B.S. in Chemistry

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree is an intensive and comprehensive undergraduate program with course work, laboratory experience and research requirements that prepares students for advanced degrees in the chemical and biochemical sciences and future careers in academia and industry.

The curriculum offers thorough fundamental knowledge of the major fields of chemistry, covering the areas of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, and specialized courses including polymers, spectroscopy, crystallography, and advanced organic and physical chemistry. Students gain laboratory experience in inorganic and organic synthesis, analytical methods, and biochemistry.

See the suggested course sequence below.

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Program Information

The B.S. in Chemistry is an intensive and comprehensive undergraduate program with course work, laboratory experience and research requirements that prepares students for advanced degrees in the sciences and for careers in allied health professions.

Program Type

Major

Degree

Bachelor's

Duration

4-year

Required Credit Hours

121

Suggested Course Sequence

Please note: Various courses are offered each semester to satisfy the University BRDG requirements. BRDG courses can be taken in any sequence throughout the undergraduate curriculum. All prerequisites must be met with a C or higher.

Fall Semester
  • CHEM 151 Atomic & Molec Principles (4 credits)
  • CHEM 151L Intro to Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
  • BIOL 111 / 111L Biology I / Lab (4 credits)
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis (3 credits)
  • MATH 115 Calculus I (4 credits)
  • CHEM 153 Career Op in Chem and Biochem I (1 credit)

Spring Semester
  • CHEM 152 Quantitative Analysis (4 credits)
  • CHEM 152L Quantitative Analysis Lab (1 credit)
  • BIOL 112 / 112L Biology II / Lab (4 credits)
  • BRDG 102 Writing and Literature (3 credits)
  • MATH 116 Calculus II (4 credits)
  • BRDG 100 Research & Info Skills (1 credit)
Fall Semester
  • CHEM 228 Structure, Mech & React (4 credits)
  • CHEM 228L Org Struct & Properties Lab (1 credit)
  • PHYS 211/R Gen Analy Phys I/Rec (3 credits)
  • PHYS 211L GAP I Lab (1 credit)
  • MATH 215 Calculus III (4 credits)
  • EQ xxx Essential Questions Seminar (3 credits)

Spring Semester
  • CHEM 229 Reacts, Synths & Spectroscopy (4 credits)
  • CHEM 229L Organic Synthesis Lab (1 credit)
  • PHYS 212/R Gen Analy Phys II/Rec (3 credits)
  • PHYS 212L GAP II Lab  (1 credit)
  • ENGL 302W Scientific Writing (3 credits)
  • CHEM 154 Career Op in Chem and Biochem II (1 credit)
Fall Semester
  • CHEM 328 Quantum Chemistry (3 credits)
  • CHEM 340 Instrumental Analysis (3 credits)
  • CHEM 419 Adv Biochemistry I (3 credits)
  • CHEM 305L/R Adv Lab Skills/R (1 credit)
  • General Elective (3 credits)
  • Bridges Course - Critical Think & Prob Solv (3 credits)

Spring Semester
  • CHEM 329 Thermodynamics (3 credits)
  • CHEM 312 Inorganic Chemistry I (3 credits)
  • Chem Elective (3 credits)
  • SPRG 108 Service Learning in Science (0/1 credits)
  • Bridges Course - Cultural Fluency (3 credits)
  • General Elective (Theology) (3 credits)
  • CHEM 155 Career Op in Chem and Biochem III (1 credit)
Fall Semester
  • CHEM 426L/R Adv Exp Tech/Applct (4 credits)
  • Chem/Biochem/Math Elective (3 credits)
  • Chem/Biochem/Math Elective (3 credits)
  • Bridges Course - Ethical Reasoning (3 credits)

Spring Semester
  • Chem/Biochem/Math Elective (3 credits)
  • General Elective (Philosophy) (3 credits)
  • Bridges Course - Social & Hist Reasoning (3 credits)
  • Bridges Course - Cultural Fluency (3 credits)
  • CHEM _______ Capstone (CHEM 488 or 499/H) (1 credit)

Please note: Students who wish to earn an ACS-certified degree in Chemistry must take CHEM 528 Polymer Science, as well as one semester of CHEM 490W Undergraduate Research.

Elective Offerings

Students must take four advanced electives. At least two of these electives must be chemistry or biochemistry electives. The remaining two electives may be chemistry, biochemistry, or math electives from the approved lists.

  • CHEM 412 Inorganic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 452 Environmental Chemistry
  • CHEM 508 Biomolecular Structure and Function
  • CHEM 503 Advanced Organic Chemistry
  • CHEM 519 Dynamics, Kinetics, Spectroscopy
  • CHEM 528 Polymer Chemistry
  • CHEM 540 Molecular Visualization and Mechanisms
  • CHEM 547 Reaction Mechanisms
  • CHEM 549 Single Crystal X-ray Crystallography
  • CHEM 565 Advanced Instrumental Analysis
  • CHEM 566 Mass Spectrometry Instrumental Analysis
  • CHEM 567 Statistical Thermodynamics
  • CHEM 590 Green Chemistry
  • CHEM 598 Special Topics
  • CHEM 436 Advanced Biochemistry II
  • CHEM 508 Biomolecular Structure and Function
  • CHEM 527 Biophysical & Biochem Char of Macro
  • CHEM 529 Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanisms
  • CHEM 541 Structural Proteomics
  • CHEM 543 Protein Nucleic Acid Interactions
  • MATH 310 Linear Algebra
  • MATH 314 Differential Equations
  • MATH 335 Biostatistics Il