Chemistry

By the Numbers

St. Olaf’s chemistry program is nationally recognized for innovative and effective teaching; scholarship; and service to the profession. It is routinely in the top three undergraduate institutions for the number of chemistry majors graduated in a year.
~50%

Chemistry majors are women

30%

Chemistry majors attend graduate school

35%

Chemistry majors attend professional schools

Welcome to the St. Olaf College Chemistry Department! The Chemistry Department offers courses in the traditional major areas of chemistry, as well as in interdisciplinary areas, such as biochemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, environmental chemistry, and organometallic chemistry.

Additionally, the department has an active summer research program, in which faculty and undergraduate researchers work together to investigate problems of current interest.  From 2010-2019, St. Olaf graduated an average of 55 chemistry majors each year. Between 2006 and 2015, St. Olaf ranked 6th as the baccalaureate origin of Ph.D. chemists and in the last five years has received grants exceeding $3,500,000 to support instrument acquisition, curriculum development, and research initiatives. We are located in the Regents Hall of Natural Science.

The Chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society.