12-25-03
BEHREND BIOCHEMISTRY PROGRAM RECEIVES ACS APPROVAL
The American Chemical Society's (ACS) Committee on Professional Training has given formal approval to the biochemistry option offered in the chemistry program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The option was initiated this fall and will be reviewed again at the time of the chemistry program's next five-year ACS evaluation.
"This is an important further step in the development of the chemistry curriculum at Penn State Behrend," said Dr. Roger Knacke, director of the School of Science. "National recognition by the American Chemical Society is tangible evidence of the quality of our program."
"I congratulate Dr. Mary Chisholm, Dr. James Warren, and their colleagues, who worked diligently to prepare the program and application for approval," said Knacke. "The committee's notification complimented us on the solid program designed by our chemistry and biology faculties, and praised the outstanding laboratory courses they developed."
There are currently 624 schools nationwide with ACS-approved chemistry majors, and there are 127 schools with an ACS-approved option in biochemistry.
As a result of this approval, the 2003-2004 graduates who complete the biochemistry option are eligible for certification under ACS guidelines and are eligible for membership in the American Chemical Society following graduation.
A certified degree in chemistry is a valuable personal credential which serves as national-level recognition for successfully completing a rigorous academic chemistry curriculum in an ACS-approved department. An ACS-certified degree invariably is the more demanding one, and the extra rigor of the certified degree is valued by both potential employers and graduate schools.
Contact:
Loretta Brandon
814-898-6063 (O)
E-mail: lzb6@psu.edu