Program Description
The BS in chemistry is a professional degree program accredited by the American Chemical Society, designed to prepare the student for a career in chemistry; this includes those anticipating admission to graduate study in chemistry. The program is not intended as a preparation for the study of medicine. Premedical students who wish to major in chemistry should elect the chemistry BA Pre-Health Professional option.
The BS in chemistry requires more breadth and depth in chemistry, mathematics, and physics than the BA in chemistry. Students desiring a BS in chemistry are typically planning graduate studies in chemistry and/or careers as professional chemists in industry, private laboratories, and government agencies.
The program features courses from each of the main areas of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, physical and biochemistry. Aspects of all these areas are introduced in general chemistry and they are then treated in detail in year-long advanced courses.
Organic chemistry features a rigorous program where synthetic, mechanistic, and spectroscopic methods are introduced. A comprehensive treatment of the principles of thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, kinetics, and spectroscopy is encompassed in the physical chemistry sequence. The principles of quantitative analysis, analytical separations, and instrumental methods are covered in analytical chemistry. The sequence in inorganic chemistry focuses on modern theories of bonding and orbital symmetry.
The BS in chemistry program requires a strong preparation in mathematics through calculus and three semesters of physics.
Students wishing to pursue graduate study in chemistry should select research projects involving laboratory work by their junior year.
Learning Outcomes, Chemistry, BS
- Have knowledge of general organic, analytical, physical and inorganic areas of chemistry and biochemistry, and an integrated overview of chemistry
- Have knowledge of additional areas of biology, mathematics, physics, and technology and be able to manipulate experimental data and understand the derivation of fundamental relationships
- Be able to communicate effectively about the field of chemistry
Chemistry BS, Curricular Program
A suggested four-year sequence of courses is shown below. The courses required for the BS degree are implicit in this sequence. Students who have started their programs by taking CHEM 1000 or 1010, and who decide on the BS major in chemistry, should take the CHEM 1030-1060 sequence. Students who have taken CHEM 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340 before deciding on the BS degree in chemistry should take CHEM 3380 or two hours of credit in CHEM 4990 Chemistry Research - Undergraduate in organic chemistry.
Students are required to select three upper-division electives in chemistry. Two may be CHEM 4990.
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