Department of Chemistry, Physics and Materials Science
Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Materials Science (CPMS) at Fayetteville State University (FSU), where Chemistry degree has been offered since 1972.
FSU Chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS), an important distinction for any Chemistry program. Approval is given in recognition of both the rigorous nature of our program and the strong chemical and professional foundation it provides our students.
As a central scientific discipline, chemistry impacts human life in many ways. The understanding of chemistry is critical for solving the world's most important issues such as faster and cheaper drug development, cleaner and more economical fuel sources, safer air and drinking water, biotechnology to improve health and food sources, and green industrial processes to prevent pollution.
A chemistry degree can lead you to fascinating and high-paying careers where you can create new drugs, new materials, new technologies, new theories, new policies, or new businesses. Billion-dollar industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, household, and personal care products hire chemists in quality assurance, technical sales, research project management, and many other positions.
Our Department offers two degrees: B.S. in Chemistry and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (BChE) as a 3 + 2 dual program in conjunction with North Carolina State University.
The Department offers six concentrations to students seeking a B.S. degree in Chemistry: 1) Biochemistry, 2) Chemistry Entrepreneurship, 3) General/Applied Chemistry, 4) Materials Science, 5) Pre-Health, and 6) Pre-Pharmacy.
The teaching and research interests of our dedicated faculty span the entire field of chemistry and biochemistry, from the research on the protein interactions in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease to research on mammalian fertilization; from computational studies to the fabrication of novel nanostructured materials.
The Department does not just pride itself on the scholarly accomplishments of its faculty but also prides itself on the commitment that faculty make to mentoring their students in undergraduate research. The mentorship provided by faculty is crucial to the success of students in their research endeavors. Our undergraduate students routinely work in the research laboratories and have their work published right alongside their faculty mentor.
We strongly encourage our students to have summer internship experiences. Each summer, at least 10 chemistry majors spend their summers conducting research at major universities and national laboratories such as Cornell University, Harvard University, Indiana University, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Naval Research Laboratory, New York University, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Texas A&M University, Tuskegee University, University of Connecticut, University of Houston, University of Miami, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and University of South Carolina. Our chemistry majors have been accepted to major professional and prestigious graduate schools.
In the spectrum of chemistry departments throughout the State of North Carolina and country, we are 
considered to be a small-sized Department, but with the quality of its faculty and facilities, our Department can rival many chemistry departments at many major universities. Our state-of-the-art instructional laboratories are equipped with modern technologies that give students a flavor of the labs that they will encounter in industrial and academic research facilities. Our Core Facility houses many specialized instrumentations to support undergraduate research. More information about faculty research can be found on the individual faculty websites that are linked to the Department site.
Our chemistry majors have continued their education in professional and graduate degree programs throughout the country and are employed in teaching institutions (P-12 schools and colleges), chemical and pharmaceutical companies.
Your journey to an exciting career can start here; our dedicated faculty and staff will provide the help, guidance, and training for you to begin your journey.
Please explore our website to learn more about us and feel free to contact us if you need more information.
Daniel E. Autrey, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
(910) 672-1354
dautrey@uncfsu.edu