Chemistry has been part of the curriculum at Indiana University since the very early days of the institution. It was Andrew Wylie, president of the University from 1829-1851, who expanded the original curriculum to include chemistry. The first graduate degrees in chemistry were conferred in 1890. In 1904, when the Graduate School at Indiana University was formally established, a definite schedule of graduate work in chemistry was planned. It was, however, not until 1921 that the first PhD in Chemistry was conferred at Indiana University.

A major event in the history of the department was the construction of a new facility specifically for the discipline in 1931. The faculty and departmental administration began to grow, and some of the Chemistry department's most well-known and prolific faculty came to the university in the years after 1931.

Today, the Department of Chemistry maintains a tradition of excellence across all areas of chemistry (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical, and theoretical). It is nationally recognized for its research efforts in the development of new instruments and methodologies. Indiana University is also recognized as a center of excellence for synthetic organic chemistry, with a long history of distinguished contributions to theoretical chemistry.

Four undergraduate degrees are currently available through the Chemistry Department: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in both Biochemistry and Chemistry, as well as a minor in Chemistry. The department also offers both Master's and PhD programs, including a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Chemistry.