Introduction:The Applied Chemistry Department at Central South University is an interdisciplinary applied science program at the boundary between chemistry and chemical engineering, with a focus on cutting-edge research aimed at solving chemistry problems in the fields of natural resources, materials and biomedicine. The mission statement of this program is “widening caliber, deepening foundation, highlighting distinction, and emphasizing innovation”, building a world-class applied chemistry training program, fostering science and engineering professionals with pragmatic spirit, social elite accomplishment, and industrial leadership.

Founded by Chinese Academy of Science member Xinmin Chen, Applied Chemistry Department began in the 1950s as the Office for Teaching and Research in Basic Chemistry in the Department of Mining and Metallurgy at Central South University. As one of the first universities setting up applied chemistry program in China, our program integrated elements of metallurgical physical chemistry and industrial analytical chemistry, which was successively selected as the Key Provincial Development Program and Key Provincial Program in 1998 and 2000; selected as National Specialty Program in 2009; authorized to become the pilot program in the provincial “Twelfth five-year” Comprehensive Reform Plan in 2012, and approved as the National Comprehensive Reform pilot program in 2015. In 2019 our program was approved to become one of the pilot programs in the National Basic Sciences Enrollment Reform (“Strong Foundation Project”), the Provincial “Chemical Sciences Top Talent Plan”, and the Provincial First-class Undergraduate Programs. In 2020 the Applied Chemistry Program was selected as one of the National First-class Undergraduate Major Programs.

Supported by the expertise of Central South University in the fields of metallurgy, material science and medicine, the Applied Chemistry Program forms an interdisciplinary field with specialty in non-ferrous metal resource chemistry, establishing a talent training program aimed at integrating teaching and research, collaborative education, innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the entire undergraduate curriculum. Ranked nationally in the top 3% of major programs, the Applied Chemistry Program also places globally in the top 0.17% of ESI (Essential Science Indicators) Chemistry ranking.

Our program includes the Ministry of Education Central South University Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Chemistry Virtual Simulation Experimental Teaching Center, the National Chemical Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center, the National Engineering Basic Course Chemistry Teaching Base, the Hunan Chemical Innovation Training Center, two Hunan Provincial Key Laboratories, and many other teaching and research platforms. Currently there are 63 faculty members, including 35 full professors and 25 associate professors. With a state-level core faculty as the teaching team for basic and major courses, from which emerged numerous nationally and provincially renowned educators, awardees of the Excellent Young Scientists Fund and the Ministry of Education New Century Talents Program. With excellent quality of our graduates and a high graduate employment rate, our program has consistently yielded excellent graduates represented by CEO of BYD Chuanfu Wang and Distinguished Young Scholar awardee Li Shuhua.

Major core courses: Modular curriculum consisting of major required courses (Synthetic Chemistry, Separation Principles and Technology, Compound Characterization Methods and Technologies, etc.), industry-focused courses (Professional English, Materials Chemistry, Applied Electrochemistry, Chemical Process Development and Technology, etc.) and specialized courses (Energy Chemistry, Resource and Environmental Chemistry, Biosensing and Surface Analysis, etc.), creating a "pyramid" hierarchy of major course groups.

Career Directions and Outcome: Out of 479 graduates within the past 3 years, 206 (43%) pursued graduate studies in China and 16 (3.3%) abroad, 229 (47.8%) found employment, and 19 (4.0%) founded startups. Employment rate of graduates reached 98.1% averagely within the past 3 years. Graduates pursuing graduate programs include those at Oxford University and Tsinghua University. Employers of our graduates include BYD Co., Ltd., Aluminum Corporation of China Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd., Dongguan Shengyi Electronics Co., Ltd., Topway Information System Co., Ltd., Hefei BOE Display Technology Co., Ltd., etc.