Chemistry, BS

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemistry has been designed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate and professional schools or employment in the chemical sciences. The chemistry curriculum includes a core of chemistry, physics, and mathematics courses that will provide the students with skills essential for all chemistry-related careers, and will be combined with directed electives in an area of interest. Students will be prepared for the following professional programs: medical school, dental school, pharmacy school, veterinary school, and physical therapy and physician assistant programs. This curriculum is also designed to prepare students for the following graduate programs:

  • chemistry,
  • biochemistry,
  • public health,
  • environmental science,
  • and forensic science.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of major fields of chemistry.
  2. Demonstrate a broad range of basic laboratory skills applicable to chemistry, and improved chemical research skills.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of technology related to chemistry, including laboratory instrumentation.
  4. Apply knowledge of physics and mathematics to solve chemical problems.
  5. Communicate scientific information in a clear and concise manner both orally and in writing.
  6. Collect, evaluate and interpret scientific data, and employ critical thinking to solve problems in chemistry and supporting fields.
  7. Collaborate effectively on team-oriented projects.
  8. Identify and describe the impact of chemistry on society.

Program Requirements

Core Curriculum (Areas A-E)42
Core Curriculum requirements for the Chemistry degree are adopted from Core Curriculum in the Graduation Requirements section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
Area A16
ENGL 1101English Composition I3
ENGL 1102English Composition II3
Area A23
MATH 1113Pre-Calculus 13
or MATH 1112 Trigonometry & Analytic Geom
or MATH 1501 Calculus I
Area B13
CRIT 1101Critical Thinking3
Area B23
COMM 1001Presentational Speaking1
or COMM 1002 Presentation Applications
or COMM 1110 Public Speaking
Area C6
Any courses from the list in the University Catalog for areas C1 and C2
Area D18
CHEM 1211
1211L
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 1212
1212L
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
4
Area D23
MATH 1501Calculus I (3 credit hours are used in area D2)3
or MATH 2502 Calculus II
Area E12
Any courses from the list in the University Catalog for areas E1, E2, E3 and E4
Chemistry Major Program Course Requirements
Lower Division Major Requirements (Area F)18
CHEM 2411
2411L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 2412
2412L
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Lab II
4
MATH 1501Calculus I (1 credit hour is used for area F)1
or MATH 2502 Calculus II
PHYS 2211Principles of Physics I3
PHYS 2212Principles of Physics II3
CHEM 2811Quantitative Analysis3
Upper Division Core Requirements22
CHEM 1500Freshman Chemistry Seminar1
CHEM 2500Sophomore Chemistry Seminar1
CHEM 2811LQuantitative Analysis Lab1
CHEM 3210Off-Campus Internship I3
or CHEM 3220 On-Campus Internship I
or CHEM 3230 Introductory Research I
CHEM 3311
3311L
Inorganic Chemistry
and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
4
CHEM 3411
3411L
Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
and Physical Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 3500Junior Chemistry Seminar1
CHEM 4500Senior Chemistry Seminar1
CHEM 4811
4811L
Instrumental Analysis
and Instrumental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
4
CHEM 4999ASenior Evaluation0
or CHEM 4999B Senior Evaluation
PHYS 2211LPrinciples of Physics Lab I1
PHYS 2212LPrinciples of Physics Lab II1
Upper Division Chemistry Electives4-6
Choose any courses from the CHEM electives list below 2
CHEM 3202Introductory Biochemistry3
CHEM 3202LBiochemistry Laboratory I1
CHEM 3412Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Mechanics3
CHEM 3412LPhysical Chemistry Laboratory II 1
CHEM 4110Environmental Chemistry3
CHEM 4201Advanced Organic Chemistry3
CHEM 4202Biochemistry I3
CHEM 4202LBiochemistry Laboratory3
CHEM 4203Biochemistry II3
CHEM 4203LBiochemistry Laboratory II1
CHEM 4205Medicinal Chemistry3
CHEM 4206Polymer Chemistry3
CHEM 4207Electrochemistry3
CHEM 4208Food Chemistry3
CHEM 4209Color Chemistry3
CHEM 4222Chemistry Research Practicum3
or CHEM 4230 Chemistry Research Practicum I
or CHEM 4231 Chemistry Research Pract II
or CHEM 4232 Chemistry Research Pract III
CHEM 4301Inorganic Chemistry3
CHEM 4302Solid State Chemistry3
CHEM 4311Advanced Inorganic Chemistry3
CHEM 4401LAdvanced Laboratory I: Organic Synthesis2
CHEM 4402LAdvanced Laboratory I: Biochemistry2
CHEM 4403LAdvanced Laboratory I: Inorganic Synthesis2
CHEM 4411Biophysical Chemistry3
CHEM 4412Computational Chemistry3
CHEM 4413Qual Assurance & Qual Control3
CHEM 4700Special Topics in Chemistry1-3
or CHEM 4701 Special Topics in Chemistry II
or CHEM 4702 Special Topics Chemistry III
CHEM 4812Spectroscopy3
CHEM 4900Biocomputing3
Upper Division Science Electives14-16
Any 3xxx-4xxx level courses with CHEM, PHYS, ASTR, BIOL, MATH, ENVS, FOSC and CSCI prefixes 2, 3
Free Electives 218
Total Credit Hours120
Footnotes:
1. Course prerequisites that are needed for mathematics requirements will be listed under free electives.
2. Students must obtain no less than 39 credits in upper division courses, of which at least 21 credit hours are for upper division chemistry courses.
3. Students are allowed up to 12 total credit hours of experiential learning electives across all prefixes.

A direct link to the Core Curriculum in the Graduation Requirements Section of the University Catalog