化学是理解自然现象和创造对人类有用的产品的中心学科。化学家们在材料设计，生物学，医学，纳米技术和环境技术的激动人心的研究中处于最前沿。可以通过化学教育背景解决从基础研究到社会需求以及从恐怖主义防御到环境保护等难题。SMU的化学系为学生做好准备，以满足对经过科学训练的劳动力不断增长的需求。化学专业知识在就业市场上仍然有很高的需求。学生和教职员工在教室，研究实验室以及通过共同撰写论文来建立强大的互动关系。化学系提供的所有课程的重点都是解决化学问题（包括生物化学和健康科学）的现代科学方法。SMU化学系获得美国化
Chemistry is a central discipline in the understanding of natural phenomena and the creation of products useful to humanity. Chemists are at the forefront of exciting research in material design, biology, medicine, nanotechnology, and environmental technologies. Challenging problems reaching from basic research to societal needs and from terrorism defense to environmental protection can be addressed with an educational background in chemistry. The Department of Chemistry at SMU prepares students to meet the increasing demand for a scientifically trained workforce. Expertise in chemistry remains in high demand in the job market. Students and faculty build strong interactions in the classrooms, research labs, and through co-authoring papers. The emphasis in all courses offered by the Department of Chemistry is a modern scientific approach to the solution of chemical problems including biochemistry and the health sciences. Accredited by the American Chemical Society, the Department of Chemistry at SMU supports the commitment of the University to undergraduate learning, while also maintaining a strong graduate and research program. To support undergraduate chemistry majors, the department typically offers 15–20 scholarships annually from department endowed funds. The B.S. degree is a more rigorous degree that requires considerably more teaching laboratory hours and undergraduate research. The B.S. degree is intended for students who desire a complete and well-rounded chemistry background for graduate work in chemistry or the medical field. The B.S. degree is also well-suited for students desiring employment immediately after graduation.