Paul Brandt, department chair since 1998, says Western teaches students in a more complete way than most schools. "On the job, most of our graduates will work in the lab. We require several additional lab courses not tied to a lecture class. We felt more emphasis should go toward hands-on experience in a lab rather than sitting in a lecture hall."

Many schools require a succession of general chemistry courses that initially repeat what high schools teach. Western rewards serious students by requiring only one comprehensive course, Chem-140. This prepares students to take the sophomore-level organic chemistry and move on with their major.

The physics major allows students to shape their education with a variety of upper-level electives such as geophysics, optics, and thermodynamics. The department is about to secure approval for the chemistry major's environmental chemistry focus from the American Chemical Society. The department also plans to add an environmental focus to the physics major.

The faculty's teaching is highly praised. Kurt Vandervoort, for example, just received the College of Arts and Sciences teaching award.