Chemistry, BS
Degree: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Major: Chemistry
Program Overview
The BS program in chemistry is designed for students who seek professional careers in the chemical sciences and is certified by the American Chemical Society. The BS curriculum provides a rigorous background in chemistry, yet offers considerable flexibility in the senior year in the choice of electives, allowing BS majors to pursue areas of chemistry of particular interest to them in greater depth. At least 3 credit hours of research (CHEM 397/CHEM 398) are required, and up to 9 credit hours of research may be credited toward the degree.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the content knowledge of the main sub disciplines of chemistry including general,organic, analytical, physical, inorganic, and biochemistry.
- Students will be able to solve chemistry problems, and design, carry out, record and analyze the results of chemical experiments.
- Students will be able to utilize peer-reviewed scientific literature effectively, and evaluate technical articles critically.
- Students will be able to design and carry out experiments in a safety-focused manner.
- Students will be able to utilize ethically sound judgements when working with scientific results.
Undergraduate Policies
For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.
Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs
Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.
Program Requirements
Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.
Required Chemistry Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 113 | Principles of Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 304 | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 310 | Foundations of Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 323 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 311 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Laboratory Methods in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 324 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 331 | Laboratory Methods in Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 335 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 332 | Laboratory Methods in Physical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 336 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| Research Requirement | ||
| CHEM 397 | Undergraduate Research | 3-6 |
| or CHEM 398 | Undergraduate Research/Senior Capstone Project | |
| Biochemistry Requirement | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introductory Biochemistry I | ||
| Biochemistry II: Living Systems | ||
| Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science | ||
| Chemistry Electives a | 6-8 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 49-55 | |
- a
The chemistry electives may be any chemistry department courses at the 300-level or above which are not part of the "core set," or selected courses with a strong chemistry content at the 300-level or above from other science departments. Only 3 credit hours of CHEM 397 may be applied as a chemistry elective.
Additional Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I | 4 |
| MATH 122 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II | 4 |
| or MATH 124 | Calculus II | |
| MATH 223 | Calculus for Science and Engineering III | 3 |
| or MATH 227 | Calculus III | |
| PHYS 121 | General Physics I - Mechanics | 4 |
| or PHYS 123 | Physics and Frontiers I - Mechanics | |
| PHYS 122 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| or PHYS 124 | Physics and Frontiers II - Electricity and Magnetism | |
| Math/Physics Elective | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Elementary Computer Programming | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra for Applications | ||
| Elementary Differential Equations | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Introduction to Modern Physics | ||
| Basic Statistics for Engineering and Science | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 22 | |
Advanced Coursework
BS majors who plan to go on to graduate study may elect to take advanced courses in:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 412 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 421 | Advanced Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 435 | Synthetic Methods in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| Physical Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 406 | Chemical Kinetics | 3 |
| CHEM 446 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
Students can also elect to take other graduate offerings. Interdisciplinary strengths can be achieved by selecting technical electives in biochemistry, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, macromolecular science, and materials science as well as in biology; earth, environmental, and planetary sciences; mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics; and physics.
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CHEM 105 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 113 | Principles of Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 121 | Calculus for Science and Engineering I | 4 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 106 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| MATH 122 or MATH 124 | Calculus for Science and Engineering II or Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 121 or PHYS 123 | General Physics I - Mechanics or Physics and Frontiers I - Mechanics | 4 |
| Academic Inquiry Seminar, Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 304 | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 310 | Foundations of Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 323 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| PHYS 122 or PHYS 124 | General Physics II - Electricity and Magnetism or Physics and Frontiers II - Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 311 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Laboratory Methods in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 324 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| Open Elective | 3 | |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 331 | Laboratory Methods in Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 335 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| MATH 223 or MATH 227 | Calculus for Science and Engineering III or Calculus III | 3 |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 332 | Laboratory Methods in Physical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 336 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| 300-level CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| Math/Physics Elective | 3 | |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 398 or CHEM 397 | Undergraduate Research/Senior Capstone Project or Undergraduate Research | 3 - 6 |
| CHEM 328 | Introductory Biochemistry I or Biochemistry II: Living Systems or Introduction to Biochemistry: From Molecules To Medical Science | 3-4 |
| CHEM Electives | 6 | |
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-19 | |
| Spring | ||
| Breadth, or Elective course a | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 9 | |
| Math/Physics Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122-126 | |