It's a Molecular World!

Chemistry is about understanding the world around us at the molecular level.

How do we harvest light to make energy?

How do we build molecules that cure disease?

How do plants protect themselves from pathogen attack?

To answer these types of questions, chemists study how molecules interact, how and why chemical reactions occur and how we can control these processes. As a result, chemists are at the forefront of scientific discovery in a wide variety of fields such as medicine, drug discovery, nanotechnology, new material design and the environment.
      
A degree in chemistry opens the door to a diverse array of employment opportunities, including jobs in the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries, the environmental and material sciences and in emerging areas such as nanotechnology. At the same time, chemists develop critical thinking and problem solving skills that make them attractive to employers in careers outside science such as law and business.

Student Testimonial

My name is Jenny Panchuk, and I am a fourth year chemistry major. During my time at the University of Saskatchewan, I have been very fortunate. I want to pursue graduate studies in the fall, and chemistry has given me an edge in research experience. Within chemistry, I have been given several opportunities to be active in research. I was fortunate to be an Inorganic Chemistry Exchange (ICE) student, and it has changed my life. I am very passionate about research because of this opportunity. If you want to do some excellent research work or take advantage of the exchange programs the U of S offers, chemistry research is the way to go. I also feel that having many opportunities to dive into research has made me more competitive when applying to other universities as I have been accepted to all that I have applied to. Chemistry students at the U of S may also have access to some state-of-the-art facilities like the Canadian Light Source, which is the only one in Canada!

Even though Chemistry may have a very low female to male ratio, I have never felt that I was singled out by staff and faculty due to the fact that I am a female. They have always been supportive of equity in the sciences. While I might feel uncomfortable or a bit saddened about not having a role model in academics especially because I want to pursue graduate studies, there is no need to feel discouraged as some students from chemistry started a Women in Chemistry society last fall. I have met with successful female scientists and have been able to network with very enthusiastic and encouraging women in science. This group will also be collaborating with two other Women in Chemistry groups in Canada where we are able to network with many other female researchers.

Faculty and staff in the Department of Chemistry also make the experience at the U of S worth while. From my experience, they have always been willing to help out and are here for the best interests of students. We also have excellent faculty to student ratio where it has helped my studies tremendously. We are a community; everyone here is super-friendly and will always say “hi” when you see them on campus.

If you have thoughts about chemistry being "too difficult", I say just give chemistry a chance. You never know until you try it. A chemistry degree allows you to tailor your degree to your interests. If you are more math- and physics-oriented, take more physical, analytical, or computational chemistry; if you enjoy biology, take biochemistry; if you like something in between, take materials or inorganic chemistry. If you're a jack-of-all trades, take a mix of all! All the sciences are intertwined in chemistry, and the possibilities are endless. I will never regret taking a chemistry degree, and you shouldn't either because chemistry is an excellent mosaic of everything where the skills you develop in chemistry will expand all fields. I highly encourage students to become chemistry majors!

We offers several routes into a B.Sc. degree specializing in chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers several programs, ranging from a B.Sc. Honours degree which is the expected requirement for people pursuing a career as a chemist, to four-year, three-year, Double Honours and Minor degrees in chemistry for those interested in studying chemistry as part of their general education or in conjunction with another discipline.

Two of our programs - the B.Sc. Honours Chemistry and the B.Sc. 4-year Chemistry - are accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry. A degree from a CSC accredited program provides the academic credential for registration as a Professional Chemist in several Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario; chemist in Quebec), or for designation as a Qualified Person in the Province of Saskatchewan.

• Course Offerings
• Admissions

B.Sc. Honours

The honours degree provides a comprehensive background for students and is essential for those who plan to pursue a career in chemistry or a related subject. This degree program is accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry, and provides the academic credential for registration as a Professional Chemist.

B.Sc. Four-year

The 4 year degree is a more flexible program incorporating a core of chemistry courses with some room for additional courses of interest outside of the field of specialization. This degree program is accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry, and provides the academic credential for registration as a Professional Chemist.

B. Sc. Three-year

The 3-year degree offers a basic understanding of chemistry.

Double Honours

The double honours degree allows for a concentration in chemistry along with a variety of second subjects of interest, including Biochemistry or Physics.

Minor in Chemistry

It is possible for a student to major in another discipline and minor in chemistry. The minor in chemistry provides students with a knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry.

Complete descriptions of these Chemistry programs can be found in the University of Saskatchewan's Calendar pages on Chemistry.

• Overview
• Scholarships
• Awards

Physical/Analytical Lab Manager
Dr. Valerie MacKenzie
 valerie.mackenzie@usask.ca
(306) 966-4726
S145.1

Organic Lab Manager
Dr. Marcelo Sales
 marcelo.sales@usask.ca
(306) 966-1627
SG31

Inorganic Lab Manager
Dr. Alex Bartole-Scott
 alex.bartolescott@usask.ca
(306) 966-1628
SG32

1st Year/Environmental Lab Manager
Dr. Adrian Clark
 adrian.clark@usask.ca
(306) 966-4672
S115