You are here

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

Pink lilies

A stalled project blooms: Ripples at edges of lily petals

November 16, 2022
How did Sarah Keller's group make a brief detour from investigating micron-scale phase separation in lipid membranes to analyzing time-lapse movies of blooming lilies? In a blog post for the Biophysical Society, Professor Sarah Keller provides the context behind the work that was published in the June 21, 2022 issue of Biophysical Journal titled "... Read more
Montage containing Harry the Husky, Airy the Husky, Homecoming Scholar Rahoul Banerjee Ghosh, and a banner reading "Homecoming Scholars, UWAA"

Banerjee Ghosh awarded Homecoming Scholarship

October 20, 2022
Congratulations to chemistry major Rahoul Banerjee Ghosh on receiving a Homecoming Scholarship from the UW Alumni Association! Rahoul grew up in Kolkata, India surrounded by teachers and academics, inspiring him to become one himself. His path to that currently involves researching nanoparticles and materials in the group of Professor David Ginger for better solar technology, tutoring students at Seattle Public Schools, and helping international students find their place at the UW, just like he... Read more
I-5 and Downtown Seattle from a southeastern perspective, at night

Next Steps

October 12, 2022
What will our recent graduates be doing when they leave the UW? We look forward to expanding this page quarter by quarter! Content will be added on this page as students graduate, so check back periodically! Last update: 10/13/2022 Progyateg Chakma, Ph.D. is going to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for a position as a postdoctoral research associate. Progyateg conducted postdoctoral training with Prof. Matt Golder from August 2020 through January 2023. Peter... Read more
Brandi Cossairt speaks with Munira Khalil (whose back is toward the camera); both are wearing academic regalia

Intentional Steps Toward DEI

September 12, 2022
Updated on November 28, 2022 – 11:35 am(This article is based on a report written by the Diversity and Equity Steering Committee in Academic Year 2021-22.) The Department of Chemistry has been known to be a welcoming place with a collegial atmosphere and collaborative environment where interdisciplinary research can thrive. Our mission is to create new chemical knowledge and prepare the next generation of scientists in a safe and inclusive environment. We invite you to read a brief... Read more
Stock Image from Microsoft of blue ribbon

Scholarships, Awards & Honors: Undergraduate Students

September 12, 2022
A year in review of honors and achievements by UW Chemistry an Biochemistry undergraduate students. 2021-2022 Chemistry Scholarship and Book Award Recipients (December 2021)Undergraduate Research Awards (June 2022)Top Scholars in Chemistry for the 2021-22 Academic Year... Read more
Certificate stock image by Microsoft

ACS Undergraduate Awards for the 2021-22 academic year

August 24, 2022
Each year, members of our faculty nominate students to be presented with a certificate of merit from the American Chemical Society in each of the traditional divisions of chemistry. We congratulate the following students recognized for the 2021-2022 academic year: The ACS Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry has been presented to Hannah Lea in recognition of her research. Hannah Lea graduated in March 2022 with a B.S. in biochemistry with college honors. Hannah has spent... Read more
Lucinda Liu wearing a graduation cap and gown standing behind a lectern

In Their Own Words: Class of 2022

August 23, 2022
Reflections on working, researching, learning, and living amid a pandemic as members of the Department of Chemistry. William Wu, B.S. 2022Thinking back to four years ago, I still remember the day of the freshman welcome party of the chemistry department. It seems that we have some more/less people today. This is not because we break the law of conservation, but because our chemistry department is an open system, in which we thoroughly exchanged our ideas, our feelings, and our... Read more
Diversity, Inclusion, Equity

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Awards

July 12, 2022
In the Department of Chemistry, we believe that diversity and inclusivity are integral to excellence and acknowledge that important work is being done by our students and postdoctoral researchers in this space. It is a pleasure to announce the inaugural recipients of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Awards, selected by the Chemistry Diversity and Equity Steering Committee in spring 2022. These awards of $500 were... Read more
Stock Image from Microsoft of blue ribbon

Top Scholars in Chemistry for the 2021-22 academic year

July 6, 2022
Each year the Department of Chemistry acknowledges our top students in the Honors General Chemistry series, the Honors Organic Chemistry series, and the Physical Chemistry series. The P. C. Cross Award for the top student in Physical Chemistry has been awarded to Nathan Ballinger. Nathan Ballinger is a senior chemistry major from Redmond, Washington. For the past year, Nathan has worked in the group of Associate Professor Al Nelson creating 3D-printable gels that exhibit... Read more
Four people gathered at a table with study materials and laptops

Returning to the Classroom after 6 Quarters of Zoom University

June 16, 2022
Spring 2020 was the first full quarter of what was quickly dubbed “Zoom University.” As we remember all too well, schools and businesses were closed to fight the COVID-19 virus. Ashley Dostie, a doctoral candidate in the research group of Assistant Professor Ashleigh Theberge, was assigned as a teaching assistant to two courses that quarter—Principles of Chemistry III (CHEM 221) and Meso and Microfluidics in Chemical Analysis (CHEM 425/525). Principles of Chemistry III “can be a challenging... Read more
More undergraduate program news
Share