Christian Brothers University
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Contact Information
Dr. Dennis Merat
Chair &
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Chemistry Department
(901)321-4201


Chemistry Department

The Department of Chemistry in the School of Sciences offers a four year program leading to a bachelor of science degree in chemistry.  This degree can be used for preparation for a career in chemistry or biochemistry research, as a pre-med degree, as a pre-pharmacy degree, and as a pre-forensic chemistry degree.  Paradigms have been developed for all of these.

The department also offers a four year program leading to a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry.  This degree is designed to provide a strong preparation for both the workplace and professional schools, including pharmacy school or medical school.  The program places emphasis on development of a wide range of laboratory skills that are needed in today’s biomedical laboratories, whether they are found in industry or academia.  A paradigm has been developed for this major.

The Department also offers, in conjunction with the Department of Education, a five-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in natural science, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, and teaching licensure in chemistry or chemistry and biology for grades 7 through 12.

Faculty:                            

 William Busler   Professor    Ph.D.  University of Tennessee, Memphis 
 David Dawson Associate Professor   Ph.D.  University of Arkansas
 Dennis Merat 

Associate Professor
Chair of the Department  

 Ph.D.  Texas A&M University
 William Peer Assistant Professor  Ph.D.  University of Texas, Austin
 John Young Assistant Professor  Ph.D.  Mississippi State University
 S. Michael Condren Professor Emeritus     Ph.D.  University of Missouri, Rolla
 Marguerite Cooper Professor Emeritus   Ph.D.  Memphis State University
 Lyle Wescott Professor Emeritus    Ph.D.  Penn State University

The department recently renovated all its laboratories in Assisi Hall, obtained two new labs in the new Cooper-Wilson Center for the Life Sciences and upgraded its major instruments.  The department now has two labs for the Principles of Chemistry sequence, an Analytical Chemistry Lab, a Biochemistry lab, an Engineering Chemistry lab, an Inorganic Chemistry Lab, an Instrument Lab, an Organic Chemistry lab that contains 18 hoods (one for each student in the lab),  and a Physical Chemistry Lab.

CBU chemistry majors participate in the activities of the chapter of Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society.

For information about the Thirty-Nineth Annual Competitive Examination in High School Chemistry
and the Twentieth-Third Annual Local Examination for the Chemistry Olympiad, click here.