Chemistry, BS
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Program Description
Chemistry is an experimental science that seeks to understand the structure and function of molecules. Chemists synthesize new materials and study their properties and how they interact with other compounds. The BS degree in chemistry offered by the department prepares students for independent laboratory work and research as well as professional careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, polymers, and the chemical industry.
Admission, Retention and Graduation
The student must maintain a minimum 2.00 grade point average The student must obtain a grade of C- or better in all required chemistry courses
The following information has official approval of The Department of Chemistry and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 36 | |
| College of Arts & Sciences Requirements | 8 | |
| Chemistry Core Requirements | 38 | |
| Physics Requirements | 8 | |
| Mathematics Requirements | 8 | |
| Upper Level Chemistry Electives * | 7-3 | |
| Additional Credits for Graduation or Biochemistry Concentration * | 15-19 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- *
Students choosing to complete the Biochemistry Concentration will complete the 19 credits listed below. Four of the 19 credits will apply to both the Upper Level Chemistry Electives as well as the Biochemistry Concentration. Students choosing to not complete the Biochemistry Concentration will need an additional 15 credits to graduation. All programs require a minimum of 120 credits for graduation.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework | ||
| Breadth of Perspectives courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 19 | |
Arts: 3 credit hours | ||
Humanities: 3 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Perspectives | ||
U.S. Perspectives | ||
Global Perspectives | ||
Civic Literacy | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 1-3 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
| General Education Elective 1 | 4-2 | |
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
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Credits may be selected from any approved General Education course not already accounted for.
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree requirements for this Bachelor of Science in Arts & Sciences include the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the first year of a foreign language. | ||
| 1 Year Language Proficiency | 8 | |
101 Beginning I | ||
102 Beginning II | ||
| Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only) | ||
| Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops | ||
Chemistry Core Requirements 1
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 154 | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 263 | Organic Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
| CHEM 264 | Organic Chemistry Lecture II | 3 |
| CHEM 265 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 266 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEM 313 & CHEM 314 | Physical Chemistry Lecture I and Physical Chemistry Lecture II 2 | 4-6 |
| or CHEM 305 | Physical Chemistry for the Biological Sciences | |
| CHEM 370 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 380 | Advanced Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 381 | Advanced Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEM 401 | Biochemistry Lecture I | 3 |
| CHEM 423 | Analytical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 424 | Analytical Chemistry II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 38-40 | |
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If a grade of less than C- is earned in a required chemistry course, the student must repeat that course and earn a grade of C- or higher within a year.
- 2
CHEM 305 may be taken in place of the listed CHEM 313/314 to meet the Physical Chemistry requirement for the B.S. in Chemistry.
Physics Requirements1
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one pairing: | 8 | |
| PHYS 291 & PHYS 292 | Elementary Classical Physics I and Elementary Classical Physics II | |
| PHYS 261 & PHYS 262 | College Physics I and College Physics II | |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
- 1
These courses are acceptable for 300/400 level credit.
Mathematics Requirements1
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
| Total Hours | 8 | |
- 1
These courses are acceptable for 300/400 level credit.
Upper Level Chemistry Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least seven credits of the following: | 7 | |
| CHEM 301 | Undergraduate Chemistry Seminar | |
| CHEM 399 | Internship in Chemistry 1 | |
| CHEM 402 | Biochemistry Lecture II | |
| CHEM 410 | Special Readings in Analytical Chemistry | |
| CHEM 411 | Special Readings in Inorganic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 412 | Special Readings in Organic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 413 | Special Readings in Physical Chemistry | |
| CHEM 415 | Special Readings in Biochemistry | |
| CHEM 463 | Advanced Organic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 472 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 497 | Honors Project in Chemistry 2 | |
| CHEM 499 | Research Problems in Chemistry 2 | |
| PLYS 403 | Polymer Chemistry | |
| PLYS 404 | Polymer Physics | |
| Total Hours | 7 | |
- 1
May be repeated for a total of six credits.
- 2
May be repeated for a total of eight credits.
Biochemistry Concentration (optional)1
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least nineteen units of the following: | 19 | |
| BIOL 111 | Principles of Biology I | |
| BIOL 112 | Principles of Biology II | |
| BIOL 211 | General Genetics | |
| BIOL 311 | Cell & Molecular Biology | |
| BIOL 331 | Microbiology | |
| BIOL 363 | Foundations of Physiology I | |
| BIOL 401 | Human Anatomy | |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
- 1
4 credit hours from BIOL 3XX/4XX in the Biochemistry Concentration can count toward Upper Level Chemistry Electives.
Recommended Sequence
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| CHEM 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 149 | Precalculus Mathematics | 4 |
| Elective 1 | 4 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| CHEM 153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 154 | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | 4 |
| Elective 2 | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 263 | Organic Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
| CHEM 265 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| MATH 222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 291 | Elementary Classical Physics I | 4 |
| Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 264 | Organic Chemistry Lecture II | 3 |
| CHEM 266 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| PHYS 292 | Elementary Classical Physics II | 4 |
| Civic Literacy Requirement 7 | 3 | |
| Speaking Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 305 | Physical Chemistry for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| CHEM 380 | Advanced Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 401 | Biochemistry Lecture I | 3 |
| CHEM 423 | Analytical Chemistry I | 3 |
| Elective 4 | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 424 | Analytical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 370 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 381 | Advanced Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| Arts Requirement 7 | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement 7 | 3 | |
| US Perspectives Requirement 7,8 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 472 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| Upper Level Chemistry Electives 5, 6 | 4 | |
| Humanities Requirement 7 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4-3 | |
| Beginning Language I | ||
| American Sign Language I | ||
| Hours | 14-13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Upper Level Chemistry Electives 6 | 3 | |
| Complex Issues Requirement 7,8 | 3 | |
| Global Perspectives Requirement 7,8 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Beginning Language II | ||
| American Sign Language II | ||
| Hours | 12-13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Students in the Biochemistry concentration should take BIOL 111 Principles of Biology I.
- 2
Students in the Biochemistry concentration should take BIOL 112 Principles of Biology II.
- 3
Students in the Biochemistry concentration should take BIOL 211 General Genetics.
- 4
Students in the Biochemistry concentration should take BIOL 311 Cell & Molecular Biology.
- 5
4 credit hours from BIOL 311 Cell & Molecular Biology, BIOL 331 Microbiology, BIOL 363 Foundations of Physiology I, and BIOL 401 Human Anatomy are acceptable for Upper Level Chemistry course requirements.
- 6
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry must take at least 7 credits to fulfill the Upper Level Chemistry course requirements from: CHEM 399 Internship in Chemistry, CHEM 402 Biochemistry Lecture II, CHEM 410 Special Readings in Analytical Chemistry, CHEM 411 Special Readings in Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 412 Special Readings in Organic Chemistry, CHEM 413 Special Readings in Physical Chemistry, CHEM 415 Special Readings in Biochemistry, CHEM 463 Advanced Organic Chemistry,CHEM 472 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 497 Honors Project in Chemistry, CHEM 499 Research Problems in Chemistry, PLYS 403 Polymer Chemistry, PLYS 404 Polymer Physics
- 7
These courses fulfill General Education requirements. Unless a course is specified, refer to the General Education guide. It is recommended that General Education courses be selected to satisfy major or minor requirements, or to double dip between Breadth of Knowledge or Breadth of Perspectives (i.e. Chemistry majors are encouraged to take SOCIO 100 Introduction to Sociology to satisfy the U.S. Perspectives Requirement, as well as part of the Social Science Requirement).
- 8
If requirement has been satisfied by previous coursework, credits should still be filled as general electives.