There are few decisions in life as important as what college or university you attend or what degree program you will pursue there.  These two decisions will determine the people you will meet, the content and skills you will learn, and the things you will be doing for the next several years.  Your choices will lay the foundation for your entire future life and career.  In the Chemistry and Physics Department at Arkansas State University, you will find excellent and rewarding educational opportunities that will maximize the value of your college experience. We have a department of outstanding faculty, each of whom is dedicated to providing education and mentoring to undergraduate students and guiding them during their journey from high school to career. Of course, many institutions can make this claim. What makes ASU unique?

• Commitment and Support of Interdisciplinary Programs - The Chemistry and Physics Department and the University put a strong premium on interdisciplinary education.  Besides traditional degree programs in chemistry and physics, our Department also houses the interdisciplinary degree programs in environmental science and forensic science.  Our faculty have active collaborations with the Departments of Biological Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering and Agriculture, as well as the Arkansas Biosciences Institute.  Our interdisciplinary research partnerships with international institutions in countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil give undergraduate students the opportunity to broaden their education by studying and doing research abroad.

• Research Experience - Our degree programs allow undergraduate students many opportunities to get out of the traditional classroom and receive valuable experience performing cutting-edge research.  Our faculty offer students a broad range of areas in which they can work, such as our well-regarded programs in aqueous geochemistry, biogeochemistry and hydrology, chemical physics (both experiment and theory), synthetic chemistry (e.g. dendrimers), biochemistry (e.g. plant biochemistry, metabolic engineering), state-of-the-art laser spectroscopy and optics, and theoretical nuclear and particle physics.

• Collegiality - ASU has a strong culture of collegial interaction among the faculty, staff and students. The department recognizes that effective scientific interaction and development is best achieved within an atmosphere of mutual respect and professionalism and takes an active role in fostering and maintaining such an environment.  The small size of our program allows for much more personal interaction between students and faculty.

Undergraduate students in our department can work on a variety of degree plans.  We offer Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry, Physics, and Forensic Science, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry, and Bachelor of Science Education degrees in Chemistry and Physics.  These degrees were developed to aid students in succeeding in their post-graduate careers of the students, whether it is in industry, academia, or teaching.

All three of our B.S. degrees are geared toward those students who are seeking a job in industry or further studies toward a post-graduate degree.  Each one can be tailored to suit the individual interests of the student.  The B.S. in Chemistry has different tracks in chemistry, environmental science, and pre-professional studies which will prepare students for careers in the chemical industry and environmental cleanup, or for studies in graduate or medical school.  The B.S. in Forensic Science integrates the fields of chemistry and biology with an understanding of policy, law, and psychology to provide students the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in a crime lab.  Our B.S. in Physics provides an excellent mixture of theoretical and experimental experiences to prepare students for either further studies in physics or for a career in numerous scientific industries.

The B.A. in Chemistry degree is ideal for those students who wish to go on to a career in pharmacy or medicine.  Our faculty work directly with the various pharmacy schools in the region to make sure that students coming out of our program are prepared to go immediately into their programs.  Students from our program have a great success rate at getting into and succeeding in their programs.   For example, the pharmacy program at the University of Arkansas Medical School has accepted almost 70% of the chemistry majors that applied to it in recent years.

Our B.S.E. degrees in Chemistry and in Physics prepare students for a rewarding career to teach science at the secondary level.  Our programs blend a strong base of content knowledge with practical classroom experience teaching in the field.  The individual attention that our faculty give to future teachers means that they are the best prepared they can be when entering the profession

In all of our degree programs, undergraduate students will have opportunities to take an active role in the development of new scientific knowledge.  The overwhelming majority of our students perform research with faculty on cutting edge problems.  This work often leads to peer-reviewed research articles and/or presentation at local and national conferences.  These experiences are extremely valuable in the learning process and help students immensely in their subsequent careers.

We are very proud of our tradition of excellence in teaching and research and of our many former undergraduate students that have gone on to highly successful careers. We encourage you to visit our campus, if possible, and to correspond directly with faculty members whose teaching and research areas interest you.  For more information contact us by phone at 870-972-3086 or by e-mail at (jpratte@astate.edu)