Chemistry

Student in a lab

Interested in how compounds interact? Do you enjoy experiments and research? Earn your Associate of Science degree in Chemistry and easily transfer your credits to a four-year college or university. Learn from experienced faculty who will help you understand the material and your career options based on their experience in the field.

Program Details

Learn more about our chemistry program and find course descriptions in the WCJC Catalog.
Earn your Associate of Science degree in Chemistry in two years. Classes are offered at all four of our campuses - Wharton, Sugar Land, Bay City, and Richmond. Each location is fully equipped with modern chemistry laboratory facilities. Review the recommended course of study in the academic map. If you plan on transferring, make sure you confirm the transferability of courses to meet degree requirements from the institution you plan to attend.

Our chemistry program is designed for students who want to transfer to a four-year college or university. With a B.A. in Chemistry, you have a wide range of career opportunities, including: 

  • Secondary School Teacher
  • Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Food Scientist & Technologist

Find more information, including wages and education requirements, on Career Coach!

Meet the Faculty

Get to know your professors! In addition to their academic training and teaching experience, WCJC chemistry faculty bring a wealth of experience, from industry to research, and are ready to prepare you for a productive career. 

Rocio Doherty

Department Head, Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering

Dr. Doherty holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Monterrey Tech, in Mexico, and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of San Luis Potosi, in Mexico. She has worked in several companies in Mexico and the U.S. as a Senior Chemist, Lab Manager, and Process Engineer in the polymers, cement and concrete, environmental, and oil and gas fields. She has 17 years of college-level teaching and content development experience. She teaches General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

Office: Sugar Land Campus, Brazos Hall 217
Phone: 281-243-8550
Email: dohertyr@wcjc.edu

John Bankston

Instructor of Chemistry

Mr. Bankston received his B.S. degree from the University of Houston.  He received his M.S. degree from the University of Washington. Mr. Bankston joined WCJC in 2002 and teaches Introductory, General, and Organic Chemistry.

Office: Richmond Campus, 140J
Phone: 281-239-1563
Email: bankstonj@wcjc.edu

Latasha Herndon

Instructor of Chemistry

Dr. Latasha Herndon has a B.S. in Chemistry from Southern University A&M and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Davis. She has experience teaching both high school and college and owned a tutorial center that focused on standardized testing. She joined WCJC in January 2019 and teaches Introductory Chemistry and General Chemistry.

Office: Sugar Land Campus, Brazos Hall  248-A 
Phone: 281-243-8587
Email: herndonl@wcjc.edu

Nicole Lippolis

Instructor of Chemistry

Ms. Lippolis received her B.S. degree in Chemistry with minors in Biology and Mathematics from Dowling College (Oakdale, NY) and her M.S. in Biochemistry from CUNY Queens College (Flushing, NY). She worked in the industry for 5 years and has been teaching at the collegiate level since 2009. She joined WCJC in 2017 and teaches Introductory, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.

Office: Sugar Land Campus, Brazos Hall  239 
Phone: 281-243-8588
Email: lippolisn@wcjc.edu

Brian Trinh

Instructor of Chemistry

Dr. Brian Trinh received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign., B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Washington, and A.S. degrees in Chemistry, Physics/Engineering, and Computer Science from Skagit Valley Community College. He taught several undergraduate courses at the University of Illinois before joining the faculty at Wharton County Junior College, where he is teaching Introductory Chemistry and General Chemistry.

Office: Wharton Campus, Science 217
Phone: 979-532-6989
Email: trinhb@wcjc.edu

Hui Zhao (Henry)

Instructor of Chemistry

Dr. Zhao completed his Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2000.  He joined the full-time WCJC chemistry faculty in January 2014 and teaches Introductory, General, and Organic Chemistry.

Office: Richmond Campus, 140J
Phone: 281-239-1564
Email: zhaoh@wcjc.edu

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