Undergraduate & Graduate Study Programs

Teaching at the Department of Chemistry is conducted at the undergraduate and graduate levels, covering all established areas of chemistry, as well as new multidisciplinary fields.

Please click here to access the course list
and available course materials

The Undergraduate Program

The Technion Undergraduate Studies Site

The Graduate Program

Foreign Students

The Undergraduate Program

The department offers a basic three-year program in Chemistry. It is designed to provide a strong background in all branches of Chemistry, as well as a solid foundation in the complementary fields of Physics, Mathematics and Biology. The program awards the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Chemistry. Graduates are qualified to either continue their studies and research at the graduate level, or to find employment in industries ranging over varied areas such as drug development, laboratory work in medical centers, polymers and materials development, the petrochemical and fertilizers industry, the electronic industry, environmental monitoring, and many others. Alternatively, after acquiring their teaching certificates, graduates can turn to the education system as well.

The six semester (three year) B.A. curriculum requires 124 credit points. The first two semesters are used to acquire strong foundations in mathematics, physics and computer science, as well as the basics of chemistry. The next semesters are used to broaden knowledge in the different branches of chemistry - physical and theoretical, organic, inorganic and analytical. In the last two semesters the students may deepen their studies according to their interests. They may choose their lecture curricula from a wide variety of electives (30 credits allowed) given by members of the Department and visiting professors, and may also attend approved courses at other academic units of the Technion. The curriculum is also composed of basic and advanced laboratory work and offers participation in short research projects.

Instruction is conducted in Hebrew. However, English forms a compulsory part of the curriculum and is used in scientific assigned reading (most text-books are in English), in external contacts and for publication in the international literature.

To accommodate the rapidly developing needs of modern Hi-Tech and sophisticated biotechnology industries, the Department of Chemistry also also offers a variety of joint programs, based on curricula combining course-work in chemistry with courses in other subjects. Students can also pursue a dual degree program, leading to a joint degree from the Department of Chemistry and another Technion Department. Cooperative teaching and research programs are carried out primarily with the Departments of Biology and Materials Engineering. Other combinations are with e.g., the Departments of Physics, Food Engineering & Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering.

Two three-year programs are offered jointly by the Departments of Chemistry and Biology, leading to a single degree.

Environmental Science Program

The three-year program leads to a B.A. degree in Environmental Sciences. The degree is intended to provide the needed education in the rapidly expanding field of environmental science. The program provides a strong background in basic subjects such as chemistry, biology, microbiology and the legal aspects of environmental planning. The student is exposed to a diversity of subjects, as indicated by the title of the degree.

Molecular Biochemistry

The three-year Molecular Biochemistry program is designed to provide students with the strong basis in Chemistry required to deal with the rapidly developing field of molecular biology. This program addresses the need for understanding biological processes at the molecular level, which is of vital importance for the advancement of this field. A B.A. degree in Molecular Biochemistry is awarded to graduates of this program that combines varied courses from Chemistry and Biology.

Additional programs award to their graduates dual-Bachelors degrees, one in each of the two fields of study. On average, four to four-and-a-half years are needed to complete all requirements for the latter programs.

Chemistry and Materials Engineering

This joint program leads to a B.A. degree in chemistry and a B.Sc. degree in materials engineering. A double-degree of this type trains graduates for research and development work in Hi-Tech industries, or for further academic work at the masters and doctoral levels in interdisciplinary areas of research.

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

This program is designed for chemists who plan to work in the chemical industry. In addition to traditional studies in chemistry, this program this program provides them with a strong background and a B.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering.

Chemistry and Food Engineering & Biotechnology

Graduates of this program are prepared to meet the ever-increasing challenges of the food and biotechnology industries.

Chemistry and Physics

This program provides its graduates with a strong background in both chemistry and physics, suitable to pursue higher academic degrees or for integration into Hi-Tech industries.

Teacher Certification

Students who wish to pursue a certification as high school science teachers can combine their studies for a B.A. in Chemistry with training at the Department for Education in Science and Technology. It is also possible to complete teacher certification separately after receiving the Bachelors degree in chemistry.

Please click here to access undergraduate course list.

The Graduate Program

The graduate program at the department of Chemistry comprises a two year M.Sc. program and a 3 - 4 years D.Sc. program. Students with outstanding academic achievements can complete the D.Sc. program directly in about 4 - 5 years.

The objectives of the graduate program are: to train the student in modern research methods and techniques; to develop the skills needed for independent, critical and creative research; and - finally - to establish teaching skills. Each student, therefore, carries out an origin al research program, chosen from among the various fields of research within the department under the supervision of one of the faculty members. In parallel to their research, graduate students are offered a wide variety of advanced level courses in chemistry (usually in Hebrew). To best address the students research and interest needs, courses may also be taken in related fields and in other departments. In most cases graduate students assume teaching assistant assignments and work several hours a week in undergraduate class recitations or laboratories.

Students for the M.Sc. degree generally choose a research advisor within their first semester of graduate study. Earning the Masters degree requires the accumulation of 30 credit points. The curriculum is chosen from a list of elective courses that may be spread over two academic years. At the end of their second year, after completing both the course requirements and the research work, they present the results of their research at the Departmental seminar, submit a Masters thesis and are examined on it.

Earning a Doctorate takes about 3 - 4 years after the Masters degree, or 4 - 5 years for those who qualify to pursue the D.Sc. program directly (without having to submit a Masters thesis). The majority of the time is devoted to the pursual of the chosen doctoral research project, accompanied by the completion of only six credits. D.Sc. students are required to take an oral candidacy examination on their research topic within the first year. Proficiency in advanced scientific research and comprehension of modern scientific principles as well as a deep understanding of their research topics must be demonstrated through oral presentation of the research accomplished at the departmental seminar, the submission of a doctoral thesis (in either Hebrew or English), and an oral defense of the thesis.

Please click here to access graduate course list.

Foreign Students

Foreign students who wish to enroll in the undergraduate school may study Hebrew in pre-undergraduate class in order to meet the Technion's requirements. M.Sc. students, and those who pursue D.Sc., are also required to have sufficient knowledge of Hebrew to enable them to complete the course requirements.

Please click here to access foreign student information.
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