Chemistry Major | Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry

Chemistry is a fundamental science that impacts all aspects of one's life. A bachelor's degree in Chemistry is an excellent preparation for many careers in science, industry, government, or commerce. Chemistry majors will prepare for pre-professional programs such as graduate, pharmacy, medical, dental, or veterinary schools. A student that graduates with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry will have developed practical, analytical, problem-solving, presentation, and communication skills. This exciting and challenging field can lead to a successful future.

MAJORS

Biochemistry Major, B.S.

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Chemistry Major, B.S.

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MINORS

Biochemistry Minor

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Chemistry Minor

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NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

A Student presenting their undergraduate research at American Chemical Society regional and national meetings and the Missouri Academy of Science.

Students participating in undergraduate research attend and present their research at American Chemical Society regional and national meetings and the Missouri Academy of Science. Research students in the Chemistry department at College of the Ozarks have consistently won awards at the annual Missouri Academy of Science.

Chemistry students and professors participated in the Silver Dollar City annual Science Day.

FACULTY

KENNY GARRISON

Title: Professor of Chemistry and Nettie Marie Jones Chair of Chemistry

Email: garrison@cofo.edu

KENNY GARRISON

Title: Professor of Chemistry and Nettie Marie Jones Chair of Chemistry

Teaching Focus: Analytical Chemistry

Education: NCI Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Kansas; Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, University of Missouri; B.A. in Chemistry, Drury College

Contact

Email: garrison@cofo.edu

Biography

Publications:

Smith, C.J., Garrison, K.E., "Copper Phthalocyanine Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for Simultaneous Electrochemical Analysis of Homocysteine and Cysteine," April 2011, ACS National Meeting and Missouri Academy of Science, 3rd place in Chemistry Division.

Vannoy, R.J., Garrison, K.E., "Measurement of the Osmotic Second Virial Coefficient of GRB10 Using Self-Interaction Chromotography," April 2014, ACS National Meeting and Missouri Academy of Science.

Nicholson, J., Garrison, K.E., "Analysis of the Fermentation Products of Sorghum Halapense with Ruminococcus Albus," April 2011, ACS National Meeting and Missouri Academy of Science, 3rd place in the Agriculture Division.

Research Interests:

Analytical electrochemistry using modified carbon paste electrodes.

Investigation of protein interactions by self-interaction chromatography.

Combustion analysis of fermentation products and rocket fuels.

CAROL BREAUX

Title: Professor of Chemistry

Email: cbreaux@cofo.edu

CAROL BREAUX

Title: Professor of Chemistry

Teaching Focus: Physical Chemistry

Education: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry, Washington University; M.A. in Chemistry, Washington University; B.S. in Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University

Contact

Email: cbreaux@cofo.edu

Biography

Publications:

Engel, C.B., Breaux, C.J., "Investigation Into the Inteference of Cinnamon on Glucose Tests," April 2013, ACS National Meeting and Missouri Academy of Science. 2nd place in Chemistry Division.

Petersen, E.A., Breaux, C.J., "Examination of Intermolecular Interactions of Glutamic Acid Using T1 Relaxation Times," April 2014, ACS National Meeting and Missouri Academy of Science.

Clark, S.N., Breaux, C.J., "Effects of Water-Soluble Cinnamon Components on the Glucose Oxidase-Peroxidase Test," April 2014, ACS National Meeting ad Missouri Academy of Science. 1st place in Chemistry Division.

Research Interests:

Investigate relaxation mechanisms for T1 and T2 relaxation times of solutions of brain metabolites as a function of conductivity, pH, and concentration.

Investigate the effect of cinnamon on glucose testing.

TOBY LONG

Title: Associate Professor of Chemistry

Email: tlong@cofo.edu

TOBY LONG

Title: Associate Professor of Chemistry

Teaching Focus: Chemistry

Education: B.S., Missouri State University, 2002; M.S., Missouri State University, 2004; Ph.D., University of Kansas 2010

Contact

Email: tlong@cofo.edu

Biography

Dr. Toby Long was born and raised in the Ozarks but started his teaching career in Orlando, Florida, with visiting positions at both Valencia College and Rollins College in Winter Park. After relocating to Alaska with his family, he achieved tenure and was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor at Kenai Peninsula College under the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he served in that role for eight years. Dr. Long joined the faculty at College of the Ozarks in the fall of 2021. He is passionate about teaching chemistry and actively researches and employs high-impact teaching practices in all his classes. Dr. Long’s research interests include small molecule organic synthesis with an emphasis in flow chemistry and electrochemistry.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH A chemistry DEGREE

Agricultural Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Biochemistry
Biotechnology
Catalysis
Chemical Education
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Information Specialists
Chemical Sales
Chemical Technology
Colloid and Surface Chemistry
Consulting
Consumer Product Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry

Food and Flavor Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry
Geochemistry
Hazardous Waste Management
Inorganic Chemistry
Materials Science
Medicinal Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Oil and Petroleum
Physical Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
Pulp and Paper Chemistry
R&D Management
Science Writing
Textile Chemistry
Water Chemistry

Research Opportunities

The Chemistry major at College of the Ozarks culminates in three semesters of research during the student's junior and senior years.

Topics of current research include:

Use of organic extractants to remove heavy metals from contaminated soil and water
Synthesis of heterocyclic and fluorine containing substances
Pharmaceuticals in natural waters
Capillary electrophoresis of biomolecules
Protein interactions
NMR measurements of brain metabolites
Interferences in medical glucose testing

Students often report their research results at national and regional chemistry meetings.

Laboratories & Equipment

The Chemistry department occupies the third floor of the Pfeiffer Science building. The department has three fully equipped laboratories, including a general chemistry lab, an analytical lab, and an organic lab. The laboratories house a gas chromatograph and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, an infrared spectrometer, a high pressure liquid chromatograph, gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis instruments, a bomb calorimeter, a fluorometer, two ultra-violet/visual scanning spectrometers, an electrochemical detector, two rotary evaporators, an atomic absorbance spectrometer, a defractometer, and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. All three laboratories have proper safety equipment.

Also available in the Chemistry department is a computer lounge. Available software allows three dimensional and computational modeling of compounds and the ability to predict experimental results. Data from the lab can be processed and interpreted by the computers.

student groups

Chemistry Club

Chemistry Club is a very active club on campus that participates in homecoming activities, chemistry shows, graduate school visits, chemistry tutoring, highway cleanup, and other activities throughout the school year.

Chemistry

MAJORS

MINORS

NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

FACULTY

KENNY GARRISON

CAROL BREAUX

TOBY LONG

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH A chemistry DEGREE

Research Opportunities

Laboratories & Equipment

student groups

Chemistry Club

WORK PROGRAM

Chemistry Department