Additional Opportunities

There are many attractive opportunities available to Chemistry majors outside the required classwork. In addition to academic preparation, students are encouraged to participate in as many of the following supplemental programs as possible. Each program provides “practical experience,” which we feel is an important part of undergraduate education. Through these programs career awareness is enhanced, possibly suggesting certain curriculum options within chemistry and in allied fields.

*Co-op: Cooperative Education provides the student an opportunity to combine classroom training with on the job work experience.

Co-op students earn a salary while performing work similar to that of professionals with equal education. Students involved in the co-op program generally receive better job opportunities and higher salaries. Often, a students co-op company offers a permanent position after graduation. Chemistry students have participated in co-op positions with Fermi and Argonne National Laboratory, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Signal Research (petroleum).

*Independent Study: Under the direction of a faculty member, students obtain firsthand experience in research, record keeping, and use of the library. All students are encouraged to engage in original research within the department or with a local research laboratory. Each summer, several Chemistry majors are employed in research positions offered by the department. Students who work with Bradley professors are co-authors of papers subsequently presented or published. Research papers by professors and students have been published in a variety of different professional journals: American Cancer Society, Illinois State Academy of Sciences, Hydrobiologia, Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, and Journal of Chemical Education.

*Seminar: Topics in chemistry are selected, studied, and discussed by practicing chemists, faculty, and students.

*Scientific Meetings: Students are encouraged to attend meetings of scientific organizations such as the American Chemical Society (at the national, regional, and local level), the Pittsburgh Conference, the Illinois State Academy of Science, and presentations given at other universities.

*Departmental Employment: The Chemistry Department annually employs many chemistry majors. Typically, students serve as stockroom and laboratory assistants, tutors, and as research associates. Laboratory assistantships are available for approximately 20 students per semester. These students have the opportunity to assist faculty members in freshman and sophomore laboratory sessions. The assistantships are paid positions, which provide good experience.

*Chemistry Club: The Chemistry Club is affiliated with the American Chemical Society. Participation provides social and professional opportunities that are both informative and enjoyable.

The opportunities discussed above provide worthwhile practical experience. Students are encouraged to blend these with the academic curriculum to enhance their professional competence.

Study Abroad

Chemistry has always been an international discipline. But today all fields are becoming international. In the area of business, major U.S. companies no longer operate only in this country, but they also manufacture, sell, and do research around the world. Today's students will probably find that their professional careers will bring them into contact with people from other countries and other cultures. They may even end up working abroad for a while. The Bradley Chemistry Department recognizes the need to offer our students opportunities to study and travel in other countries. There are two programs at Bradley, The European Summer Semester and The Junior Year of Chemistry Abroad, which provide international study and travel.

The European Summer Semester program, now in its third decade, offers students a full program of 9 - 12 credit hours of academic courses and six weeks of travel in Europe. Typically the travel includes two weeks in London, two weeks in Belgium and Germany, and two weeks in Austria. During each of these two week periods, 3 semester hours of credit can be earned in courses selected among general education, elective, and professional courses. The courses offered often include Psychology, English, Science, History, Theater, Music, Finance, Fashion, and Photography. Each two week class is taught by Bradley faculty with a class size of 10 -20. Faculty and students travel together, stay in the same hotels, and frequently take meals together. Students find it to be a rewarding experience both academically and culturally.

The Junior Year of Chemistry Abroad program allows well qualified chemistry majors (from Bradley) to study chemistry at the University of Hull (England) during their junior year. The University of Hull is an institution of 7,000 students, similar in scope to Bradley. It is located in the seaside city of Hull, the 12th largest city in England. Hull is Britain's premier east coast seaport. North Sea ferries sail daily to Rotterdam, and Hull is convenient to London by Inter-City rail service. The Hull Chemistry Department is proud of its quality teaching, and it provides students with a first class preparation for the many careers that chemists pursue. It has a faculty of 23 and is world famous for its pioneer research in liquid crystals. A Bradley Chemistry major can spend the junior year at Hull, earning up to 30 semester hours of credit in chemistry or closely allied courses. In the English system of education, the college student’s coursework is largely confined to study in their major and does not involve general education courses. Thus the junior year abroad at any European school is a total academic immersion in one's discipline. Typically the fields of chemistry studied for this junior year are advanced inorganic, advanced organic, and advanced physical chemistry. However, courses are chosen that will most closely fit the individual student's needs and interests. Students can also consider spending one semester of the junior year at Hull and earn up to 15 semester hours of credit.

Other departments at Bradley University also have Junior Year Abroad programs, and the student response has been excellent.

For Prospective Students

Additional Opportunities

Study Abroad