Chemistry

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

The Department of Chemistry offers major programs of study leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, the Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a pre-health professional concentration, an American Chemical Society (ACS) certified Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, and an ACS certified Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration. In addition, support courses in physics, general chemistry I and II, and physical science are provided for students majoring in related areas. Courses in the major program afford opportunities for students to develop skills that are used in the work world and in graduate or professional schools.

OBJECTIVES

1. Provide students with a fundamental background in chemistry, physics and physical science.

2. Prepare majors and other interested students for admittance into graduate, medical, dental and other professional schools.

3. Prepare chemistry majors for careers in industry, teaching, government and other fields.

4. Provide all students served by the department with an insight into the nature of scientific investigations and the scientific enterprise in general.

Major Program in Chemistry

In order to satisfy the requirements to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, students must take 30 hours of chemistry courses above General Chemistry II (CHE 2312). The 30 semester hours in chemistry must include one year of analytical chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physical chemistry, either one semester of inorganic chemistry or one semester of biochemistry, and seminar. Related area courses required for the chemistry major are (a) one year of algebra-based physics, (b) mathematics through Calculus II, and (c) one year of intermediate foreign language or one year of computer science electives.

A Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a pre-health professional concentration requires 34 hours of chemistry courses above CHE 2312. Related area courses are similar to those required for the chemistry major above. Students in this degree concentration are encouraged to take the calculus-based physics, instead of the algebra-based courses. In addition, certain courses in biology as specified in the program are required.

An American Chemical Society (ACS) certified Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry requires a minimum of 41 semester hours in chemistry above CHE 2312. The 41 semester hours in chemistry must include one year of analytical chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physical chemistry, one semester of inorganic chemistry, one semester of biochemistry and senior research. It also includes seven hours of advanced chemistry electives. Related area courses required for the chemistry major are (a) one year of calculus-based physics, (b) mathematics through Calculus II, and (c) one year of intermediate foreign language or one year of computer science electives.

An ACS certified Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration requires 43 hours of chemistry courses above CHE 2312. Related area courses are identical to those required for the ACS Certified chemistry major above. In addition, certain courses in biology, as specified in the program, are required.

No grade below C in any chemistry course will be accepted toward the major, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for all chemistry courses taken is required. A total of 40 SH of course work above the 3000 level is required of all degree concentrations.