New Chemistry Major to Prepare BSU Students for STEM Education & Careers

Bowie State to Meet Workforce Demands in Medicine & Technology

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State University will launch a new Bachelor of Science in chemistry degree program in spring 2020 to prepare students for advanced degrees and careers in chemistry-related fields in the medical and technology industries. 

The new chemistry major, within the Department of Natural Sciences, will serve as a pipeline for students to further their education or begin a career in disciplines such as medical sciences, engineering and nanotechnology, which is beneficial in technology and health industries. Chemistry will join the majors in bioinformatics, biology and science education within the department.

Expanding from a minor program, Bowie State’s chemistry major will meet workforce needs for qualified graduates from underrepresented minority populations in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from Maryland’s historically black college and universities (HBCUs), which graduated 3 percent of the state’s chemistry students in FY2018. The number of people in the state who earned bachelor's degrees in chemistry increased by 27 percent since 2008, according to the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

"The new chemistry program will augment the biology program in providing students the foundation needed to pursue a career in nursing, environmental sciences, pharmacy, drug discovery and synthesis, forensics, and related careers that are now in very high demand,” said Dr. George Ude, department chair. “The distinguishing character of the new chemistry program will be lectures supported by hands-on and inquiry-based laboratory activities for all students.”

Chemistry students will have the opportunity to conduct research with a faculty mentor through the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) or the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. Faculty-led research in drug discovery, biochemistry, bio-analytical, nucleotide and physical chemistry are currently underway, equipping student researchers with the experience needed to excel in internships with partnering agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The program will launch with a dream team faculty of tenured professors holding doctorates in physical, medicinal, organic and inorganic chemistries. Dr. Jacqueline Smith, an award-winning chemistry professor and reseacher, is the program’s new coordinator. Students will be able to master scientific research techniques in a state-of-the-art Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing, which houses 23 research and instructional labs and five active learning classrooms and labs, as well as a greenhouse. The labs are equipped with the latest technologies, including a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer.

The timing of introducing the degree program couldn’t be better. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics expects a 6-percent increase in chemistry-related job openings through 2026. Maryland is a hub for life sciences with more than 2,500 life science companies and biotech firms, creating plenty of opportunities for resources, research, funding and careers. 

With the addition of the chemistry program, Bowie State will increase the number of chemistry degrees earned in the state and adding to the workforce.

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.