Chemistry, B.S.
Program Description
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers the B.S. degree in chemistry, with concentrations that meet the American Chemical Society Accredited Programs requirements. The programs are designed to provide the theoretical and practical instruction in chemistry and related areas to prepare students for careers in chemistry, biochemistry, medicine, dentistry, paramedical areas, forensic sciences, chemical engineering and other technology-based areas.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education) 2 | 3 |
| Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education) 2 | 3-4 |
| Major and cognate requirements | 50-52 |
| Concentration | 10-31 |
| Electives | 3-26 |
| Total | 120 |
- 1
The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some credits may be fulfilled by courses required within the major.
- 2
The quantitative and scientific literacy requirements are met by courses required in the major.
Major Requirements
Students completing a B.S. degree in Chemistry must select either a major in Chemistry or Biophysical Chemistry. They cannot earn a major in both areas.
Students majoring in Chemistry must also select one of six concentrations and complete all course work in that concentration. The credit hours for major requirements will vary based on the chosen concentration.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements for all Concentrations | ||
| CHEM 131 | General Chemistry I [C3PP] | 3 |
| CHEM 132 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 135L | Special General Chemistry Laboratory I 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 136L | Special General Chemistry Laboratory II 1 | 2 |
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 242 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 270 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 287L | Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 288L | Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEM 331 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 351 | Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 361 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 481 | Literature and Seminar I | 1 |
| CHEM 482 | Literature and Seminar II | 1 |
| Subtotal | 34 | |
| Required Cognate Courses for all Concentrations | ||
| MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] | 4-6 |
| or MATH 231 & MATH 232 | Calculus with Functions I [C3QR] and Calculus with Functions II | |
| MATH 236 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 240 | University Physics I [C3PP] | 3 |
| PHYS 240L | University Physics Laboratory I [C3L] | 1 |
| PHYS 250 | University Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 250L | University Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Subtotal | 16-18 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Students, in consultation with their faculty advisor, must choose one of the following concentrations (see below): | 10-31 | |
Concentration I: American Chemical Society Certificed Curriculum in Chemistry Concentration | ||
Concentration II: American Chemical Society Certified Curriculum in Biochemistry Concentration | ||
Concentration III: American Chemical Society Certified Curriculum in Materials Chemistry Concentration | ||
Concentration IV: Chemistry Secondary Education Concentration | ||
Concentration V: General Program in Chemistry Concentration | ||
Concentration VI: Chemistry/Business Program | ||
| Subtotal | 10-31 | |
| Total Credits | 60-83 | |
Electives
The well-prepared student is encouraged to take as many of the additional departmental offerings as possible as electives with attention being given to junior and/or senior research projects.
Three credits of undergraduate research (CHEM 390/CHEM 497/CHEM 499A) may be used to satisfy chemistry elective requirements if the research project is completed with the same faculty mentor over multiple semesters.
Chemistry Concentrations
All ACS Certified Programs require a minimum of 400 hours of laboratory and research.
Concentration I: American Chemical Society Certified Curriculum in Chemistry Concentration
Students completing concentration I must complete the courses below in addition to core courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 352 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 352L | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 432 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 438L | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 470 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 3 |
| MATH 237 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 238 | Linear Algebra with Differential Equations | 4 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Concentration II: American Chemical Society Certified Curriculum in Biochemistry Concentration
This program meets the recommended undergraduate degree requirements of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for a major in biochemistry. Students completing concentration II must complete the courses below in addition to core courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 352 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 352L | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 362 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 366L | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 432 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 438L | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| BIO 140 & 140L | Foundations of Biology I [C3NS] and Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L] | 4 |
| BIO 240 & 240L | Genetics and Genetics Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO 245 & 245L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO 480 & 480L | Advanced Molecular Biology and Advanced Molecular Biology Lab | 4 |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
Concentration III: American Chemical Society Certified Curriculum in Materials Chemistry Concentration
Students completing concentration III must complete the courses below in addition to core courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 336L | Applied Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 352 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 352L | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 375 | An Introduction to Materials Science | 3 |
| CHEM 432 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 445 | Polymer Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 445L | Polymer Chem Lab | 1 |
| MATH 237 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 238 | Linear Algebra with Differential Equations | 4 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Science of the Small and Science of the Small Laboratory | ||
| Materials and Intermediate Solid Mechanics | ||
| Advanced Topics in Engineering (when topic is appropriate) | ||
| Laboratory Techniques in Geology (2,2) | ||
| Total Credits | 28-29 | |
Concentration IV: Chemistry Secondary Education Concentration
This concentration is designed for students wishing to pursue secondary education teacher licensure in chemistry. Students in this concentration should also declare the Pre-Professional Secondary Education (SEED) minor. The SEED minor, in conjunction with the bachelor of science degree in chemistry with a concentration in chemistry secondary education, prepares students to enter the 5th year master's degree program in education that leads to teacher licensure.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 140 | Foundations of Biology I [C3NS] | 3 |
| BIO 140L | Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L] | 1 |
| CHEM 325 | Chemical Hazards and Laboratory Safety | 1 |
| CHEM 336L | Applied Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 352 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 352L | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| GEOL 355 | Geochemistry of Natural Waters | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Concentration V: General Program in Chemistry Concentration
Students completing concentration V must complete the Degree and Major courses and the courses below in addition to core courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 336L | Applied Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 352 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 352L | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| Upper division chemistry elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
Concentration VI: Chemistry/Business Program
This program is designed for business-oriented chemistry students preparing for careers in patent law, technical sales, technical service and related areas. Chemistry Business students should declare a General Business Minor for ease in enrolling in College of Business courses. Students completing concentration VI must complete the courses below in addition to core courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 336L | Applied Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| ACTG 244 | Accounting for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| CIS 204 | Computer Information Systems Fundamentals for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| ECON 200 | Introduction to Macroeconomics [C4GE] | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
| FIN 345 | Finance Fundamentals for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| MATH 220 | Elementary Statistics [C3QR] | 3 |
| MGT 305 | Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MKTG 380 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| Approved chemistry, science and/or COB courses 1 | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
- 1
Although business electives may be taken by students in this concentration, the total number of business credit hours may not exceed 27.
Recommended Schedule for Majors
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 131 | General Chemistry I [C3PP] | 3 |
| CHEM 132 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 135L or CHEM 131L |
Special General Chemistry Laboratory I or General Chemistry Laboratory [C3L] |
1 |
| CHEM 136L or CHEM 132L |
Special General Chemistry Laboratory II or General Chemistry Laboratory |
2 |
| MATH 235 | Calculus I [C3QR] | 4 |
| MATH 236 | Calculus II | 4 |
| BIO 140 & 140L |
Foundations of Biology I [C3NS] and Foundations of Biology I Laboratory [C3L] |
4 |
| General Education requirement or Electives | 10 | |
| Credits | 31 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 242 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 270 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 287L | Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 288L | Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory II | 2 |
| PHYS 240 | University Physics I [C3PP] | 3 |
| PHYS 240L | University Physics Laboratory I [C3L] | 1 |
| PHYS 250 | University Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 250L | University Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| General Education requirement or Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Third Year | ||
| CHEM 331 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 351 | Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 352 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 352L | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 361 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 481 | Literature and Seminar I | 1 |
| CHEM 482 | Literature and Seminar II | 1 |
| Courses in the concentration, General Education or Electives | 13 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Courses in the concentration, General Education or Electives | 29 | |
| Credits | 29 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |