Undergraduate Programs

The UW Department of Chemistry runs one of the largest chemistry and biochemistry undergraduate degree program in the nation. We also offer a chemistry minor and serve many non-majors, with more than 3,000 undergraduates taking at least one introductory chemistry course annually. We have the largest undergraduate instructional laboratory program at the UW.

Learn more about our undergraduate programs at the links below:

Undergraduate News

Colleen Craig pictured smiling, in front of a black backdrop, with long dark hair past her shoulders and bangs, wearing a grey cardigan, white top, and long necklace with chunky beads.

Craig teaches for students, not at them

The Daily, UW's student-run newspaper, recently published a feature on Teaching Professor Colleen Craig by Chaitna Deshmukh titled "Professor Colleen Craig teaches for students, not at them." Among the topics mentioned are educational psychology, flipping the classroom, engaging students and making class time valuable, and the reputation of general chemistry as a "weed-out" course.… Read more
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Department of Chemistry Information Session for Admitted Students & Families

Meet with academic advisers and current undergraduates in the Chemistry department to learn about the department and major. Please register at the following link. https://washington.zoom.us/meeting/register/-0D7rGwaTKi8uDJ2ro9BMQ
Kamaya Ronning wears her hair in two braids hiking in the mountains

Featured Undergraduate: Kamaya Ronning

by Victoria Pang ‘25 About Kamaya From a young age, Kamaya knew she wanted to go into science, having her mind set on becoming a cardiac doctor. But an unforgettable moment in elementary school sparked her curiosity in a different direction: there, she watched an elephant’s toothpaste demonstration, which is an experiment where hydrogen peroxide decomposes with the help of a catalyst to create a dramatic foamy reaction. Still, it wasn’t until high school that she seriously began to… Read more
W on Red Square with Drumheller Fountain in distance

Six students receive Levinson Emerging Scholar Awards

The Levinson Emerging Scholars Program supports promising UW students pursuing creative and advanced research projects in biosciences and related fields. Six chemistry and biochemistry students have received the 2024-2025 Levinson Emerging Scholar Award. Lia Barrow is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry with a minor in data science. She joined Assistant Professor Lauren Rajakovich's group in autumn 2022 to follow her passion for the gut microbiome. Her project explores… Read more
Makenna Carnahan

Featured Undergraduate: Makenna Carnahan

By Victoria Pang ‘25 From Pullman, WA, Makenna lived near Washington State University, which allowed her to take different college-level courses during her high school years. Though actively involved in theater, she found the sciences intriguing, and elected to take biology classes at WSU to explore her interests. While she found her biology classes fascinating, it was also during this time that she discovered her interest in chemistry, realizing she was good at it, despite many… Read more
Eileen Son presents a poster

Featured Undergraduate: Eileen Son

by Victoria Pang ‘25 In the small town of Milton, Washington, Eileen Son went to a high school with limited STEM opportunities. She spent time volunteering for various causes throughout her high school career and found her love for helping people. Originally intending to become an architect, she soon realized that pursuing architecture did not fulfill her definition of helping others. So, she pivoted to the field of medicine, believing it would be the way she could help people.… Read more
Stock Image from Microsoft of blue ribbon

Meet the 2024-25 WRF Fellows in chemistry and biochemistry

The Washington Research Foundation Fellowship supports undergraduates who have completed at least three quarters of research and are pursuing advanced, creative projects that go beyond an introductory level. The fellowship provides $8,000 for research, plus additional funding for presenting at a professional conference. It is awarded to highly motivated students across various fields conducting bioscience and related research under the mentorship of UW faculty. We are incredibly proud of our… Read more
Three open boxes each containing a gold medal on a purple ribbon

Scholarships, Awards & Honors: Undergraduate Students

A year in review of honors and achievements by UW Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate students. Jump to ChemStar/ChemStarter Undergraduate Research Scholarship (2023) Jump to ChemStar Summer Research Stipend (2024) Jump to University and External Awards… Read more
A group of people enter Bagley Hall. Drumheller Fountain is in the background.

Free Radicals Club Hosts Chemistry Day for High School Students

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the undergraduate chemistry club, Free Radicals, ignited a passion for chemistry in local high school students, hosting an immersive experience in university-level research and lab work. The half-day event brought together thirty students from eight local high schools for an exciting journey into the world of chemistry and biochemistry. The day began with a comprehensive campus tour led by Free Radicals members, introducing the students to the University of… Read more
Alec Kroll wears glasses and has a short, tightly trimmed beard and the hair on top of his head is dyed bright pink.

Alec Kroll Joins Our Faculty

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Alec Kroll will join us as Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry on September 1, 2024. Beginning in Autumn 2024, he will teach undergraduate general chemistry courses, starting with CHEM 142. Dr. Kroll received a B.S. in chemistry from Emory University and the Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Colorado Boulder. He conducted laboratory research with the Widicus Weaver research group at Emory University during his undergraduate years and returned… Read more
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