ROCK HILL, S.C. - In addition to approving a new plus/minus grading system, today the Winthrop University Faculty Conference unanimously approved the Forensic Chemistry Program of Study curricular proposal developed by chemistry faculty and endorsed by Academic Council for the establishment of a new Program of Study within Winthrop's BS Chemistry Degree program.  Since the new forensic chemistry is a track within an existing BS degree program, today's Faculty Conference decision represents the final official approval and formally establishes a Forensic Chemistry Program of Study at Winthrop University.

Winthrop University is one of only three Universities in South Carolina (along with Furman and the College of Charleston) offering both Chemistry and Biochemistry programs that have been scrutinized and approved by the American Chemical Society.  UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, UNC-Charlotte, and UNC-Wilmington are the only four schools in North Carolina with both ACS-approved Chemistry and Biochemistry majors.

In addition to ACS-approved Chemistry and Biochemistry Programs of Study, Winthrop's chemistry degree offers Programs of Study in Environmental Chemistry, a Chemistry-Engineering Dual Degree Program of Study with Clemson University, and a Multidisciplinary Chemistry Program of Study designed for students completing double majors.  The new Forensic Chemistry curriculum is the sixth Program of Study available for students aspiring to complete a BS Degree in Chemistry at Winthrop and provides evidence both of the central importance of chemistry and of the steps Winthrop faculty have taken to provide the variety of offerings that allows students to tailor an academic program to meet their personal, long-term professional goals.

The new Forensic Chemistry Program of Study is a BS Chemistry Degree that provides students with a strong background in all five main disciplines of chemistry: analytical, organic, inorganic, physical and biological chemistry.  This academic background qualifies graduates for the many opportunities available to students with chemistry degrees to include medical/dental/pharmacy schools, Ph.D. programs in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, materials chemistry, environmental health and countless others; and for many professional chemist positions in industry.  Half of all research and development jobs in this country are held by professionals with chemistry or chemical engineering degrees.

The Forsenic Chemistry Program of Study will build on this strong chemistry background by offering advanced courses in forensic analysis, an extensive forensic chemistry internship in a professional setting, a forensic chemistry seminar program, and a two-semester chemistry research project. Winthrop's Chemistry program is noted for excellence in analytical instrumentation to include GC/MS/MS; HPLC, High Field NMR, Electrospray Ionization High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS), ICP, IC, FT-IR and many other technologies.  Winthrop's ACS approved programs require two semesters of analytical and instrumental chemistry as well as an extensive biochemistry lab techniques course.

Dr. Cliff Calloway, Associate Professor of Chemistry, will coordinate the forensic program of study, is developing a new course in forensic analysis, and is one of three Ph.D. Analytical faculty within the Chemistry Department at Winthrop. All chemistry faculty will teach in Winthrop's new forensic chemistry program.