B.S. in Chemistry
The B.S. degree in Chemistry is designed for students who would like to acquire a more extensive knowledge of chemistry, in preparation for graduate studies in chemistry or a related discipline or for a career as a chemist working in an industrial or government laboratory. The American Chemical Society has approved the academic curriculum of our B.S. degree program since 1941. Students who complete this curriculum receive a certificate from the ACS. It requires successful completion of the required chemistry curriculum listed below, 6 hours of approved chemistry electives, two semesters of calculus-based physics (PHYS 111 and 112), three semesters of calculus (MATH 155, 156, and 251), and a one-semester course in biochemistry (AGBI 410).
Required Chemistry Courses for B.S. Degree in Chemistry
CHEM 115 and 116 - Fundamentals of Chemistry 8 hours
CHEM 215 – Introductory Analytical Chemistry 4 hours
*or instead of CHEM 115, CHEM 116, and CHEM 215, a student may substitute
CHEM 117 and 118 – Principles of Chemistry 10 hours
CHEM 233 and 234 - Organic Chemistry 6 hours
CHEM 235 and 236 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 hours
CHEM 335 – Methods of Structure Determination 4 hours
CHEM 346 and 348 – Physical Chemistry 6 hours
CHEM 347 and 349 – Physical Chemistry Laboratory 3 hours
CHEM 310 – Instrumental Analysis 3 hours
CHEM 313 – Instrumental Analysis Laboratory 1 hour
CHEM 422 – Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 423 - Inorganic Synthesis Laboratory 2 hours
CHEM 401 – Chemical Literature 1 hour
CHEM 403 - Undergraduate Seminar 1 hour
*Total: 42 or 44 hours
Approved Chemistry Electives for B.S. Degree in Chemistry
CHEM 312 – Environmental Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 339 – Organic Synthesis 3 hours
CHEM 440 – Quantum Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 460 – Forensic Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 462 – Biochemistry 2 3 hours
CHEM 463 – Forensic Chemistry Laboratory 1 hour
CHEM 464 - Biochemistry 2 Lab 1 hour
CHEM 490 – Teaching Practicum up to a maximum of 3 hours
CHEM 493 – Special Topics up to a maximum of 3 hours
CHEM 496 – Senior Thesis up to a maximum of 3 hours
CHEM 497 – Research up to a maximum of 3 hours
CHEM 498 – Honors: Organic Chemistry up to a maximum of 2 hours
CHEM 514 - Mass Spectrometry Principles and Practice 3 hours
CHEM 516 – Bioanalytical Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 521 – Organometallic Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 531 – Advanced Organic Chemistry 1 3 hours
CHEM 532 – Advanced Organic Chemistry 2 3 hours
CHEM 540 – Bonding and Molecular Structure 3 hours
CHEM 547 – Chemical Crystallography 3 hours
CHEM 552 – Biochemical Toxiocology 3 hours
Only three hours of CHEM 493, 496, or 497, separately or collectively, may be used to fulfill the chemistry elective requirement. CHEM 498, 540, and 547 were formerly CHEM 293A, 450, and CHEM 441, respectively. 500-level graduate courses require faculty consent.
Performance requirements
A 2.0 G. P. A. must be maintained in all chemistry courses at the 300 and 400 level, excluding 490-497 chemistry courses. A grade of C or better must be obtained in all prerequisites for chemistry courses, which include chemistry (CHEM 115, 116, 215 (or 117, 118), 233, 234, 235, 236, 310, 346, 347, 348, 401, 422), physics (PHYS 111, 112), and mathematics (MATH 155, 156, 251) courses.
The flowchart for the B.S. Chemistry degree depicts the chronological order of completion of the required chemistry courses with their academic prerequisites noted in parentheses. It is important to note that whereas CHEM 115, 116, 233, 234, 235, 236, and 497 are offered during the fall, spring, and summer terms, the remaining required and elective chemistry courses are offered only once during the academic year.
GEF Requirement for the B.S. Degree in Chemistry
Effective with the beginning of the fall 2016 semester, all students entering the University must fulfill the General Education Foundations (GEF) requirement by taking appropriate courses in eight foundation areas (F1-F8). Specific information about the these foundation areas are provided below:
|
Learning Objectives |
Requirement |
Credit Hours |
|
F1: Composition and Rhetoric |
Completion of English 101, 102 or English 103 |
3 or 6 |
|
F2: Science and Technology |
Satisfied by chemistry degree requirements |
4-6 |
|
F3: Mathematics and Quantitative Skills |
Satisfied by chemistry degree requirements |
3-4 |
|
F4: Society and Connections |
Completion of one F4 course from GEF list |
3
|
|
F5: Human Inquiry and the Past |
Completion of one F5 course from GEF list |
3
|
|
F6: The Arts and Creativity |
Completion of one F6 course from GEF list |
3
|
|
F7: Global Studies and Diversity |
Completion of one F7 course from GEF list |
3
|
|
F8: Focus |
Satisfied by chemistry degree requirements |
9
|
|
Total GEF hours |
|
31-37 |