Why study Chemistry at Lyon College?

Lyon College knows that being a good chemist is more than just having technical competence. Employers want scientists with excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with people. Chemistry majors gain these skills not just in chemistry classes but through the College's core curriculum, required of all students. Chemistry majors at Lyon acquire hands-on experience with professional-level instrumentation, and nearly all of them engage in research, either with a Lyon professor or during summer research experiences funded by the National Science Foundation. Because of Lyon’s low student-to-faculty ratio, chemistry majors develop personal relationships with their faculty mentors that endure beyond graduation.

Ways To Get Involved

Lyon hosts a chapter of Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society, which sponsors educational events and works with community organizations like the Humane Society.  Chemistry students are involved in a wide range of other campus organizations, such as Mortar Board and Chi Beta Phi honor societies, fraternities and sororities, the pipe band, chorus, and other musical groups.

Student Spotlight

What are reasons to choose the Chemistry program at Lyon?

“Our research opportunities by far! Through faculty recommendations, I was able to secure an REU as a freshman, and as a junior and senior I've been able to complete two internships in industry, as well as help Dr. Burt Hollandsworth on two different chemistry projects. As a senior, I will have much deeper faculty connections and much better & broader research experiences than most of my friends back in Texas; these are invaluable for both grad school and job applications. Institutionally, for such a small school, the research we put out is very impressive,” -Junior John Pruden, of Allen, Texas.

“To any student considering majoring in chemistry, I would tell them that it is very difficult but so much fun and I would advise them to keep all of their notes from every class as a reference (there are many things to remember).  Chemistry at Lyon is distinctive because professors here will challenge you to understand experimental design and data analysis on a higher level; you won’t just know the material, you will graduate equipped with problem solving skills that will benefit you in any future career,” -Senior Kayla Calhoun of Shreveport, La.

Interesting Places

Graduates of the chemistry program have gone to graduate school at Vanderbilt University, University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, University of Missouri, University of Mississippi, University of Oregon, University of Nebraska, University of Colorado, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Michigan State U. and Arkansas State University, among others; to pharmacy and medical schools at UT-Memphis, University of Oklahoma and UAMS; to the Tulane School of Public Health; and to technical and engineering jobs at AmmoBot, Future Fuel, and J.B. Hunt. Others have joined the chemistry faculties at the University of Tulsa and the University of Dallas and work on environmental policy with the California legislature. One alumnus even works for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.