Chemistry
Why Chemistry at Coe College?
Quality and quantity of undergraduate research - Coe is one of a select number of small colleges chosen to serve as a host site for the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Each summer ten to fifteen students undertake graduate-level research with Coe’s chemistry faculty. These collaborative opportunities will teach you to “do” chemistry. In close collaboration with field experts, you will solve challenging problems using what you’ve learned in class and present your work at professional meetings.
ACS-certified
The American Chemical Society sets excellence measures for undergraduate chemistry degrees, and only departments that meet their standards can be "ACS-certified." Coe meets and exceeds these standards.
Hands-on Experience with Modern Instrumentation
Between coursework and research, you’ll gain valuable experience using the tools chemists employ — mass spectrometry, gas and liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman and more.
Internships
Coe is a true city college, in the heart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second largest population center. Local employers offer a variety of careers in chemistry. Cargill, Quaker and the City of Cedar Rapids have provided internships, student jobs and other opportunities to Coe students.
Real-World Success
Brian Wadsworth ’15 double majored in chemistry and biochemistry while playing basketball for the Kohawks. Upon graduation he received a prestigious National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship fellowship. Through this fellowship he completed a Ph.D. at Arizona State University and now works for Intel Corporation.
Becoming a Citizen of the World
Ossama Abu-Halawa ’17
“The opportunities I had while at Coe were a result of the tremendous support provided by my professors.”
Ossama was a chemistry and biochemistry major, religion minor and Rhodes Scholarship Finalist at Coe. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy of science at the University of Cambridge, England, after deferring acceptance to medical school to pursue this degree. Upon completing medical school, he intends to work in research and global health.
