, and materials innovation.
What research opportunities are available to B.S. in Chemistry students?
Research is a required component of the B.S. Chemistry degree. Students complete an independent project through Laboratory Research Methods, continue it in the Senior Thesis course, and write a formal scientific paper. Students may begin research earlier through the Welch Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, supported by a three-year, $195,000 grant from the Robert A. Welch Foundation (2027–2030).
The department’s 2026–2027 research opportunities represent the breadth of modern chemistry and biochemistry. Students may pursue projects in areas including:
- Bioanalytical studies of human serum lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease using fluorescence-based anion-exchange HPLC, density-based ultracentrifugation, SDS-PAGE, and dynamic light scattering
- Biochemistry and viral-vector engineering for targeted gene delivery in triple-negative breast cancer, meningioma, and the tumor microenvironment using molecular modeling, cloning, metabolic assays, flow cytometry, qPCR, and microscopy
- Computational environmental chemistry and sustainable catalysis, including pollutant remediation, photoredox catalysis, density functional theory, structure-property datasets, and machine learning
- Computational studies of protein dynamics, enzyme mechanisms, molecular docking, and antibiotic targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Research on large language models and their short- and long-term effects on undergraduate learning
- Inorganic and microbial chemistry involving organometallic synthesis, catalysis, nanoscience, electrochemistry, green chemistry, and the isolation and characterization of antimicrobial natural products using microbiological screening, GC-MS, and LC-MS
- Carbon dioxide capture using green solvents, gas-liquid absorption, design of experiments, and process optimization
- Organic synthesis, transition-metal chemistry, electrochemistry, and bioinspired catalysts for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide recapture
What can students do with their chemistry research?
Students may present at the American Chemical Society National Meeting and the UST Research Symposium, contribute to peer-reviewed publications, collaborate with national and international researchers, and participate in the ACS student chapter.
Are there additional research opportunities available?
Beginning with a planned Summer 2027 pilot, selected Welch Undergraduate Research Scholars may have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty at the MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Participating students will receive scholarship support and course credit through CHEM 4150 or CHEM 4151, with UST faculty overseeing academic requirements, project progress and completion.
Why UST
Advanced Research. Personal Mentorship. Real-World Preparation.
UST’s B.S. in Chemistry combines the scientific depth of an ACS-approved program with small classes, modern laboratory technology and close faculty mentorship. Through advanced coursework, independent research and a senior thesis, students prepare for graduate study and careers across Houston’s chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, environmental and biotechnology industries.
Study Chemistry
Chemistry & Biochemistry Leadership
Richa Chandra, Ph.D.
Richa Chandra, Ph.D., is a professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. She is a tenured faculty member, an award-winning researcher and a dedicated mentor whose bioanalytical chemistry research has led to peer-reviewed publications with undergraduate students.