Departments & Programs
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
IU Indianapolis
Science Building, LD 326
402 N. Blackford Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3274
Phone: (317) 274-6872, fax: (317) 274-4701
Web: click here
Department Chair: Partha Basu, Ph.D.
Department Advisors:
- Undergraduate Program Advisor: School of Science Advising Group
- Graduate Programs: Jingzhi Pu, Ph.D.
Chemistry is the science that studies substances, both natural and synthetic, and their compositions, properties, transformations, and interactions with external forces.
The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology offers the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (B.S.) degree with a chemistry option, a biochemistry option, and a medicinal chemistry option and the Master of Science (M.S.) degree. All degrees carry the general requirements of the School of Science, which are described elsewhere in this bulletin. An undergraduate minor in chemistry is also offered. The Bachelor of Science degree carries certification by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Professional Training. The Master of Science degree has both a thesis and nonthesis option. An Industrial Co-op Program is also offered for the Master of Science degree. Qualified students may be authorized to pursue the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in chemistry in the areas of analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry. Contact the Department for details or visit the Web site here.
To enter the undergraduate curriculum in chemistry, a student should have completed a minimum of two years of algebra, one semester of trigonometry, one year each of chemistry and physics, and two years of a modern foreign language. The choice of a particular degree program in chemistry and the selection of courses for that degree must be made in consultation with a departmental advisor.
Courses for Nonmajors
Students in programs that require only one semester of chemistry should take CHEM-C 100, CHEM-C 101, or CHEM-C 110, depending on their specific degree program. CHEM-C 100 and CHEM-C 110 are both nonmathematical introductions to chemistry, while CHEM-C 101 requires one semester of high school algebra. Students in programs that require two semesters of chemistry take either CHEM-C 101 / CHEM-C 121 with CHEM-C 110 / CHEM-C 115 or the CHEM-C 105 / CHEM-C 125 with CHEM-C 106 / CHEM-C 126 sequence. (See specific program for degree major.) The CHEM-C 105 / CHEM-C 125 with CHEM-C 106 / CHEM-C 126 sequence is designed for students pursuing advanced work in scientific fields (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, medicine, and physics). Students with an insufficient background in high school chemistry for CHEM-C 105 should take CHEM-C 101 as a preparatory course. Credit for CHEM-C 101 cannot count toward the total credit hours needed for graduation if either of the following courses is taken: CHEM-C 105 or CHEM-C 106. Completion of CHEM-C 101 does not qualify a student for admission to CHEM-C 106.
Academic Advising in Chemistry
Academic success requires frequent and regular interaction between students and faculty in the classroom as well as outside it. In keeping with this departmental philosophy, chemistry majors are required to meet with their advisor at least once a year, preferably in the first half of the fall semester. Students who do not meet with their advisor by October 21 will not be permitted to register for the following spring semester until their advisor approves their registration.
Course Prerequisites
The Department enforces all prerequisites for chemistry courses as indicated in the course listing of this bulletin. For course equivalency of prerequisites, consult the instructor.
- Bachelor of Arts Preprofessional Chemistry Major
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Professional Chemistry Major, A.C.S. Certified
- Graduate Programs (M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees)
- Minor
