Welcome to the Department of Physical Sciences

Dr. Tony Wallner, Chair and Professor of Chemistry

As chair of the Department of Physical Sciences, I would like to welcome you to our department's web page, and hopefully as a potential student at Barry University. Our department offers two undergraduate degrees; the BS in Chemistry and the BS in Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry. We also offer the necessary courses for students interested in pursuing professional degrees such as pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy and pre-veterinary. Our students, upon completion of one of our BS degrees, are very successful (over 90 %) in gaining admission to a graduate or professional school to further their education. Students also enter the workforce as industrial chemists in a variety of chemistry and scientific careers.

As part of our quality academic programs, we offer outstanding research opportunities and hands-on experience with instrumentation for our students. These activities make Barry University's degree program unique. It is this personal attention and mentoring that provides for a transformative educational experience connected to the Barry Mission. The department houses many state-of-the-art instruments and these are incorporated throughout the undergraduate curriculum beginning in first semester general chemistry. The complexity and opportunity to use a variety of modern pieces of instrumentation increase throughout our curriculum. Students graduate with a great breadth of experience that sets them apart from their contemporaries in other programs.

All of our faculty members are engaged in scientific research projects and each professor mentors undergraduate students in their research projects. Many students begin guided research directly under a faculty mentor during their sophomore or junior years. The students are encouraged to continue with the research project throughout their undergraduate education. Students also pursue research opportunities during the summer. These can be for credit or for pay depending on which experiences the students choose. Students can pursue research with their Barry faculty mentor on campus or off campus (several faculty members conduct research on off campus sites during the summer). Students can also apply for summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs. These competitive, fully funded opportunities occur in a variety of universities and government labs across the world.

The Department of Physical Sciences includes community service as part of the liberal arts educational experience. Our students and faculty members engage in a variety of community service and outreach activities. We encourage our students to not only gain an education but also to give back and educate the community of which we are a member. Activities such as our high school Chemistry and Physics Tournament, Christmas toy drive for children affected by HIV/AIDS,  and chemistry demonstrations for local third grade students are a few of the projects our students enjoy.

All these things make Barry University a unique and valuable educational and personal growth experience. I look forward to welcoming you as a new student to our program and guiding you to reach your personal educational and professional goals. If you would like additional information about the program or the university, please contact our Division of Enrollment Services through the Info Request Form. They can provide you with up to date admissions guidelines. If there are any questions about our chemistry program that are not answered on our website, use our Ask a Question form and we will try our best to answer your questions.

We Love Chemistry!!

Tony Wallner, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs
Chair and Professor of Chemistry