Chemistry, B.S.

Major and Minor Requirements

No changes in, substitutions for, or exceptions to the following requirements will be permitted without approval of the department chair and appropriate dean by academic petition.

Optional Concentrations in Chemistry

The Concentration in Biochemistry is intended for students who wish to use the undergraduate major in chemistry as preparation for further study and/or employment in medicine, dentistry, or any of the other life sciences: molecular biology, pharmacy, clinical chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacology, toxicology, industrial hygiene, veterinary medicine, and other health-related fields. To serve such a variety of career goals, the program offers flexibility in some requirements.

The Concentration in Chemical Physics is designed primarily for the student who intends to become a professional chemist or pursue an advanced degree in chemistry or engineering.  Students who successfully complete this concentration will receive ACS-certified degrees.

Application

Students admitted as chemistry majors at matriculation must:

1. Earn a minimum 2.5 chemistry course GPA after completing the CH 1410, CH 1420, CH 1430, and CH 1440 (or CH 1510 and CH 1530) course sequence,

2. Earn a minimum 2.5 chemistry course GPA after completing the  CH 2210, CH 2220, CH 2230, and CH 2240 sequence, and

3. Earn a minimum 2.00 GPA in support courses.

Students not directly admitted as majors may formally apply for acceptance after completing CH 1420 and CH 1440 and must meet the requirements outlined above.

Students who have not met these requirements after completing CH 1420 and CH 1440 and/or CH 2220 and CH 2240, but who have a minimum of 2.25 GPA in all completed chemistry courses, will be given probationary status and be permitted to enroll in the next sequence of chemistry courses.  Students who have not met the minimum 2.25 GPA in their chemistry courses after completing CH 2220 and CH 2240 will be removed from the major and will not be permitted to enroll in subsequent chemistry courses, unless they are repeating a course(s).

After completing CH 2220 and CH 2240, if a major’s combined chemistry and support course GPA drops below 2.25, they will be given probationary status, remain as accepted majors and will be permitted to enroll in chemistry courses. However, students on probationary status must maintain at least a minimum 2.00 GPA or they will be removed from the major.

Program Learning Goals in Chemistry

Students will:

1. Demonstrate a working knowledge in the sub-disciplines of chemistry where they have completed course work (at least four of analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical).

2. Apply their integrative knowledge of chemistry to solve problems.

3. Demonstrate competency in the laboratory skills necessary to acquire, analyze, and interpret experimental results.

4. Effectively communicate scientific information in a variety of forms (written, oral, mathematical).

Major Requirements

B.S. in Chemistry (48-57 total credit hours)

The following Chemistry Core courses:

And 2 upper-division lecture electives chosen from the courses below:

and 1 Lecture/Lab Pair chosen from the courses below:

Note: (1)  CH 4350, CH 4360 and CH 4370 must all be taken; (2)  A lecture course(s) may not be used to fulfill both the upper division lecture and lecture/lab pair requirements.

The Capstone, Additional Writing, and Oral Presentation requirements of the University Core Curriculum will be satisfied by one of the following:

Note: CH 3994 is approved to fulfill the CH 3990 Capstone, Additional Writing, and Oral Presentation requirements. 

Required Support Courses:

Subtotal: 48-57

B.S. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Chemical Physics (73-78 total credit hours)

The following Chemistry Core courses:

Additional Required Chemistry Courses:

Notes: (1) CH 4430 fulfills the Capstone, Additional Writing and Oral Presentation requirements of the University Core Curriculum. (2) CH 4350 may substitute for CH 4310. 

Additionally, at least 6 credits of upper-division electives, at least one of which is laboratory based, selected from the following courses:

Required Support Courses:

Pre-chemical engineering students should take PH 2540.

Subtotal: 73-78

B.S. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry (62-72 total credit hours)

The following Chemistry Core courses:

Additional Required Chemistry Courses:

Three Additional Approved Upper-Division CH Electives Selected from the Courses Below:

Note: One of the upper-division CH electives must fulfill the Capstone, Additional Writing and Oral Presentation requirement of the University Core Curriculum: CH 3980, CH 4430 (and CH 4410), CH 3994, or CH 4820.

One upper-division elective may be selected from the following BL and PS courses:

or other courses approved by the chemistry department chair. 

Required Support Courses:

Subtotal: 62-72

Interdisciplinary Concentration in Neuroscience

The department collaborates in the interdisciplinary concentration in neuroscience. It is strongly recommended that interested students refer to the Neuroscience Concentration information below, pursue the biochemistry concentration pathway and consult with their academic advisor in their first or second years.

The Interdisciplinary concentration in Neuroscience is coordinated by the Department of Psychology and is intended for biology, cell and molecular biology, chemistry (biochemistry concentration), and psychology majors who desire an interdisciplinary approach to the study of physiology, biochemistry, and behavior of higher organisms. A GPA of 2.5 or higher in BL 1500- BL 1605 and CH 1410- CH 1440 is required for admission into the concentration. Requirements for each area are detailed below.

Required Chemistry Courses

Required Chemistry Support Courses

Chemistry Electives (Choose Two)

Chemistry CAP/AW/OP Electives (Choose One)

Required Biology Courses

Required Psychology Courses