Admission to Major
Admission to a program is necessary before enrolling in 300- and 400-level courses. Admission is granted by the department. To be eligible for admission to the chemistry program, a student must have declared Chemistry or Chemistry Teaching as a first major, completed 32 credits including CHEM 201 and 202 and achieved a minimum GPA of 2.0. Students should also have an assigned chemistry advisor with whom they have discussed the program. Applications for admission to the chemistry program are available in the department office.
Chemistry BA
Required General Education (3-4 credits):
- MATH 113 Trigonometry (3) or
- MATH 115 Precalculus Mathematics (4) or
- MATH 121 Calculus I (4)
Required Support Courses (4-5 credits):
- PHYS 211 Principles of Physics (4) or
- PHYS 221 General Physics I (5)
Required for Major (Core, 27 credits):
- CHEM 201 General Chemistry I (5)
- CHEM 202 General Chemistry II (5)
- CHEM 305 Analytical Chemistry (4)
- CHEM 320 Organic Chemistry I (with lab) (5)
- CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry II (2)
- CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
- CHEM 381 Introduction to Research (2)
- CHEM 412 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry (2)
- CHEM 495 Senior Seminar (1)
Required Electives for Major (Chemistry, 6 credits):
Choose a minimum of 6 credits from chemistry or biochemistry courses except CHEM 479 and CHEM 482:
- CHEM 300/400 Elective
- CHEM 300/400 Elective
Required for Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree ONLY:
Required Minor: Yes.
Chemistry BS
The Chemistry BS major offers students a choice of two options: Option I and Option II: ACS Approved.
Option I
Option I is for students who want a rigorous preparation in chemistry, but who do not need as comprehensive a program as that prescribed for the A.C.S. option.
Required General Education (9 credits):
- MATH 121 Calculus I (4)
- PHYS 221 General Physics I (5)
Required for Major (Support, 9 credits):
- MATH 122 Calculus II (4)
- PHYS 222 General Physics II (5)
Required for Major (Core, 41 credits):
- CHEM 201 General Chemistry I (5)
- CHEM 202 General Chemistry II (5)
- CHEM 305 Analytical Chemistry (4)
- CHEM 320 Organic Chemistry I (with lab) (5)
- CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry II (2)
- CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
- CHEM 381 Introduction to Research (2)
- CHEM 413 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3)
- CHEM 423 Chemical and Spectroscopic Determination of Structure (4)
- CHEM 440 Physical Chemistry I (3)
- CHEM 441 Physical Chemistry II (3)
- CHEM 450 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
- CHEM 451 Physical Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
- CHEM 495 Senior Seminar (1)
Required Electives for Major (Chemistry, 4 credits):
Choose a minimum of 4 credits from chemistry or biochemistry courses except CHEM 479 and CHEM 482:
- CHEM xxx 300/400 Elective
- CHEM xxx 300/400 Elective
Required Minor: None.
Option II: A.C.S. Approved
The BS Chemistry, A.C.S. option approved by the American Chemical Society is intended for professional chemists and provides an excellent preparation for graduate or professional school, industry or business. Any deviations from this program requires prior approval from the department.
Required General Education (9 credits):
- MATH 121 Calculus I (4)
- PHYS 221 General Physics I (5)
Required Support Courses (9 credits):
- MATH 122 Calculus II (4)
- PHYS 222 General Physics II (5)
Required for Major (Core, 50-51 credits):
- CHEM 201 General Chemistry I (5)
- CHEM 202 General Chemistry II (5)
- CHEM 305 Analytical Chemistry (4)
- CHEM 320 Organic Chemistry I (with lab) (5)
- CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry II (2)
- CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
- CHEM 360 Principles of Biochemistry (4) or
- CHEM 460 Biochemistry I (3)
- CHEM 381 Introduction to Research (2)
- CHEM 413 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3)
- CHEM 415 Inorganic Preparations (2)
- CHEM 423 Chemical and Spectroscopic Determination of Structure (4)
- CHEM 440 Physical Chemistry I (3)
- CHEM 441 Physical Chemistry II (3)
- CHEM 450 Physical Chemistry I Lab (1)
- CHEM 451 Physical Chemistry II Lab (1)
- CHEM 475 Instrumental Analysis (4)
- CHEM 495 Senior Seminar (1)
Required Electives for Major (Chemistry, 1 credits):
Students opting for CHEM 460 must choose at least 1 credit from the following:
CHEM 407 CHEM 412 CHEM 424 CHEM 434 CHEM 461 CHEM 465 CHEM 474 CHEM 485 CHEM 496 CHEM 497 CHEM 498 CHEM 499
Required Electives (Physics or Mathematics, 3-4 credits):
Choose a minimum of 3 credits from the following courses:
PHYS 441 PHYS 447 PHYS 453 PHYS 473 MATH 321 MATH 455
Required Minor: None.
Chemistry Minor
Required for Minor (Core, 19 credits):
- CHEM 201 General Chemistry I (5)
- CHEM 202 General Chemistry II (5)
- CHEM 305 Analytical Chemistry (4)
- CHEM 320 Organic Chemistry I (with lab) (5)
Policies/Information
GPA Policy. Students obtaining a major or minor in chemistry must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 with no more than 5 credits of D work in chemistry courses.
P/N Grading Policy. Courses leading to a major or minor in chemistry or biochemistry may not be taken on a P/N basis except where P/N grading is mandatory.
The first year of coursework for all chemistry and biochemistry majors should include two semesters of chemistry (201, 202) and two semesters of mathematics (selection of courses depends on mathematics background). During the second year, the recommended courses include organic chemistry, advanced mathematics, physics, analytical chemistry. It is important for BS chemistry majors that the calculus and physics sequences be completed by the end of the second year since they are prerequisites for physical chemistry. Physical chemistry and instrumental analysis should be taken during the third year. The advanced courses in chemistry and biochemistry can be taken in the junior and senior years. Participation in chemistry seminar is required of all majors. The coursework in mathematics and physics that is required for a major may be credited toward a major or minors in these areas. For this reason it is often desirable and convenient to choose a joint major or minor with physics or mathematics.
