Chemistry experiment

Academics | Chemistry-Biology

Chemistry-Biology

The chemistry-biology major is an interdisciplinary program designed for students interested in the health sciences, molecular and cell biology, environmental disciplines such as toxicology, and any other field in which a good preparation in both chemistry and biology is needed. All chemistry-biology majors must take a basic core of courses in science and math. Beyond this basic core, they must elect a course of study that emphasizes either a molecular-biochemical or an environmental concentration. Students who elect the chemistry-biology major may not elect a major or minor in either chemistry or biology.

Students have ready access to essential, sophisticated instrumentation to carry out experiments and research across the gamut of organic, inorganic, analytic, and physical chemistry.

Many of our chemistry-biology graduates become doctors, nurses, pharmacists, environmental scientists, college and university professors, or elementary or secondary teachers. Some go into corporate or government research. Our graduates include top-level executives, plant managers, sales managers, and lawyers.

 

Faculty

Mark Bullard

Mark Kainz

Memuna Khan

Dana Moracco

Colleen Pomplun

Richard Scamehorn

Joseph Scanlon

Peggy Stevens

Barbara Sisson

Christopher Thode

Robert Wallace

Skip Wittler

 

Biology-Chemistry Course Guide

All chemistry-biology majors must take a basic core of courses in science and math. Beyond this basic core, they must elect a course of study that emphasizes either a molecular-biochemical or an environmental concentration. Students who elect the chemistry-biology major may not elect a major or minor in either chemistry or biology.

Core requirements for a major in chemistry-biology: Biology 121, Chemistry 111, 112, and 211, Physics 151-152 or 171-172, Math 201 or higher level calculus, and Biology 501-502 or Chemistry 501-502 (one semester of each). A senior thesis is required. For students electing to take Biology 501-502, Mathematics 120 or Psychology 211 is a prerequisite.

Molecular-biochemical emphasis: Biology 219 and three courses in Biology selected from the following: 211, 216, 226, 312, 314, 327, 328, and 329. Two of the following courses: Chemistry 214, 321, and 333 or 334. Students who plan to attend graduate school in biochemistry are advised to take both Chemistry 333 and 334 and Chemistry 422.

Environmental emphasis: Environmental Studies 120, Biology 247 and two additional courses in Biology including one of the following: 314, 337, 338, 339 and 450. Two of the following courses: Chemistry 214, 321, and 333 or 334.

View the entire course catalog here.

 

Advising

Ripon College encourages all students to embrace a Four-Year Career Development Plan. This plan is based on the premise that career planning is a development process that involves learning and decision-making over an extended period of time.

First Year

  • Incoming students are assigned a Faculty Mentor based on their interest area(s). Please see the FACULTY tab under your major area;
  • All Freshman are required to enroll in a First-Year Seminar, which is designed as a transition from high school to college learning, providing an interdisciplinary introduction to the liberal arts and the pursuit of in-depth study;
  • Freshman are encouraged to meet the career development staff early on and complete interest and skills inventories, and self-assessment tools; and,
  • Attend the pre-Fall Break “Major Fest” to explore the various major options and career tracks.

Third Year

  • Assume leadership positions in on-campus clubs and organizations;
  • Participate in mock interviews with the Career Development Office;
  • Attend the Wisconsin Foundation of Independent Colleges Job Fair in February and other relevant career fairs;
  • If relevant, begin to research potential graduate school programs and take the appropriate entrance exam(s);
  • Continue to meet regularly with your Faculty Mentor;
  • Continue to build a solid network and a list of work references, and build your resume;
  • Consider off-campus study: Semester and/or alternative Spring Breaks;
  • Continue to job shadow; and,
  • Gain further career experience associated with your education during the academic year and as part of a summer job or internship.

Second Year

  • Get involved with on-campus clubs and organizations, athletic teams and/or intramural sports;
  • Attend the pre-Fall Break “Major Fest” to explore the various major options and career tracks;
  • Declare a major;
  • Meet regularly with your Faculty Mentor or match your interests with a faculty member in your major department. Determine which professors have areas of expertise most similar to your interests. Talk to people in the academic department to find out about faculty research, scholarly, and creative interests;
  • Attend on-campus career workshops;
  • Work with the Career Development Office to create an approved resume;
  • Job shadow people involved in various careers and professions of interest; and,
  • Gain further career experience associated with your education during the academic year and as part of a summer job or internship.

Fourth Year

  • Complete a Senior Capstone/Thesis in your major area(s);
  • Continue to meet regularly with your Faculty Mentor;
  • Perfect your interviewing skills;
  • Expand your existing network of contacts;
  • Finalize your resume and prepare cover letter;
  • Build a credential file in the Career Development Office;
  • Interview with on-campus recruiters;
  • Set-up informational interviews with target companies;
  • If relevant, apply to graduate school programs, and if necessary, re-take entrance exams; and,
  • Practice career goal-setting.

 

What can I do with a Biology-Chemistry major?

An undergraduate degree in chemistry-biology can lead to a career in medicine, chemistry, veterinary science, nursing, pharmacology, business, and environmental protection.

Alumni of our program are enrolled in a variety of graduate-level programs at some of the nation’s most prestigious research universities, including: the Wisconsin School of Medicine, Iowa State University, University of Illinios, and Wayne State University.

Recent graduates of our program work for…

  • Baxter Healthcare, Inc.
  • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
  • Covance Laboratories, Inc.
  • Dean Clinic
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Infinity Healthcare
  • Missouri State University
  • Northwestern University of Health Sciences
  • Onyx Environmental Services
  • Sigma-Aldlrich, Inc.
  • U.S. Air Force
  • Univ. of Wisconsin Medical School

Job titles of recent graduates include…

  • Neonatology Fellow
  • Medical Laboratory Technician
  • Water Quality Specialist
  • Chemist
  • Lawyer
  • Research and New Product Developer
  • ER Physician
  • Chemistry Teacher
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Captain and Flight Surgeon
  • Midwife
  • Physician Assistant
  • Nursing Assistant
  • Optometrist
  • Biology Lab Professor

 

Off-Campus Study

Oak Ridge National LaboratoryA substantial number of Ripon College chemistry-biology students participate in study and research programs at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee; the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts; and the University of Swansea, Wales.

To learn more about off-campus study options, visit our Off-Campus Study Page.