CHEMISTRY

Teaching Goals

The Department of Chemistry, in accordance with the mission of the California Community Colleges, supports a variety of different educational programs that include occupational education, a college transfer program and guidance and counseling support. We have articulation agreements with the major universities in California allowing for coursework taken in our department to be accepted towards the completion of a bachelor's degree or fulfilling the prerequisites for professional schools. Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) has a good record of transferring students to four-year institutions and data shows that those students show high achievement upon transfer. In the past, students from our department have successfully completed bachelor's degrees in a variety of majors (chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, pharmacy, etc.) at UCLA, U.C. Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, California State University, Northridge, University of Southern California, U.C. Santa Barbara, U.C. Irvine, U.C. San Diego, Occidental College and many others. Some of these students have continued on to graduate work in the sciences. Many pursue professional degrees in medicine, dentistry, optometry, chiropractics or veterinary medicine.

The Chemistry Department also plays an important role as a service department, providing preparation for students entering a variety of Allied Health fields, such as nursing, physical therapy, nutrition, animal health technology, clinical chemistry, and chiropractics. Their matriculation at LAPC allows them to enter directly into specialized educational programs or employment in these areas. In addition, the department attracts currently employed students who wish to upgrade their present occupational position or pursue new areas of endeavor.