Studying Chemistry at Kenyon
At Kenyon, students learn chemistry by doing chemistry. This grounding in student-faculty collaborative research is the centerpiece of the curriculum. Close working relationships begin during the first year and extend from coursework into independent research projects that often take place over multiple years. Through the Summer Science Scholars program, students work with faculty through the summer on intensive laboratory research projects, culminating in presentations and papers published in scientific journals.
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Shaping Scientists
Kenyon ranks eighth in the country (and ahead of every Ivy) for the proportion of STEM grads to earn a doctorate in a STEM field.
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75students a year pursue College-funded research projects in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.
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Futures in Medicine
More than 90 percent of Kenyon applicants with solid grades and test scores are accepted to medical school. Learn more about premed advising.
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$1Mgrant from the the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The grant is one of several that Kenyon scientists have earned to foster a more inclusive and diverse scientific community.
Featured Courses
Instrumental Analysis
Is your water safe? How do you know what compounds are in your local environment, food and body? How do you measure and quantify these compounds, and convince yourself that your measurements are valid? This course explores the theory and practice of quantitative chemical analysis.
Solar Energy
The exigencies of peak oil, global warming and unsustainable growth in energy consumption have sparked a quest for clean, abundant, renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. This course explores the chemistry of fossil fuels and potential solar-energy alternatives, ranging from biofuels to solar panels to hydrogen.
Biochemistry and Society
Our growing understanding of life in molecular terms has yielded excitement about personalized medicine and concerns about abuses of technology. This seminar, one of a series taught by Kenyon President Sean Decatur, explores these topics while probing their ethical and cultural contexts and the dilemmas they pose.
Inorganic Chemistry
A foundation in the principles of inorganic compounds, this class emphasizes properties that make materials useful in devices and biological systems. Applications include solar-energy conversion and battery technology, and throughout the course, we build models that guide chemists in material design, use and analysis.
The Long Road of Research
Tomsich Hall
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio 43022