Chemistry, Polymer Option, BS

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Polymer Option 

More on the Chemistry, Polymer Option major

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. This BS degree offered by the department provides a great way to study polymers as an undergraduate with the opportunity to perform individual research with Akron's renowned Polymer Science faculty. 

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.

Requirements

Summary

General Education Requirements36
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements8
Chemistry Requirements38
Polymer Requirements9
Physics Requirements 8
Mathematics Requirements15
Additional Credits for Graduation *6
Total Hours120
*

Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

General Education Requirements

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 Foundations12
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 Learning1-3
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
General Education Elective 14-2
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36
1

Credits may be selected from any approved General Education course not already accounted for. 

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements

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 Proficiency8
101 Beginning I
102 Beginning II
SLPA 222
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 Requirements 1

CHEM 151Principles of Chemistry I3
CHEM 152Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory1
CHEM 153Principles of Chemistry II3
CHEM 154Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory2
CHEM 263Organic Chemistry Lecture I3
CHEM 264Organic Chemistry Lecture II3
CHEM 265Organic Chemistry Laboratory I2
CHEM 266Organic Chemistry Laboratory II2
CHEM 313Physical Chemistry Lecture I3
CHEM 314Physical Chemistry Lecture II3
CHEM 380Advanced Chemistry Laboratory I2
CHEM 381Advanced Chemistry Laboratory II2
CHEM 423Analytical Chemistry I3
CHEM 424Analytical Chemistry II3
CHEM 472Advanced Inorganic Chemistry3
Total Hours38
1

If a grade of less than C- is earned in a required chemistry course, the student must successfully repeat that course within a year.

Polymer Requirements

PLYS 403Polymer Chemistry3
PLYS 404Polymer Physics3
or PLYS 405 Polymer Science Laboratory
CHEM 499Research Problems in Chemistry1-9
or PLYS 499 Research Problems in Polymer Science
Total Hours7-15

Physics Requirements

PHYS 291Elementary Classical Physics I4
PHYS 292Elementary Classical Physics II4
Total Hours8

Mathematics Requirements

MATH 221Analytic Geometry-Calculus I4
MATH 222Analytic Geometry-Calculus II4
MATH 223Analytic Geometry-Calculus III4
MATH 335Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations3
Total Hours15

Recommended Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
Writing Requirement 3
CHEM 151 Principles of Chemistry I 3
CHEM 152 Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory 1
MATH 221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I 4
Select one of the following: 3-4
Beginning Language I  
SLPA 101 American Sign Language I 1  
 Hours14-15
Spring Semester
Writing Requirement 3
CHEM 153 Principles of Chemistry II 3
CHEM 154 Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory 2
MATH 222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II 4
Select one of the following: 3-4
Beginning Language II  
SLPA 102 American Sign Language II 1  
 Hours15-16
2nd Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 263 Organic Chemistry Lecture I 3
CHEM 265 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2
MATH 223 Analytic Geometry-Calculus III 4
PHYS 291 Elementary Classical Physics I 4
General Elective 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
CHEM 264 Organic Chemistry Lecture II 3
CHEM 266 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2
PHYS 292 Elementary Classical Physics II 4
Speaking Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15
3rd Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 313 Physical Chemistry Lecture I 3
CHEM 380 Advanced Chemistry Laboratory I 2
CHEM 423 Analytical Chemistry I 3
MATH 335 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 3
Social Science Requirement 1 3
Humanities Requirement 1 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
CHEM 424 Analytical Chemistry II 3
CHEM 314 Physical Chemistry Lecture II 3
CHEM 381 Advanced Chemistry Laboratory II 2
Social Science Requirement 1 3
Arts Requirement 1 3
 Hours14
4th Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 472 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3
PLYS 403 Polymer Chemistry 3 3
Arts/Humanities Requirement 1 3
Complex Issues Requirement 1,2 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Global Perspectives Requirement 1,2 3
US Perspectives Requirement 1,2 3
General Elective 3
Select one of the following: 3
PLYS 404 Polymer Physics 3  
PLYS 405 Polymer Science Laboratory 3  
Select one of the following: 3
PLYS 499 Research Problems in Polymer Science 3  
CHEM 499 Research Problems in Chemistry  
 Hours15
 Total Hours121-123
1

These courses fulfill General Education requirements. Unless a course is specified, refer to the General Education guide at https://bulletin.uakron.edu/undergraduate/general-education/. It is recommended that General Education courses be selected to satisfy major or minor requirements, or to double dip between multiple tiers (i.e. Chemistry majors are encouraged to take SOCIO 100 Introduction to Sociology and/or SOWK 244/344 Death and Dying to satisfy the US Perspectives Requirement, as well as part of the Social Science Requirement).

2

If requirement has been satisfied by previous coursework, credits should still be filled as general electives.

3

Classes are part of an in-progress curriculum change and are what students should take moving forward based on availability.