Historical Background

The Department of Chemistry was initially established in 1950 as a unit of the University College of Addis Ababa. It was subsequently organized into a full-fledged Department of Haile Selassie I University in 1967 offering a four-year degree, B.Sc. in Chemistry. In the year 1978 the Department launched graduate program leading to M.Sc. degree in four areas of specializations, i.e. in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. This was a turning point in the history of the Department and a significant step forward towards fulfilling the Country’s needs for high-level qualified chemists. The success of the M.Sc program encouraged the Department to start research activities and launched the PhD program in 1985. The emergence of both Msc ad PhD programs created a positive impact in the teaching and learning processes, as well as in the development and research activities of the Department. 

Then the Department has grown into being one of the largest Departments in the Faculty of Science, while making adequate contributions to the dissemination of knowledge and development of scientific manpower in the country. The members of the Department have been diligently working over the years to fulfill the expected aims and objectives of the country at large and the University in particular.