Chemistry & Physics

Description of the program

Course work in the physical sciences is an important component of a liberal arts education. In addition, students planning a career in a science-related field will have a concentration of courses in this area. The Department of Chemistry and Physics offers majors in biochemistry, chemistry, and physics, and minors in chemistry and physics. For students interested in secondary-level teaching, the department offers a complementary major, TeachScience.

The department offers several programs that are directly related to chemistry and physics. Our students are prepared for many opportunities after college, including secondary-level teaching and other professional areas of employment. The majors offered by the department are also appropriate for students preparing for professional careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, and other fields related to health science.

Majors

Biochemistry
Chemistry
Physics
TeachScience (complementary)

Minors

Chemistry
Physics

Facilities

Hartung Hall, the AU science building, was part of a $5 million, 30,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project. New classrooms and quality instrumentation make AU one of the best study opportunities available. This state-of-the-art facility houses labs designed for coursework in all areas of physical sciences and supports the use of computers for analyzing data and processing instrument signals.

Internships

Internship opportunities and summer research employment opportunities are available to students, especially after their sophomore and junior years. Students have worked at Brookhaven National Laboratories, Argonne National Lab, and many other companies and universities.

Multimedia

Introduction to the Science Departments (3.5 MB)
Chemistry Department (0.6 MB)
Physics Department (0.7 MB)
Introduction to the TeachScience Program (2.0 MB)
Faith in Science (1.1 MB)
Student Opportunities (0.9 MB)
Activities and Athletics (0.6 MB)
All-Inclusive Video Clip (7.5 MB)

Faculty

Dale I. Bales
Professor of Physics
B.A., B.S., Taylor University
M.S., Ph.D., Purdue University [1976]

Scott R. Carr
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
B.A., Taylor University
Ph.D., Miami University [2001]

Scott B. Kennedy
Assistant Professor of Physics and Chemistry
B.A., University of Illinois
M.S., University of Massachusetts
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts [2005]

Chad E. Wallace
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Chair, Department of Chemistry and Physics
B.A., Anderson University
Ph.D., University of Kentucky [2000]

Date in [ ] indicates year first appointed to AU full-time faculty.