Chemistry, American Chemical Society Certified, B.S.

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The ACS certified BS in Chemistry is recommended for those intending to pursue graduate work in chemistry or those who wish to pursue interdisciplinary study and obtain a degree certified by a professional organization (e.g., environmental chemistry, biochemistry or chemical physics).

Program Learning Outcomes

1) Students will demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts in chemistry and its subdisciplines, including physical, organic, inorganic, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry.
2) Students will demonstrate the ability to design, carry out, and interpret the results of an experiment in two subdisciplines of chemistry, including the determination and reporting of experimental uncertainties.
3) Students will demonstrate the ability to design and carry out a synthetic scheme including the full structural characterization of the products.
4) Students will demonstrate the ability to clearly communicate (both orally and written) the results of an experiment including the use modern library searching and retrieval methods to obtain information about a topic, chemical, chemical technique, or an issue relating to chemistry.
5) Students will demonstrate that they know and can follow the proper procedures and regulations for safe handling, use, and disposal of chemicals.

General Education Requirements (30-46 Credits)

Prerequisite coursework may be required to satisfy certain General Education courses and will count as elective credit.

Total Credits Required to Complete Major: 55-68

Basic Requirements: (49-52 Credits)

CHEM 203 - N/Principles of Chemistry I Credit(s): 4
(CHEM 116 , CHEM 118 accepted with B average plus C average in MATH 221 & MATH 222 ).
CHEM 204 - Principles of Chemistry II Credit(s): 2
(CHEM 116 , CHEM 118 accepted with B average plus C average in MATH 221 & MATH 222 ).
CHEM 119 - N/Introductory Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 2
CHEM 209 - Intermediate Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
CHEM 223 - Principles of Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 2 (CHEM 211 , CHEM 213 accepted with B average in all chemistry courses)
CHEM 224 - Principles of Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 4 (CHEM 211 , CHEM 213 accepted with B average in all chemistry courses)
CHEM 216 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
CHEM 300 - Principles of Biochemistry Credit(s): 3 or
CHEM 302 - Biochemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 301 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2 **
CHEM 313 - Laboratory Techniques in Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 2 **
CHEM 320 - Physical Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 322 - Physical Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 330 - Inorganic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 331 - Laboratory Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry Credit(s): 2
CHEM 340 - Modern Analytical Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 342 - Modern Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2 **
CHEM 351 - Current Topics in Chemistry Credit(s): 1
CHEM 352 - Chemistry Senior Seminar Credit(s): 1
CHEM 361 - Modern Physical Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
CHEM 399 - Directed Study Credit(s): 1-3

Two advanced courses from the following list:

CHEM 304 - Biochemistry II Credit(s): 3 *
CHEM 305 - Topics in Anticancer Therapeutic Biochemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 315 - Bioorganic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 318 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 329 - Topics in Physical Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 334 - Bioinorganic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 338 - Inorganic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 339 - Solid State Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 341 - Modern Analytical Methods Credit(s): 3
CHEM 393 - Honors Research Credit(s): 4
CHEM 401 - Senior Capstone Research Course Credit(s): 3
BIOL 300 - Cell Biology Credit(s): 3
PHYS 344 - Statistical Thermodynamics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 352 - Quantum Mechanics I Credit(s): 3

Footnotes

*CHEM 304 cannot be taken if CHEM 300 is taken

**Directed Study which involves a minimum of 4 laboratory contact hours per week and a comprehensive written report, may replace one of the following laboratory courses with permission. CHEM 301 - Biochemistry Laboratory , CHEM 313 - Laboratory Techniques in Organic Chemistry I , CHEM 342 - Modern Analytical Chemistry Laboratory or CHEM 361 - Modern Physical Chemistry Laboratory .

Related Requirements: (16 Credits)

Physics (8 Credit Hours)

PHYS 123 - Analytical Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 114 - N/Physics I Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 125 - N/Analytical Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 116 - N/Physics II Lab Credit(s): 1

Mathematics (8 Credit Hours)

MATH 221 - R/Calculus I Credit(s): 4
MATH 222 - Calculus II Credit(s): 4

Outline/Advising Guide

First Year

Fall (17 Credit Hours)

CHEM 203 - N/Principles of Chemistry I Credit(s): 4
CHEM 119 - N/Introductory Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 2
MATH 221 - R/Calculus I Credit(s): 4
INTD 105 - Writing Seminar: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
INTD 106 - Conventions of College Writing Credit(s): 1
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3

Spring (16 Credit Hours)

CHEM 204 - Principles of Chemistry II Credit(s): 2
CHEM 223 - Principles of Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 2
CHEM 209 - Intermediate Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
MATH 222 - Calculus II Credit(s): 4
F/ Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3

Second Year

Fall (16 Credit Hours)

CHEM 224 - Principles of Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 4
CHEM 216 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
PHYS 123 - Analytical Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 114 - N/Physics I Lab Credit(s): 1
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3
S/U/ Credit(s): 3

Spring (16 Credit Hours)

CHEM 313 - Laboratory Techniques in Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 2
HUMN 220 - W/H/Western Humanities I Credit(s): 4 or
HUMN 221 - W/H/Western Humanities II Credit(s): 4
PHYS 125 - N/Analytical Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 116 - N/Physics II Lab Credit(s): 1
F/ Credit(s): 3
S/ Credit(s): 3

Third Year

Fall (14 Credit Hours)

CHEM 320 - Physical Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 340 - Modern Analytical Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHEM 342 - Modern Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
M/ Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Spring (14 Credit Hours)

CHEM 322 - Physical Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 330 - Inorganic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 331 - Laboratory Techniques in Inorganic Chemistry Credit(s): 2
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Fourth Year

Fall (12 Credit Hours)

CHEM 351 - Current Topics in Chemistry Credit(s): 1
CHEM 301 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
CHEM 300 - Principles of Biochemistry Credit(s): 3 or
CHEM 302 - Biochemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM Elective * Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Spring (15 Credit Hours)

CHEM 361 - Modern Physical Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 2
CHEM 352 - Chemistry Senior Seminar Credit(s): 1
CHEM Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3

Total Credit Hours: 120

*Choose two advanced courses from the following list of electives: CHEM 304 , CHEM 305 , CHEM 315 , CHEM 318 , CHEM 329 , CHEM 334 , CHEM 338 , CHEM 339 , CHEM 341 , BIOL 393 , CHEM 401 or BIOL 300 ; and PHYS 344 and PHYS 352 to meet the degree requirements. CHEM 399 - Directed Study which involves a minimum of 4 laboratory contact hours per week and a comprehensive written report, may replace one of the following laboratory courses with prior permission. CHEM 301 - Biochemistry Laboratory , CHEM 313 - Laboratory Techniques in Organic Chemistry I , CHEM 342 - Modern Analytical Chemistry Laboratory or CHEM 361 - Modern Physical Chemistry Laboratory . Students must complete a waiver form and complete a comprehensive lab report in the format for an ACS research report https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/about/governance/committees/training/acsapproved/degreeprogram/preparing-a-research-report.pdf. Students interested in chemical physics are advised to take PHYS 344 and PHYS 352 . Students interested in environmental chemistry should consider CHEM 341 and CHEM 304 or CHEM 315 . Chemistry and other electives should be chosen in consultation with your academic advisor.

Note: Where no prerequisites apply, some variation in the order or semester in which courses are taken is possible. Students should consult their academic advisors for additional information.