Chemistry Program Requirements



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Faculty

  • Frank Black
  • Robyn Hyde
  • Jessica Johnston (Chair)

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Program Goals

Content: Students will identify, apply, and analyze concepts across a broad spectrum of chemical disciplines, and use evidence to evaluate interpretations and draw conclusions.

Collaboration: Students will actively engage with their peers in small learning teams to collect and process information, exchange ideas, and synthesize knowledge in order to achieve collective goals in a respectful team environment.

Laboratory: Students will design and carry out experiments utilizing modern instruments and techniques. Students will interpret their results and revise experiments based upon the information they learn.

Communication: Students will communicate chemistry-related concepts, experimental results, and conclusions in written, visual, and oral formats to scientists and non-scientists.

Civic Responsibility: Students will develop a global perspective on chemistry issues and engage in practices informed by social responsibility across the spectrum of differences.

Objectives

The Chemistry program offers an academic major leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and an academic minor. The program provides: (1) preparation for a professional career or graduate study in chemistry; (2) an understanding of basic chemistry concepts and experience in laboratory operations for those planning careers in related fields; (3) pre-professional study for those preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and nursing; and (4) preparation for those who wish to teach at the secondary level.

Program Requirements

Students must maintain a cumulative 2.3 GPA or better in courses required in the academic major. Students choosing a double major or minor within the science program may not apply electives to more than one major or minor. Only classes listed under “required courses” that coincide between both majors/minors may be applied to both. Students must meet the university-wide graduation requirements in addition to the Chemistry major:

  • 124 total hours
  • 30 upper division hours
  • WCore or Honors College requirements

Chemistry Major

To fulfill the requirements for a major in Chemistry, students must complete the following as well as demonstrate competency in MATH 144:

Requirement Description Credit Hours Prerequisites
I. World Language Requirement 8  
Chemistry majors must complete eight credit hours in a single world language.    
II. Lower Division Courses 8  
CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry I and Lab 4 Pre- or co-requisite MATH 144
CHEM 112 Principles of Chemistry II and Lab 4 CHEM 111
III. Upper Division Courses 24  
CHEM 303 Organic Chemistry I 3

CHEM 112

Recommended pre-/co-requisite: CHEM 303L
CHEM 303L Organic  Chemistry I Lab 1 Pre-/co-requisite: CHEM 303
CHEM 304 Organic Chemistry II 3

CHEM 303

Recommended pre-/co-requisite: CHEM 304L
CHEM 304L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 Pre-/co-requisite: CHEM 304
CHEM 306 Quantitative Analysis and Lab 4

CHEM 112 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211

Co-requisite: CHEM 306L
CHEM 320 Inorganic Chemistry 4 CHEM 112
CHEM 421 Quantum Chemistry and Lab 4

CHEM 112, MATH 202, PHYS 212, PHYS 309

Co-requisite: CHEM 421L
CHEM 422 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics and Lab 4

CHEM 112, MATH 202, PHYS 212, PHYS 309

Co-requisite: CHEM 422L
IV. Electives 12  
Students must take two of the following three courses:    
CHEM 307 Instrumental Analysis and Lab  4

CHEM 112 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211

Co-requisite: CHEM 307L
CHEM 350/L Biochemistry and Lab 4

BIOL 205 and CHEM 303

Co-requisite: CHEM/BIOL 350L
CHEM 370 Scientific Computing 4 CMPT 190 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211
Students must complete an additional four credit hours of coursework from  the following:  

 

CHEM 300 Special Topics in Chemistry 2-4 Instructor permission
CHEM 307 Instrumental Analysis and Lab  4

CHEM 112 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211

Co-requisite: CHEM 307L
CHEM 350/L Biochemistry and Lab 4

BIOL 205 and CHEM 303

Co-requisite: CHEM/BIOL 350L
CHEM 370 Scientific Computing 4 CMPT 190 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211
GEOL 405 Geochemistry 4 CHEM 112 or GEOL 301
CHEM 400 Advanced Topics in Chemistry 1-5 Instructor permission
CHEM 401 Directed Studies in Chemistry 1-4 Senior standing, consent of instructor and school dean
CHEM 430  Undergraduate Research 1-4 Faculty mentor permission
CHEM 440 Internship 1-2 Junior/senior standing, see course description
V. Required Courses from Other Programs 22  
MATH 201 Calculus I 4 MATH 144 or placement test
MATH 202 Calculus II 4 MATH 201 or placement test
PHYS 211 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I and Lab 4 MATH 144 and co-requisite: MATH 201
PHYS 212 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II and Lab 4 PHYS 211 and co-requisite: MATH 202
PHYS 309 Mathematical Methods of Physics 4 MATH 202 and PHYS 211
WCSAM 400 Science Capstone 2  
Total Hours for the Chemistry Major 76  

Listed below is a suggested plan of study for completing the chemistry requirements. Students should meet with their advisors at least once a year as course offerings may change from what is listed. Students must also meet WCore and university wide requirements for graduation.

Recommended Plan of Study for Chemistry

*Assumes student already has credit for MATH 144

Chemistry Minor

Requirement Description Credit Hours Prerequisites
I. Required Courses 16  
CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry I and Lab 4 Co-requisites: CHEM 111R recommended; MATH 144 required
CHEM 112 Principles of Chemistry II and Lab 4 CHEM 111
CHEM 303 Organic Chemistry I 3

CHEM 112

Recommended pre-/co-requisite: CHEM 303L
  Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 Pre-/c0-requisite: CHEM 304L
CHEM 304 Organic Chemistry II 3

CHEM 303

Pre-/co-requisite: CHEM 304L
CHEM 304L Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 Pre-/co-requisite: CHEM 304
II. Electives 8  
Complete four hours of coursework from the following:    
CHEM 300 Special Topics in Chemistry 2-4 Instructor permission
CHEM 306 Quantitative Analysis and Lab  4

CHEM 112 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211

Co-requisite: CHEM 306L
CHEM 307  Instrumental Analysis and Lab  4

CHEM 112 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211

Co-requisite: CHEM 307L
CHEM 320 Inorganic Chemistry 4 CHEM 112
CHEM 350/L Biochemistry and Lab 4
BIOL 205 and CHEM 303
 
Co-requisite: CHEM/BIOL 350L
CHEM 370 Scientific Computing 4 CMPT 190 and either PHYS 151 or PHYS 211
CHEM 401 Directed Studies in Chemistry 1-4 Senior standing, consent of instructor and school dean
CHEM 421 Quantum Chemistry and Lab 4

CHEM 112, MATH 202, PHYS 212, PHYS 309

Co-requisite: CHEM 421L
CHEM 422 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics and Lab 4

CHEM 112, MATH 202, PHYS 212, PHYS 309

Co-requisite: CHEM 422L
CHEM 430 Undergraduate Research 1-4 Faculty mentor permission
CHEM 440 Internship 1-4 Junior/senior standing, see course description
Complete at least four additional hours from the following:    
CHEM 306 Quantitative Analysis and Lab  4

CHEM 112 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211

Co-requisite: CHEM 306L
CHEM 307 Instrumental Analysis and Lab  4

CHEM 112 and PHYS 151 or PHYS 211

Co-requisite: CHEM 307L
CHEM 320 Inorganic Chemistry 4 CHEM 112

CHEM 350/L

Biochemistry and Lab 4

BIOL 205 and CHEM 303

Co-requisite: CHEM/BIOL 350L
CHEM 370 Scientific Computing 4 CMPT 190 and either PHYS 151 or PHYS 211
CHEM 422 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics and Lab 4

CHEM 112, MATH 202, PHYS 212, PHYS 309

Co-requisite: CHEM 422L
Total Hours for the Chemistry Minor 24