Chemistry at PLU not only affords an education in all the essential areas of chemistry with an emphasis on the applications of this knowledge to important problems of today. Foundations of chemistry are developed in general, organic, physical, and analytical chemistry courses. Experience in the laboratory and use of sophisticated chemical instrumentation and computers are integrated with classroom studies. Courses in specialized and advanced areas are offered to further our graduate's preparation in chemistry.

The Bachelor of Science degree is offered with emphases in chemistry, biochemistry or chemical physics. The chemistry emphasis is an American Chemical Society certified program. Chemistry majors are also offered in Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts in Education degree programs. A minor in chemistry is also available.

Chemistry majors at PLU have frequent, direct interaction with faculty. Most majors engage in research projects where they work closely with faculty. Research projects involving student participation include both theoretical studies of matter and applied investigations. Examples include studies of properties of lignin from wood and polymers widely used in industry, research on mechanisms of enzyme action, the role of nutrition in health and the biochemistry of drug actions.

Other faculty research interests include environmental chemistry, synthesis of enzyme inhibitors, laser characterizations of polymers, geochemistry, metabolism, crystal and molecular structure, electronic and magnetic properties of inorganic complexes, and molecular modeling.

The Rieke Science Center, completed in 1985, brings all the laboratory sciences at PLU together into one superb facility. Modern equipment and pleasant facilities highlight the department. Included in Rieke Science Center are instrument rooms, a reading room, Ramstad Student Research Laboratory, an open laboratory allowing flexible scheduling, and specialized facilities for radioisotopes, X-ray diffraction and electronics.

Equipment for research and teaching equipment includes 300 Mhz FTNMR, electron paramagnetic resonance, FTIR, ultraviolet, visible, atomic absorption and emission spectrometers, X-ray crystallographic system, gas and liquid chromatographs, GC/MSD, precision refractometer, dipolometer, scintillation counter, zone refiner, and PC data acquisition systems. The university's Computer Center provides a VAX cluster with terminals in student-user rooms and laboratories. Mortvedt Library houses large library holdings in science reference books and journals.

During the past twenty years grants and endowed funds have funded summer undergraduate research. Many students have had the opportunity to present oral scientific papers at American Chemical Society meetings, and a number of student research works have been published in scientific journals.