The Department of Chemistry was a merged department with the Department at Morehouse College from 1969-1977. In the spring of 1977, due to enrollment pressure at both schools, the respective administrations agreed to dissolve the merger. Each independent department was to teach its own General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry courses, as well as Senior Seminar and Undergraduate Research. Upper-divi
sion courses continue to be available to students at both institutions and within the Atlanta University Center (AUC), with faculty expertise dictating the nature of the offerings. In spring of 2005, the Chemistry Department curriculum was approved by the American Chemical Society, which allows the Chair to certify those graduates who have completed the requirements set forth by the ACS. The number of students majoring in the Department of Chemistry has increased from 24 in 1977 to over 100 majors as of the 2008-09 academic year. For several years this group has represented approximately 5% of the College’s enrollment. Correspondingly, 5% of the graduating class is typically composed of majors from the department (with the number of graduates ranging over the years from 15-35.) One of the strengths of the department is its faculty, which presently includes thirteen doctorate-level full-time members having specialties in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical (Computational and Biophysical) Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry.
