Major Chemistry

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A Reed College student wearing safety goggles holds up a long wooden pole, the top of which is on fire

What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry

Explore the properties of atoms—the fundamental building blocks of our universe—as a chemistry major at Reed College. Our rigorous curriculum blends classroom learning and hands-on laboratory work so you can discover how these particles combine and interact to create the world around us. Prepare for advanced studies and a fulfilling career in chemistry-related fields through the chemistry department at Reed.

Roadmap to the BA in Chemistry at Reed

Develop analytical and research skills to understand chemical phenomena. Learn from our expert professors in classrooms and laboratories to gain firsthand experience in this growing field. Complete original research for your senior thesis.

Year One

Begin Your Chemistry Journey

Start by taking the introductory courses, Chemistry 101 and 102. Study fundamental concepts of atoms, light, and matter so you have the essential knowledge for further exploration in the field.

Take advantage of the chemistry department’s weekly seminars in which chemists from across the country come to share their work and insights. These fun events help broaden your understanding of current research and developments in the field.

Meanwhile, join fellow first-year students in Reed’s yearlong Humanities 110 class. This interdisciplinary course hones your critical thinking and writing skills, equipping you for success in your academic and professional endeavors.

Learn about Humanities 110

Why Study Chemistry at Reed College?

Knowledgable and Supportive Faculty

The faculty in Reed’s chemistry department are experts in the field, and many also have interdisciplinary approaches, leading to novel experiments and exciting findings from their labs. Grants from the National Science Foundation, the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation, the American Chemical Society, and other organizations support their work.

Meet Our Faculty

Access to Scientific Instruments

Many chemistry courses include substantial laboratory work, allowing you to develop the experimental skills used by practicing chemists. Use a broad array of scientific instruments for your classes and research projects, including these:

Dual Degree Programs for Chemical Engineering

While Reed does not offer a chemical engineering program, our chemistry major is so rigorous that most graduate programs in chemical engineering will admit Reed students who graduate with a degree in chemistry.

You can also earn a degree in chemical engineering with our dual degree program in engineering. In this option, you can combine three years of study at Reed with two years of study at California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Columbia University, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. If you satisfy these requirements, you can earn a bachelor’s degree at Reed and at your chosen institution.

Our Chemistry Courses

Chemistry BA course catalog

Careers for Chemistry BA Graduates

Half of Reed students who graduate with a degree in chemistry go on to graduate school or technical graduate training. Here’s a sampling of positions held by current alumni:

  • Assistant professor, Oregon Health & Science University
  • Associate scientist, Impossible Foods
  • Founder, Puppet by Perforce
  • PhD Student, Columbia University 
  • PhD Student, Stanford University
  • Postdoctoral researcher, Caltech 
  • Professor, University of Washington
  • Professor, UC Santa Cruz
  • Reactor electronics technician, Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute

Learn About Career Paths and Possibilities

Achievements of Chemistry Major Alumni

Our commitment to research propels our students and graduates to remarkable achievements, earning them recognition from esteemed organizations and peers in academia. Here are some awards and achievements:

  • James Vesto ’21, National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship
  • Gabriela Bailey’20, National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship
  • Charis Roberts’19, National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship
  • Megan Duffy ’12, Fulbright U.S. Student Program
  • Kevan M. Shokat’86, National Academy of Medicine, Howard Vollum Award
  • Rebecca Braslau ’81, Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
  • Rachel Klevit ’78, National Academy of Sciences
  • Kenneth Koe ’45, Howard Vollum Award

Winner of the Lynwood W. Swanson Award

Kelly Chacón, Arthur F. Scott Associate Professor of Chemistry at Reed College, has won the Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. The award recognizes a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional potential in establishing an exemplary, productive, and sustainable research program.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Kelly Chacón was awarded the 2023 Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Video Courtesy of M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
A Reed faculty member observes the Reed Research Reactor from the railing above

Conduct Research with a Nuclear Reactor

It’s true: Reed is home to the only research reactor at a liberal arts college, and it is operated primarily by students like you. Become a licensed operator, and use the Reed reactor to conduct experiments for projects for faculty, students, and other researchers.

Discover the Reed Research Reactor

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