North Central College - Naperville, IL

Chemical Microscopy

Why choose chemical microscopy at North Central College?

Chemical microscopy involves the use of microscopes to solve chemical problems. Scientists use chemical microscopy to analyze forensic evidence and to solve problems in the pharmaceutical, environmental science, government and military fields, among others.

You’ll study for three years at North Central College’s Naperville campus and gain a solid liberal arts education. For your fourth year you’ll study and work alongside expert faculty at the Hooke College of Applied Sciences in nearby Westmont. You’ll finish with a bachelor’s degree in chemical microscopy and have the education and experience to give your career a distinct advantage.

You can also:

  • Participate in the first partnership resulting in a chemical microscopy degree from a four-year institution and Hooke College of Applied Sciences, a world leader in the study of chemical microscopy.
  • Learn techniques and applications using state-of-the-art microscopes and other instruments at Hooke College of Applied Science.
  • Be flexible: Your first three years of study at North Central will prepare you for a major in chemistry and you can wait until your junior year to choose to major in chemical microscopy.

To learn more about experiences and opportunities here at North Central College as a chemical microscopy major, click here.

News

Heather Carlson '91 delivered the keynote address at North Central College’s 15th annual Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research.
Math major Maria Gommel ’13 joins the ranks of Goldwater Scholars
Aaron Williams, director of the Peace Corps, will deliver the address June 9 at the 147th Commencement ceremony of North Central College.

News

Careers

  • Research scientist
  • Forensic scientist
  • Trace evidence analyst
  • Pharmaceutical researcher

Feature

Craig Schwandt

Hooke College Instructor

Craig Schwandt is among the dozens of incredibly experienced chemical microscopy instructors at the Hooke College of Applied Sciences. He’s an expert in studying minerals—he earned a doctorate in geology and worked for NASA for many years to help analyze and identify particles from meteorites.

“The biggest advantages of studying chemical microscopy here are the hands-on approach and the fact we have an incredibly small number of students compared to faculty and a large amount of equipment,” Craig says. In classes at Hooke, an instructor will often work with no more than two students at a time, and students gain valuable experience working on cutting-edge equipment.

“We get them comfortable using methods in a very short amount of time,” he says. “Students get to apply methods right away under the supervision of instructors.”

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