Welcome to the Department of Chemistry 

Established in 1885, the Department of Chemistry has a long tradition of excellence in research and teaching.  At the turn of the century, when other scientists had just begun to find uses for the gummy by-product of certain chemical reactions, University of Akron chemistry professor Charles M. Knight was already teaching the world's first college course in rubber chemistry.

The Department of Chemistry offers master's degrees and doctoral degrees  in analytical, biological, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.  In collaboration with the Department of Physics, the Department of Chemistry offers a chemical physics option as part of the chemistry Ph.D. program.  Cross-disciplinary training is promoted through continued collaborations with The Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science, Institute for Biomedical Engineering Research, Center for Environmental Studies, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and the Integrated Bioscience program.