The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Colorado College has played a central role in the life of the college since its founding in 1874. Originally a department invested in the mining business, it has grown to house a full range of chemistry specialties with faculty in analytical, biochemical, environmental, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. It maintains an active program that provides American Chemical Society Certification to almost a third of its majors each year.

The department makes innovative use of Colorado College's unique Block Plan academic calendar in which students enroll in a single course for each of eight three-and-one-half-week periods termed blocks. Each of the department's eleven full- and part-time faculty are actively engaged in collaborative research projects ranging from new methods for chemical education to the synthesis of new drug candidates based on natural products.