UVA Department of Chemistry

Our faculty are dedicated teachers, and the department is also a major research institution with about 150 graduate and postdoctoral students working in the various laboratories. We offer a Bachelors of Arts, Bachelors of Science with American Chemical Society (ACS) Certification, and a variety of Bachelors of Science degrees with different specializations (with ACS Certification being optional). This is a unique opportunity for students to combine two areas in which they have an interest (e.g., chemistry and biology, chemistry and physics, etc.). Graduate study is important for the individual seeking a rewarding and productive career in science, and this is particularly the case for those whose interests center on chemistry. Both academic and professional positions in industry and government demand study and experience beyond that usually found in undergraduate programs. The University of Virginia is typically ranked as one of the top public universities in the nation and provides an excellent environment for study and scholarship. At the University of Virginia, graduate students are an integral part of a community of scholars dedicated to research, teaching, and lively intellectual inquiry. The major focus of a student’s graduate program is research on a significant problem under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor. However, it is also important that a student develops a broad intellectual awareness of frontier research encompassing many areas of chemistry, and acquires a knowledge base and technical skill that will enhance his or her versatility and self-confidence as an independent research scientist. Our graduate program at the University of Virginia combines intensive research and specialized scholarly inquiry with diverse opportunities for broad professional development.