College Facts

#1 Public University

Mission

The College of Chemistry advances society through education and research. 

We honor that mission by educating students who become world class scientists, researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs. 

Departments

The departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering provide outstanding coursework and research opportunities to our undergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral researchers. 

Chemistry has consistently produced leaders in analytical, inorganic, organic, nuclear, physical and theoretical chemistry. We lead exploration at the frontiers of knowledge in the areas of biophysical, materials, and atmospheric chemistry, as well as the burgeoning fields of chemical biology and nanoscience. 

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) houses premier research programs in molecular thermodynamics, heterogeneous catalysis, electrochemical engineering, biochemical engineering, and separation processes. CBE faculty are research pioneers in the growing fields of synthetic biology, nanotechnology, theoretical chemistry, and the development of polymeric, optical, and semiconductor materials. 

#1 Global University for Chemistry

Student Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biology
  • Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
  • Joint major in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
  • Joint major in Chemical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering

Graduate Degrees

  • Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
  • Professional Masters in Bioprocess Engineering
  • Professional Masters in Product Development
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering

Postdoctoral Appointments

Postdoctoral appointments are temporary, allowing individuals a unique opportunity to conduct advanced scientific research under the guidance of world class faculty. 

Online Degrees

Master of Molecular Science and Software Engineering.

Degree Information

Information about all programs available at the College of Chemistry is online.

College Life

The college complex is a small city unto itself-six research buildings operate 24 hours a day. Undergraduates hurry between teaching labs and classrooms. Grad students and postdocs drop in at the NMR, spectroscopy and crystallography facilities. Faculty members consult with their lab groups and monitor experiments. Nearby, college researchers have access to numerous specialized labs on campus and at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL). Particle accelerators, high-energy X-ray light sources and more are a short distance away. Together with LBL, the U.S. Department of Energy and private sector partners, the college has helped create the world's most advanced cluster of research centers on biofuels and artificial photosynthesis. 

Jade Fostvedt, Arnold Research Group. Photo Leigh Moyer.

Startup Culture

UC Berkeley hosts a vibrant series of incubators and venture funds geared toward the University's support of students and faculty in their efforts to start new companies. The Berkeley Catalyst Fund was started several years ago by College alumni to focus on early stage funding of startups in the College of Chemistry, across campus, and at the Berkeley Lab. 

Undergraduate Support

  • Undergraduate advisors provide expert and confidential academic guidance.
  • Our career counseling program focuses on helping students with their post academic planning.
  • Peer tutors provide coaching for chemistry and CBE courses in our Peer Tutoring Center.

College Leadership

Douglas S. Clark

Douglas S. Clark, Ph.D.

College Dean
cocdean@berkeley.edu

Richmond Sarpong

Richmond Sarpong, Ph.D.

Executive Associate Dean
rsarpong@berkeley.edu

Bryan McCloskey

Bryan D. McCloskey, Ph.D.

Department Chair, CBE
cbechair@berkeley.edu

Matthew B. Francis

Matthew Francis, Ph.D.

Department Chair, Chemistry
mbfrancis@berkeley.edu

John Arnold

John Arnold, Ph.D.

Undergraduate Dean
arnold@berkeley.edu

College Faculty

Chemistry Faculty

Chemistry Faculty 2023

(Professors: 37; Assoc. Professors: 4; Asst. Professors: 9; Adjunct: 0; Lecturers: 4.) 

CBE Faculty

CBE Faculty 2023

(Professors: 11; Assoc. Professors: 4; Asst. Professors: 3; Adjunct: 4; Lecturers: 6.)

Students

ENROLLMENT BY MAJOR (Spring 2021) 

PROGRAM CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CHEM BIOLOGY
Undergraduates 215 518 230
Graduates 408 131 -
Postdocs 98 25 -

DEGREES AWARDED (Spring 2022) 

DEGREE CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE 50 106 62
BACHELOR OF ARTS - - -
MASTER OF SCIENCE 8 19 -
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 53 13 -

MEDIAN UNDERGRADUATE SALARY (Spring 2023) : $75,000

 starting median undergraduate salary is $75,000

The College's Nobel Laureates

Faculty

  • 1949 / William F. Giauque (B.5. '20, Ph.D. '22) 
  • 1951 / Glenn T. Seaborg (Ph.D. '37)
  • 1961 / Melvin Calvin
  • 1986 / Yuan T. Lee (Ph.D. '65)
  • 1986 / Dudley R. Herschbach
  • 2020 / Jennifer A. Doudna 
  • 2021 / David W.C. MacMillan
  • 2022 / Carolyn Bertozzi

Alumni

  • 1934 / Harold C. Urey (Ph.D. '23)
  • 1960 / Willard F. Libby (B.5. '31, Ph.D. '33) 
  • 1973 / Geoffrey Wilkinson (Postdoc '50)
  • 1983 / Henry Taube (B.S. '35, Ph.D. '40)
  • 1989 / Thomas Cech (Ph.D. '75) 
  • 1995 / Mario Molina (Ph.D. '72)
  • 1996 / Robert F. Curl, Jr. (Ph.D. '57)
  • 1999 / Ahmed Zewail (Postdoc '74)
  • 2002 / KurtWuthrich (Postdoc '67)
  • 2018 / Frances Arnold (Ph.D. '85) 

Faculty Honors

  • National Medals of Science: 11
  • National Academy of Engineering: 12
  • National Academy of Sciences: 39
  • American Academy of Arts & Sciences: 35
  • Distinguished Teaching Award: 12
  • Wolf Prize: 9

Active Alumni Worldwide

15,000 alumni worldwide

The college has 15,000+ active alumni worldwide as of Spring 2022.

Where do our graduates go?

Everywhere! Currently College alumni are working in over 50 countries around the world. They work at universities, national laboratories, corporations, government agencies, non-profit foundations, and exciting startups. They carry with them the deep scientific understanding and advanced skills needed to be leaders making change in the world.

Partners with Industry

The College of Chemistry welcomes opportunities to collaborate with corporate partners. Today's forward­thinking companies invest in public education to ensure that our society continues to produce the talent of tomorrow. We gratefully acknowledge your donations.

We Need Your Help

Private support is crucial to enable the College to fulfill its public mission. We are deeply grateful to all our donors for your ongoing philanthropy and thank you for your generosity allowing us to educate our remarkable students.

College Funding Priorities

  • Capital projects and facility improvements
  • Graduate fellowships
  • Undergraduate student experience
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion

For giving information contact:

Lauren Haney Provost, Senior Assistant Dean
College Relations & Development
510.643.9351
lhaney@berkeley.edu