Department of Chemistry
Chemistry is where inquiry meets innovation and curiosity fuels discovery.
At WSU, you will learn to think across disciplines, enhance your reasoning abilities, and improve your knack for problem-solving—all of which are key skills for a career in any field you choose.
From forensics and pharmaceuticals to nanotechnology and homeland security, the study of the properties, composition, and structure of elements and compounds and their interactions is foundational to understanding our physical world and creating new opportunities.
Featured Courses
301 Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
A survey of the chemistry of the elements using basic principles of bonding, acid-base and oxidation-reduction chemistry, and thermodynamics.
410 Advanced Synthesis and Characterization
Synthesis and characterization of organic and inorganic compounds and solid-state materials; modern synthetic technology, characterization methods, and laboratory techniques.
Department of Chemistry in the News
WSU SURCA undergraduate researchers earn 65 awards
Seventy-three students at the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) 2026 were the recipients of 65 awards totaling $14,000.
Meet this year’s Top Ten Seniors
They represent the highest standards of the college experience. In academics, athletics, and the arts. In campus involvement and community service.
WSU announces three new Goldwater Scholars
Three WSU undergraduate students, Nicole Diefenbach, Taylor Page, and Katy Touretsky, have been named recipients of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards for students pursuing research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.
Ion chemistry research earns NSF funding
A recently awarded grant from the National Science Foundation is supporting Washington State University chemistry researchers as they design, fabricate, and assemble a new class of analytical instrumentation.