Vision
The Department of Chemistry is focused on providing opportunities for students to develop academic and hands-on research skills to enhance their competitiveness in the global STEM workforce or to gain admission into graduate/professional schools. In addition, the Department strives to offer professional development activities to support faculty in their teaching and research and to engage in activities that support the local community.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Chemistry is to offer major programs in Chemistry and minor programs in Chemistry and Physics. The Department also offers service courses in general chemistry, physical science, environmental science and physics for students in related areas and to fulfill components of the general education core curriculum.
Departmental Goals
- To prepare students for graduate/professional school admission or entry-level professional positions.
- To provide effective advising and mentoring.
- To model effective teaching methods which promote student learning.
- To promote and facilitate faculty productivity in the scholarship of teaching, learning and research.
- To provide a variety of courses in chemistry, physical science, environmental science and physics as part of the core and service curricula.
- To provide service to the University and the community
Student Learning Outcomes for the Major
1. Students will demonstrate a comprehension of fundamental chemical and scientific principles.
2. Students will be able to apply the fundamental chemical and scientific principles.
3. Students will be able to apply critical-thinking and analytical reasoning in order to identify and solve chemical problems
4. Students will be able to effectively and professionally communicate scientific findings.
Major Requirements
In order to satisfy the requirements for a major in chemistry, students must take 29 hours of chemistry courses above General Chemistry II (CHE 2312). The 29 semester hours in chemistry must include one year of analytical chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one semester of physical chemistry, two semesters of 3000 or 4000 courses, and senior seminar. Related area courses required for the chemistry major are (a) one year of algebra-based physics, (b) one semester of general biology I/ lab, and (c) mathematics through Calculus II.
A major 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 major in chemistry requires a minimum of 40 semester hours in chemistry above CHE 2312. The 40 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, and one semester of biochemistry. It also includes three semester hours of advanced chemistry elective, synthetic and analytical methods lab and directed research. Related area courses required for the chemistry major are (a) one year of calculus-based physics, (b) one semester of general biology I/lab and (c) mathematics through Calculus II.
An ACS certified major in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration requires 43 hours of chemistry courses above CHE 2312. The 43 semester hours in chemistry must include one year of analytical chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of physical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, one semester of inorganic chemistry, and senior research. It also includes seven hours of advanced chemistry electives. 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.
Although C- (1.67) is accepted as a passing grade for individual courses in the major, students are required to attain an overall GPA of C 2.0 in major courses. A total of 40 SH of course work at or above the 3000 level are required of all degree concentrations.
Courses
Major Courses
BS Chemistry Degree Tracka
General Education Prerequisites:
CHE 2311 - General Chemistry I
CHE 2111 - General Chemistry I Lab
CHE 2312 - General Chemistry II
CHE 2112 - General Chemistry II Lab
MAT 2317 - Calculus Ib
MAT 2318 - Calculus II
PHY 2321 - General Physics I
PHY 2121 - General Physics I Lab
PHY 2322 - General Physics II
PHY 2122 - General Physics II Lab
BIO 2301 - General Biology I
BIO 2101 - General Biology I Lab
Required Upper Division Courses:
CHE 3326 - Organic Chemistry I
CHE 3327 - Organic Chemistry II
CHE 3230 - Organic Chemistry Lab
CHE 3321 - Quantitative Analysis
CHE 3121 - Quantitative Analysis Lab
CHE 3322 - Instrumental Analysis
CHE 3222 - Instrumental Analysis Lab
CHE 4311 - Physical Chemistry I
CHE 4111 - Physical Chemistry I Lab
CHE 4241 – Senior Seminar
CHE 3000 or 4000 Level Elective
BS Chemistry-ACS Certified Track
General Education Prerequisites:
CHE 2311 - General Chemistry I
CHE 2111 - General Chemistry I Lab
CHE 2312 - General Chemistry II
CHE 2112 - General Chemistry II Lab
MAT 2317 - Calculus Ib
MAT 2318 - Calculus II
PHY 3331 - Principles of Physics I
PHY 3131 - Principles of Physics I Lab
PHY 3332 - Principles of Physics II
PHY 3132 - Principles of Physics II Lab
BIO 2301 - General Biology I
BIO 2101 - General Biology I Lab
Required Upper Division Courses:
CHE 3326 - Organic Chemistry I
CHE 3327 - Organic Chemistry II
CHE 3230 - Organic Chemistry Lab
CHE 3321 - Quantitative Analysis
CHE 3121 - Quantitative Analysis Lab
CHE 3322 - Instrumental Analysis
CHE 3222 - Instrumental Analysis Lab
CHE 3346 - Biochemistry I
CHE 3146 - Biochemistry I Lab
CHE 4311 - Physical Chemistry I
CHE 4312 - Physical Chemistry II
CHE 4111 - Physical Chemistry I Lab
CHE 4313 - Inorganic Chemistry
CHE 4241 – Senior Seminar
CHE 4243 - Synthetic and Analytical Lab
CHE 43XX - Advanced Course Electivec
Research (CHE 42XX – Directed Research I or qualified external research resulting in a comprehensive written report)
BS Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration, ACS-certified) Track
General Education Prerequisites:
CHE 2311 - General Chemistry I
CHE 2111 - General Chemistry I Lab
CHE 2312 - General Chemistry II
CHE 2112 - General Chemistry II Lab
MAT 2317 - Calculus Ib
MAT 2318 - Calculus II
MAT 2326 - Statistics
BIO 2301 - General Biology I
BIO 2101 - General Biology I Lab
BIO 2301 - General Biology II
BIO 2101 - General Biology II Lab
Required Upper Division Courses:
CHE 3326 - Organic Chemistry I
CHE 3327 - Organic Chemistry II
CHE 3230 - Organic Chemistry Lab
CHE 3321 - Quantitative Analysis
CHE 3121 - Quantitative Analysis Lab
CHE 3322 - Instrumental Analysis
CHE 3222 - Instrumental Analysis Lab
CHE 4311 - Physical Chemistry I
CHE 4111 - Physical Chemistry I Lab
CHE 4312 - Physical Chemistry II
CHE 4241 - Senior Seminar
CHE 3346 - Biochemistry I
CHE 3146 - Biochemistry I Lab
CHE 4346 - Biochemistry II
CHE 4246 - Biochemistry II Lab
CHE 4313 - Inorganic Chemistry
CHE 4215 - Directed Research I
CHE 4245 – Directed Research II
BIO 3231 - Microbiology
BIO 3232 - Microbiology Lab
PHY 3331 - Principles of Physics I
PHY 3131 - Principles of Physics I Lab
PHY 3332 - Principles of Physics II
PHY 3132 - Principles of Physics II Lab
Pre-Requisite Courses
CHE 2311 - General Chemistry I
CHE 2111 - General Chemistry I Lab
CHE 2312 - General Chemistry II
CHE 2112 - General Chemistry II Lab
MAT 2317 - Calculus Ib
MAT 2318 - Calculus II
Major Course Sequence
CHE 2311 - General Chemistry I
CHE 2111 - General Chemistry I Lab
CHE 2312 - General Chemistry II
CHE 2112 - General Chemistry II Lab
CHE 3321 - Quantitative Analysis
CHE 3121 - Quantitative Analysis Lab
CHE 3326 - Organic Chemistry I
CHE 3327 - Organic Chemistry II
CHE 3230 - Organic Chemistry Lab
CHE 3322 - Instrumental Analysis
CHE 3222 - Instrumental Analysis Lab
CHE 3346 - Biochemistry I
CHE 3146 - Biochemistry I Lab
CHE 4311 - Physical Chemistry I
CHE 4111 - Physical Chemistry I Lab
CHE 4312 - Physical Chemistry II
CHE 4313 - Inorganic Chemistry
CHE 4241 – Senior Seminar
CHE 4243 - Synthetic and Analytical Lab
CHE 43XX - Advanced Chemistry Course
CHE 42XX – Directed Research I (or qualified external research resulting in a comprehensive written report)
Number of Semester Hours Required for the Major Concentration
BS Chemistry 120 hours
BS Chemistry (ACS-Certified) 120 hours
BS Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration; ACS-Certified) 120 hours
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