INFORMATION FOR
The Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science prepares students for exciting careers in science, technology, education, and beyond. With rigorous training and mentoring, students learn to tackle real-world challenges in both chemistry and environmental science while developing the skills to become scientists, educators, informed citizens, and problem solvers. Most of our graduates launch their careers or enter graduate programs within just three months of earning their degree.
"I would say one of the best aspects is the academic support and also the personal support you get."– Nathan Tortos '25, Chemistry Major and President of the Chemistry Club, and Matthew Cortese '26, Chemistry Major, share their stories.
Alumni in science and health are employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation
Average starting salaries in Chemistry and Environmental Science (NACE)
Noteworthy Chemistry and Environmental Science Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries 8+ Years of Experience (PayScale)
Students pursuing a BA in chemistry will receive broad exposure to the major disciplines of modern chemistry, and will have the opportunity to concentrate on at least one major discipline of chemistry. They will be exposed to state-of-the art instrumentation, and may take advantage of numerous opportunities to engage in research with faculty mentors. This degree is ideal for students who wish to pursue a career in science education at the secondary level, but also prepares students for medical school, dental school, and pharmacy school.
View academic program requirements and course descriptions in the University Course Catalog:
Loading...
Students pursuing an ACS-certified BS in chemistry will receive rigorous training in all major disciplines of modern chemistry. They will be exposed to state-of-the art instrumentation, and will leverage this instrumentation to solve authentic problems in the classroom and in research laboratories working directly with faculty. This degree prepares students for advanced study of chemistry at the doctoral level, and for immediate employment doing scientific work in chemical, pharmaceutical, and allied industries. This program requires 62-63 credit hours of chemistry and related required electives.
Accelerated Programs:
A BA in integrated mathematics and science with a concentration in chemistry will receive broad exposure to the major disciplines of modern chemistry, and will have the opportunity to concentrate on at least one major discipline of chemistry. They will be exposed to state-of-the art instrumentation, and may take advantage of numerous opportunities to engage in research with faculty mentors. This degree is ideal for students who wish to pursue a career in science education at the secondary level, but also prepares students for medical school, dental school, and pharmacy school.
The BS in medicinal biochemistry program offers a unique interdisciplinary curriculum, outlined with advanced level biochemistry as well as medicinal chemistry courses. Course offerings such as biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biophysical chemistry, will provide students with a solid foundation of various biochemical and physical concepts of medicinal biochemistry. The students will also be trained in cutting-edge research and problem-solving skills.
The MS in materials chemistry, a unique offering at William Paterson University, provides chemists, chemistry educators, and materials scientists with a cutting-edge curriculum focused on the design and synthesis of next-generation materials. This program provides practical, employment-oriented training, and facilitates the advanced study of physical, chemical, and electromagnetic properties of biomaterials, nanomaterials, polymers and other modern materials. More info »
The BS in Environmental Science and Sustainability explores the interaction between humans and the environment through both the natural sciences and interdisciplinary perspectives. Students begin with foundational courses in biology, chemistry, and other natural sciences, and progress to advanced coursework that links these sciences to environmental challenges. The program also integrates studies of society, politics, and human health as they relate to environmental problems, emphasizing the formation, development, and management of environmental resources. Designed to provide a holistic understanding of the environment, the program culminates in a Senior Practicum, where students apply their training to a real-world case study to broaden their understanding of a specific environmental issue.
The BA in earth science major is designed for students who wish to apply to the K-12 teacher preparation program in which a double major in education is required. Students must complete a sequence of education courses offered by the College of Education in order to achieve licensure. Earth science is an integral part of instruction in the K-12 classroom as defined by the New Jersey Core Content Science Standards.
Accelerated Program:
A BA in integrated mathematics and science with a concentration in environmental science gives students a broad knowledge in the fields of geology, ecology, chemistry, physics, and biology. Students must also complete requisite courses in calculus and statistics. This broad foundational knowledge is ideal for students pursuing a career in science education at the secondary level, but is also useful for graduate studies and careers in environmental sciences.
$content.introduction
Our expert faculty prepare students in chemistry and environmental science with the skills and experiences needed to succeed in industry, research, education, and government. The department fosters inclusive learning communities that emphasize scientific scholarship, hands-on research, and understanding of the earth, natural environment, and human–environment interactions. We offer the BS in Chemistry, BS in Environmental Science, BS in Environmental Sustainability, and the BA in Earth Science, as well as an Environmental Science minor.
In our chemistry and environmental science programs, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including:
Graduates of the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science pursue careers in industry, government, education, and research. They work in pharmaceuticals, health care products, electronic materials, manufacturing, environmental agencies, homeland security, law enforcement, and patent offices. Alumni also serve as scientists, lab analysts, environmental technicians, forest managers, and education specialists. Earth Science graduates are especially prepared to teach at the middle and high school level. Many continue to advanced study in chemistry, environmental science, medicine, nanoscience, engineering, and related fields. With growing demand for sustainability and scientific expertise, our graduates are ready for leadership in business, government, and academia.
"The dedication of my professors not only cultivated a deep passion in me for environmental science, but has also inspired me to look at the world like a scientist – to question and think critically. This skill opened the door for me to participate in a large laboratory-based research project alongside two of my professors, who are studying shark thermoregulation. It’s been an honor to work so closely with such talented scientists, and to serve as a lead author on an abstract about our work. Ultimately, I hope one day to be a professor, too."
Allison Neumann ’19 Environmental sustainability major, master’s student in applied science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
"My professors provided the opportunity to explore the relationship between theory and experiment, and gave us unique opportunities to not only delve into research atypical of an undergraduate institution."
Jason Codrington CHEMISTRY MAJOR, ATTENDED UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, MILLER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
And we're ready to help you grow. At William Paterson, we provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to forge forward as a powerhouse—both in the classroom and in their careers. Apply today to discover your potential.
A newly published research paper led by William Paterson University environmental science professor Nicole Davi finds that coastal forests demonstrate incredible resiliency following major hurricane events, but these forests are increasingly at risk from storm damage and surges and continued sea-level rise.
Published in the journal Global and Planetary Change, the paper looks at the impact of major hurricanes (category 2 through 5) on three coastal oak forests—Montauk and Mashomack, New York and Newport, Rhode Island—between 1858 and 2012. The researchers used several tree-ring parameters—total ring width, earlywood (the parts of the wood that are formed in the spring), and latewood (the parts of the wood that are formed later in the growing season)—along with wood anatomy (cellular detail) to better pinpoint hurricane impacts on tree growth.
Davi, who serves as lead researcher on the project, and her collaborators, including Wiliam Paterson postdoctoral researcher Caroline Leland, found a significant reduction in tree-ring growth the year following a hurricane. Yet, Davi says, “One thing that we found is that these trees are able to recover quite quickly, within two years of the storm, so they are remarkably resilient. This information could inform foresters or other decision makers when it comes to forest conservation and restoration initiatives.”
However, Davi adds, these forests are also vulnerable to sea level rise, noting that sea-level rise along the U.S. East Coast is accelerating at a faster rate than in many other regions globally. “These forests are highly vulnerable ecosystems, which are increasingly marked by stands of dead or dying trees,” she says. This includes maritime forests in many New Jersey coastal areas.
“Given the critical role these forests play in protecting densely populated communities – by buffering wind, supporting dune infrastructure, enhancing groundwater recharge and sustaining wildlife –greater attention is needed to study and protect coastal forests,” says Davi.
Davi, a dendrochronologist and paleoclimatologist, is also an adjunct senior research scientist at the Tree-Ring Laboratory of Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, where some of the top researchers from across the world collaborate. Leland is also affiliated with the Tree-Ring Laboratory at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
Other collaborators included researchers from the Tree-Ring Laboratory, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University; the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain; the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF), University of Padua, Italy, and the Harvard Forest, in Petersham, Massachusetts.
In addition, six William Paterson University alumni—Troy Nixon ‘19, Michaela Gardiner ’20, Marta Urbaniak ‘23, Matthew Young ‘21, Brianda Calderon ‘21 and Nicole Lucianin ‘21—assisted with various parts of the project while they were undergraduate students, from data development to determining which hurricanes had the most impact on the region, as well as taking and measure tree core samples.
The research was sponsored by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium with funds from NOAA’s Office of Sea Grant, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Read the paper, “Identifying hurricane and sea-level rise signatures in coastal oak forests of the Northeastern United States using a multi-parameter approach,” on Science Direct.
