Programs
What honours programs are available in the chemistry department?
What are the admission requirements for First Year?
How should I decide what program to go into?
Is there an undergraduate degree in forensic chemistry or environmental chemistry?
What honours programs are available in the chemistry department?
We have programs in Chemistry, Chemistry & Physics and Biochemistry which are accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry, and a new program in Biochemistry & Biotechnology:
Chemistry
This program focusses on background in five sub-disciplines: organic, analytical, physical, inorganic and theoretical chemistry. This is the most general chemistry degree, and the most widely applicable to a variety of careers. The focus is upon students interested in learning how to synthesize new organic, inorganic and biologically relevant molecules, as well as learning physical and analytical techniques important for characterizing the structure, reactivity, composition and other properties of these compounds.
Chemistry & Physics
This program much resembles the chemistry program, except with an enhanced focus on physical chemistry and physics. This program is aimed at students interested in exploring characterization of matter using various types of spectroscopy, theoretical methods, and other instrumentation such as microscopes, lasers and X-ray diffractometers. This program features a significant course component offered by the Department of Physics.
Biochemistry
Currently the program with the highest enrolment in the department, this program gives the same introduction to chemistry as the Chemistry program, but focusses upon the chemistry of biological systems in the senior level years. Students interested in the chemistry of DNA, proteins, enzymes, as well as fundamental relationships between chemistry and living organisms, will find this program most fascinating.
Visit the departmental undergraduate calendar page for detailed information on all of our programs.
What are the admission requirements for First Year?
Biochemistry and Biochemistry & Biotechnology programs:
- OAC English 1, Calculus, Chemistry, Biology (Physics is recommended) or
- 4U English 1, Advanced Functions and Introductory Calculus, Chemistry,
- Biology, (Physics is recommended)
Chemistry, and Chemistry and Physics programs:
- OAC English 1, Calculus, Algebra and Geometry, Chemistry, plus one of
- Physics or Biology (Physics is recommended) or
- 4U English 1, Advanced Functions and Introductory Calculus, Geometry and
- Discrete Mathematics, Chemistry, plus one of Physics or Biology (Physics is
- recommended)
For the official listing requirements, please visit the Faculty of Science webpage.
How should I decide what program to go into?
All four programs are very similar in the first year - it is possible to register in Chemistry, and switch to Biochemistry very easily - and vice versa. You should have a long term goal in mind - such as a career in chemistry, a professional school, or perhaps entrance into graduate studies.
The first things you should do are:
- Speak with students already attending university, inquire about which programs and courses are the most useful;
- Use the web to see what sort of professions and careers are in demand (if you are in high school, check with guidance counsellors and chemistry teachers);
- Choose a study area that you are most interested in - if your interests change later you can always change you course path in later years;
- Consider a number of future career options and start to set these as your future goals; and,
- erhaps most importantly: check the University calendar and University webpages - these are great sources of information which can help you make a decision.
We also have many counsellors which can help you decide after you have done a bit of research yourself - visit our faculty page to obtain contact information. The Faculty of Science provides students with career counselling as well.
Is there an undergraduate degree in forensic chemistry or environmental chemistry?
Currently, these programs are not offered at the University of Windsor. However, the best starting point for a career in forensic science or environmental science is an undergraduate degree in chemistry, biochemistry or biology. If you do not believe this, read this article from “The Economist”, or visit the websites for the American Association of Forensic Science (check the Employment section) for information on careers. The RCMP have a listing of academic requirements to work in forensic science: positions are available for chemists, biochemists and biologists, or people with a strong background in physical sciences - note, that there are no positions for someone with a degree in liberal-arts based forensic science. The wide variety of scientific knowledge and practical skills you obtain from the chemistry or biochemistry programs, coupled with available forensic science, criminology and environmental science electives ("electives" are optional courses), is the great way to progress towards a career in these areas.
Recently, many employers have complained that interdisciplinary undergraduate programs are too broad and unfocused to prepare people for current jobs. Often, further graduate degrees are required to make a successful career in environmental science or forensic science. While acknowledging that environmental work is inherently interdisciplinary - involving science, politics, cultural studies, economics, management, engineering, design fields, and more - these employers would prefer job candidates to develop a strong base in a traditional discipline and then add to it over time. For instance, in a four-year chemistry or biochemistry degree, you will learn important techniques for both of these areas, including gas chromatography (GC), mass spectrometry (MS) and atomic absorption (AA) spectrometry, and students with a more biological focus will learn toxicology and DNA fingerprinting. These skills cannot be “picked up at a later date” while you are looking for a job - they are fundamental skills important for determining your future career.
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