Chemistry: Chemical Technology

Major

What will I learn as a chemical technology major

As a chemical technology major, you’ll learn chemistry by doing it. This program is designed for students who want to apply scientific thinking to real problems rather than focus solely on theory.

Starting in your intro courses, you’ll build strong laboratory skills while learning how chemistry supports manufacturing, quality control, research and development and applied science.

You’ll master core chemical principles while gaining experience in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and instrumental analysis. You'll use state-of-the-art equipment available right on campus — such as NMR, HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR, ICP, XRD, AFM, and SEM — and you’ll learn how to set up, maintain and operate instruments as you prepare chemical solutions, analyze complex data and troubleshoot unexpected results. 

The faculty-mentored capstone research project is a cornerstone of the program. It integrates coursework with hands-on discovery.

In this immersive experience, you’ll design experiments, collect and interpret data and engage in authentic scientific inquiry while strengthening laboratory safety practices, ethical research conduct and professional communication skills.

You'll be encouraged to complement your research experience with industry internship and co-op opportunities, gaining practical experience in manufacturing, quality control and applied laboratory settings. Our graduates leave the program confident, career-ready and prepared for advancement in technical chemistry roles.

Highlights of the chemical technology major

As a chemical technology major, you will:

• Learn in an ACS-approved chemistry program: Build a strong foundation in chemistry through an ACS-aligned curriculum emphasizing applied laboratory skills, quantitative reasoning, and professional scientific practice.
  
• Complete a distinctive faculty-mentored research capstone: Work closely with faculty on an original research project aligned with your interests and career goals. You’ll design experiments, collect and analyze data, and produce a written thesis and research presentation. CMU is the only public university in Michigan where 100% of chemistry and biochemistry majors complete a capstone research project and thesis.
  
• Train with advanced instrumentation: Gain extensive hands-on experience using modern analytical and characterization tools common in industrial and research laboratories. You’ll graduate with the technical confidence employers expect from chemical technologists.
  
• Share your work beyond the classroom: Present your research at regional or national scientific meetings and, in many cases, contribute to peer-reviewed publications. 100% of CMU biochemistry majors present their research, and 80% do so at conferences, including national scientific conferences.
  
• Gain real-world experience through internships and co-ops: Apply classroom learning in professional settings through internships, co-op positions, or summer research. Students have interned at companies such as Dow, Corteva, DuPont, Zoetis, Montrose, and others, and may earn academic credit through the chemistry and biochemistry internship course.
  
• Work closely with faculty in a collaborative environment with modern facilities: All students participate in a faculty-mentored research capstone experience that addresses real challenges, such as environmental remediation and applied chemical analysis. Students work in CMU’s 60,000-square-foot Dow Science Complex or 169,000-square-foot Biosciences Building, which have modern advanced instrumentation.
  
• Engage in a professional scientific community: Join CMU’s nationally recognized American Chemical Society Student Members chapter, collaborate with peers across disciplines, and build mentoring relationships that support long-term career success.