The Department of Chemistry offers courses leading to the B.S. degree with a major in chemistry. The department also offers a program culminating in the professional degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (B.S.Ch.). This program is designed to meet the requirements of the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society, and is undertaken primarily by students who desire to go directly to positions in the chemical industry, or to enroll for postgraduate study in chemistry.

SEQUENCE OF COURSES

Students who have a minimum ACT mathematics score of 24 should enroll in CHEM 1110 /1111 if they plan to take more than one year of college chemistry, or plan to major in either a natural science or in civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering. CHEM 1100 is a one-semester course for students of limited preparation in mathematics or high school chemistry whose curriculum calls for the CHEM 1110/1111, 1120/1121 sequence. CHEM 1010/1011, 1020/1021 is a two-semester sequence for students interested in the science of chemistry, but is not credited toward a major in chemistry, biology or physics. It does fulfill the university science requirements of other majors. Credit may not be received for both CHEM 1100 and CHEM 1110 or CHEM 1010 simultaneously.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Beginning students who have had previous high school training in chemistry are invited to apply for advanced placement.

LABORATORY SAFETY AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Laboratory safety is strictly practiced in the Department of Chemistry. Approved eye protection must be worn as required in all chemical laboratories. In addition, to ensure that students enrolled in laboratory courses learn the necessary safety information to safely participate in the laboratory course, all prerequisites and/or corequisites for all laboratory courses are strictly enforced. As a result, when a student enrolls in a laboratory course without prior completion of the necessary prerequisite or corequisite, the student will be dropped from the laboratory course. In addition, when a student simultaneously enrolls in a laboratory course and corequisite course, but subsequently drops or discontinues the corequisite course, the student will be dropped from the laboratory course. In the event any student fails to comply with any safety requirements of the Department of Chemistry, the department has the right to not allow the student to perform laboratory work, or to withdraw the student from the laboratory course, as appropriate.

The requirements listed below are for majors and minors for the Bachelor of Science degrees or for minors for the Bachelor of Arts degrees; for detailed requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, a professional degree, see degree requirements described later in this section.

NOTE: Students must complete CHEM 1110/1111, 1120/1121 before enrolling in any upper division course applied toward the major or the minor.

Chemistry Major (B.S.)

Program objectives for a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.S.Ch. in Chemistry are: (a) to have a satisfactory knowledge and comprehension of core concepts of analytical, organic, physical, inorganic and bioorganic chemistry; (b) to develop the ability to critically assess and solve problems relating to theoretical and practical aspects of chemistry; (c) to have satisfactory laboratory skills; (d) to have satisfactory presentation skills to communicate chemical concepts and the results of investigations into chemical phenomena, through oral and written discourse and by way of mathematical sciences (e) to have satisfactory basic computer and computational skills; (f) will be satisfactorily prepared for entry level positions in the field, or for admission to graduate or professional school; (g) to demonstrate an understanding of professional ethics and the importance of chemistry in its impact on society.

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

B. College and Degree (B.S.) Requirements (15-16 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Science requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements.

C. The Major (34-41 hours)

1. Core requirements (23 hours): CHEM 1110/1111, 1120/1121, (these courses are included in the University General Education Program requirements and must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in the following, credit hours not counted in 38-41 for the major), CHEM 3111, 3201/3211, 3301/3310, 3411, 3501/3511,  PHYS 2110/2111,  2120/2121 or 2010/2011, 2020/2021 (four hours of physics are included in the B.S. degree requirements, the remaining four hours are included in the 38-41 hour major).

2. Plus (15-18 hours):

Either

a. General concentration: Five (5) upper division semester hours in chemistry, MATH 1910 (this course is included in the University General Education Program requirements) and two of the following courses: MATH 1920, 2110, 4611, COMP 4001.

or

b. Biochemistry concentration: MATH 1830 or 1910 (included in the University General Education Program requirements), MATH 4611, CHEM 4511/4501, BIOL 1110/1111, 1120/1121, and one of the following: CHEM 4512, BIOL 3500 or 3130.

D. Electives

Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Chemistry Major (B.S. Ch.)

A. University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University link for the University General Education Program requirements. Note the following specifications for the B.S.Ch. degree: Natural Science - CHEM 1110/1111, 1120/1121; Mathematics - MATH 1910.

B. College and Degree (B.S.Ch.) Requirements (13-14 hours)

Foreign Language: 6 hours in a single foreign language, or equivalent. If the language chosen is the same language used to fulfill University admission requirements, course must be at the 1020 level or above. If a different language is chosen, any six hours will fulfill the requirement.

1. If the language chosen was used to meet University admissions requirements, students must take the foreign language placement exam (if they have not already successfully completed a language course at an accredited institution of higher education). For information about the dates and place of placement exams, contact the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. On the basis of the results of the placement exam, students should follow these guidelines:

If placed into 1010: complete 1010, 1020, 2010

If placed into 1020: complete 1020, 2010

If placed into 2010: complete 2010

If placed into 2020 or higher: language requirement fulfilled

Or complete 6 hours at any level of another language

2. Students presenting a language to meet University admission requirements cannot receive credit for 1010 in that language.

3. No credit hours are immediately granted on the basis of the placement exam.

4. Satisfactory completion of the language requirement by means of the placement exam will be noted on the student’s transcript.

5. Students whose first college-level language course is 2010 or higher and who pass this course with a minimum grade of "C" may apply for Credit by Course Placement. The applicable fees are listed in the Miscellaneous Fees section of this Catalog. Students wishing such credit must make written application to the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Credit by Course Placement shall apply only to the lower division, and credit gained in this manner shall not exceed 12 semester hours in any one language. For additional information, see Credit by Course Placement in Section 5 of this Catalog.

6. Once a student begins with a lower-division course, all remaining higher-numbered courses in the lower division must be taken in sequence, without skipping. For example, students who begin with LATN 1010 cannot skip LATN 1020 and enroll in LATN 2010.

7. For students whose mother tongue is not English, lower-division credit in the native language will be awarded when the student has successfully completed the English composition requirement for graduation and has proven proficiency in the native language to the satisfaction of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. The student must make written application to the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

Mathematics (7-8 hours): MATH 1920, and one of MATH 2110, 2701, 4721, 4611 or 4635.

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree, the student must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours with a grade point average of 2.0. Of the 120 semester hours required, not more than 42 semester hours in any one subject will be counted toward a degree. A minimum of 42 semester hours must be in courses from the upper division.

C. The Major (41-42 hours)

1. Core requirements (27 hours):

Completion of CHEM 1110/1111, 1120/1121 (these courses are included in the University General Education Program requirements and must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in the following, credit hours not counted in 41-42 for the major), CHEM 3111, 3201/3211, 3301/3310,  3411, 3511/3501; PHYS 2110/2111, 2120/2121, or 2010/2011, 2020/2021.

2. Advanced requirements (14-15 hours)

Nine (9) upper division semester hours in chemistry lecture courses, two upper division chemistry laboratory courses and the undergraduate research course sequence CHEM 4901/4902/4903.

D. Electives

Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Chemistry Minor

Completion of 20 semester hours in chemistry courses, including CHEM 1110/1111, 1120/1121, the remaining semester hours must be selected form upper division chemistry courses and include at least two chemistry laboratory courses.

Typical 4-Year Chemistry (B.S.) Sequence, General Concentration

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

**Two of the following may be selected: MATH 1920, 2110, 4611, COMP 4001.

***With permission of the Chair of the Chemistry Department, PHYS 2010/2011 and 2020/2021may be substituted for this sequence.

Typical 4-Year Chemistry (B.S.) Sequence, Biochemistry Concentration

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Hours: 120

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

**Only one of BIOL 3130, BIOL 3500 or CHEM 4512 is required.

***With permission of the Chair of the Chemistry Department, PHYS 2010/2011 and 2020/2021may be substituted for this sequence.

Typical 4-Year Chemistry (B.S.Ch.) Sequence

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement
**MATH 2110, 2701, 4721, 4611 or 4635.
***With permission of the Chair of the Chemistry Department, PHYS 2010/2011 and 2020/2021may be substituted for this sequence.