School of Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Chemistry centers on a traditional core that includes organic, analytical, inorganic and physical chemistry; biochemistry, and mathematics. This degree is perfectly suited for students planning on going to post-baccalaureate professional schools (graduate school, medical school, dental school, law school, etc.), for those wishing to work in an industrial or governmental laboratory setting, and for students wishing to teach chemistry in middle- and high school. Because good scientists also need to be exposed to other fields of knowledge–to the arts, the social sciences, and humanities, taking general education courses is part of the degree requirements. Students earning Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry may also select from the Chemical Biology track or the Environmental Chemistry and Sustainability track. While both tracks require a minimum of 120 credit hours and the same general education requirements, the required courses in the major vary. Students should work closely with an academic advisor to ensure that their curriculum will meet the necessary requirements to facilitate entry into their desired post-baccalaureate program or to reinforce their career goals.

Degree Requirements (General Chemistry Track):
  1. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
  2. Entering freshmen must take SSCI-E 105 Science Freshmen Learning Community (1 cr.).
  3. General Education. Students must complete all of the requirements of the School of Sciences general education curriculum.
  4. Mathematics. Students must takes MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.), MATH-M 119/120 Brief Survey of Calculus I and II (6 cr.), or MATH-M 215/216 Calculus I and II (10 cr.).
  5. A student must complete a total of 30 credit hours in 300–400-level courses within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Sciences, although credits may come from both schools.
  6. Chemistry Courses (all with grades of C- or higher)—Students must complete CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I, CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II, CHEM-C 125 Experimental Chemistry I, CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II, CHEM-C 210/211 Introduction to Quantitative Analytical Chemistry with Lab (5 cr.); CHEM-C 310 Analytical Chemistry, CHEM-C 311 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II, CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM-C 344 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory, CHEM-C 361 Physical Chemistry I, a 300-/400-level chemistry elective (3 cr.), and CHEM-C 495 Capstone in Chemistry. In addition, students must take BIOL-L 105 Introduction to Biology (5 cr.). The list of recommended chemistry electives (minimum 3 cr.) includes CHEM-C 362, CHEM-C 351, CHEM-C 430, CHEM-C 483, CHEM-C 409, CHEM-C 443, and CHEM-C 400.
  7. Physics Courses (10 credit hours)—Students must complete either PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.), and PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.), or PHYS-P 221 General Physics I (5 cr.) and PHYS-P 222 General Physics-II (5 cr.).

Degree Requirements (Chemical Biology Track):
  1. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
  2. Entering freshmen must take SSCI-E 105 Science Freshmen Learning Community (1 cr.).
  3. General Education. Students must complete all of the requirements of the School of Arts and Sciences general education curriculum.
  4. Mathematics and Informatics. Students must takes MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.), MATH-M 215 Calculus I (5 cr.), and INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (4 cr.).
  5. A student must complete a total of 30 credit hours in 300–400-level courses within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Sciences, although credits may come from both schools.
  6. Chemistry Courses (32 credits, all with grades of C- or higher) - Students must complete CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I, CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II, CHEM C-125 Experimental Chemistry I, CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II, CHEM-C 310 Analytical Chemistry, CHEM-C 311 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II, CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM-C 344 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory, CHEM-C 361 Physical Chemistry I, CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry, CHEM-C 495 Capstone in Chemistry.
  7. Biology Courses (18-20 credit hours, all with grades of C- or higher) - Students must complete the following courses: BIOL-L 105 Introduction to Biology, BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology, BIOL-L 213 Molecular Biology Laboratory (or BIOL-L 364 Principles of Genetics), BIOL-L 367 Cell Physiology, MICR-M 310 Microbiology, and MICR-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory
  8. Physics Courses (10 credit hours)—Students must complete either PHYS-P 201 General Physics I, and PHYS-P 202 General Physics II, or PHYS-P 221 General Physics I and PHYS-P 222 General Physics II.
  9. Chemical Biology Electives (minimum of 9 credits, all with grades of C- or higher) - INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics, CHEM-C 351 Green Chemistry and Sustainability Science, ZOOL-Z 315 Developmental Anatomy, BIOL-L 473 Ecology, BIOL-L 474 Ecology Laboratory, CHEM-C 430 Inorganic Chemistry, PHSL-P 416 Comparative Animal Physiology, PHSL-P 418 Comparative Animal Physiology Laboratory, CHEM C-300 Energy and Green Chemistry, A Natural Science Perspective, CHEM-C 409 Independent Research (or BIOL-L 490 Individual Study – Biology Research), CHEM-C 443 Organic Spectroscopy.

Degree Requirements (Environmental Chemistry & Sustainability Track):
  1. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
  2. Entering freshmen must take SSCI-E 105 Science Freshmen Learning Community (1 cr.).
  3. General Education. Students must complete all of the requirements of the School of Arts and Sciences general education curriculum.
  4. Mathematics and Informatics. Students must takes MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.), MATH-M 215 Calculus I (5 cr.), and INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (4 cr.). CSCI-C 106 (3 cr.) can replace INFO-I 101.
  5. Arts and Sciences - Students must complete at least 30 credit hours in 300-400-level.
  6. Chemistry Courses (35-40 credits, all with grades of C- or higher)—Students must complete CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I (3 cr.), CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II (3 cr.), CHEM-C 125 Experimental Chemistry I (2 cr.), CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.), CHEM-C 310 Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.), CHEM-C 311 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (2 cr.), CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.), CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.), CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2 cr.), CHEM-C 344 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (2 cr.), CHEM-C 361 Physical Chemistry I (3 cr.), CHEM-C 351 Green Chemistry and Sustainability Science (or CHEM-C 300 Energy and Green Chemistry – A Natural Science Perspective 4 cr.), and CHEM-C 495 Capstone in Chemistry (1-3 cr.).
  7. Biology Courses (10 credit hours, with a grade of C- or higher)—Students must complete the following course” BIOL-L 105 Introduction to Biology (5 cr.), BIOL-L 473 Ecology (3 cr.), BIOL-L 474 Ecology Laboratory (2 cr.).
  8. Geology Courses (14 credit hours, all with grades of C- or higher) —Students must complete GEOL-G 100 General Geology (5 cr.), GEOL-G 300 Environmental and Urban Geology (3 cr.), GEOL-G 315 Environmental Conservation (3 cr.), and GEOL-G 400 Energy Sources and Needs 3 cr. (or PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics).
  9. Physics Courses (10 credit hours)—Students must complete either PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.), and PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.), or PHYS-P 221 General Physics I (5 cr.) and PHYS-P 222 General Physics II (5 cr.).

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