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Department of Chemistry

B.S. Degree

The ACS accredited B.S. Degree is designed for students wishing to pursue careers in roles as professional chemists or to attend graduate schools in a chemical science. The B.S. degree requires a minimum of 58 credit hours in chemistry. No more than 60 credit hours in chemistry may be counted in the 120 credit hours required for the B.S. degree. The following courses are required for a B.S. degree with a major in chemistry.

Cr Hrs Total
Core Courses 33
Humanities and Social Science area requirements 24
English 131 and 141 6
Elective
 3
Mathematics and Science Core Courses 29
Mathematics: MATH 135, 136, 235 (and 340 recommended) 12
Physics: PES 111, 112, 116, 213, and 216 13
Computer Science (one of the following courses recommended): CS 101, 105, 106, or 107
Biology: BIOL 121 4
Chemistry Courses 58
General Chemistry: CHEM 103 and 106
  • CHEM 101 and 102 cannot be substituted for these requirements. Students are encouraged to take CHEM 108, Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory Research, along with CHEM 106.
 10
Organic Chemistry: CHEM 331, 332, 337, and 338
  • B.S. Chemistry majors who have earned credits for CHEM 331, 332, 333, and 334 must take CHEM 338 or CHEM 940.
 10
Inorganic Chemistry: CHEM 401 and 402 7
Analytical Chemistry: CHEM 417, 418, and 420 9
Physical Chemistry: CHEM 451, 452, and 455 8
Biochemistry: CHEM 483 3
Seminar: CHEM 495 and 496 2
Chemistry Electives
  • Students are required to select three upper-division electives in chemistry. Up to six credit hours may be CHEM 940-Independent Study*.

    *Independent Study is open to qualified students by arrangement with a full-time faculty member (variable credit hours). Students electing Independent Study should prepare in advance before registering for the course, and a project should be planned with a research advisor. Students applying Independent Study credit hours toward a degree must submit a written report for each semester summarizing their research project.

 9
Total Credit Hours 120

Four-Year Program for B.S. Chemistry Majors

Freshman Year
CHEM 103, 106 (108 recommended)
MATH 135, 136
CS 101, 105, 106, or 107
     (recommended, but not required)
BIOL 121
ENGL 131, 141 and Elective
Total Hours		 Cr Hrs
10(11)
8
(3)

4
 9 
31		 Junior Year
CHEM 417, 418, 420
CHEM 451, 452, 455
PES 213, 216
CHEM 483
Electives or area requirements
Total Hours		 Cr Hrs
9
8
4
3
 6 
30
Sophomore Year
CHEM 331, 332, 337, 338
MATH 235
     (340 recommended but not required)
PES 111, 112, 116
Electives or area requirements
Total Hours		 Cr Hrs
10
4
(3)
9
 6 
29		 Senior Year
CHEM 401, 402, 495, 496
CHEM Electives
Electives or area requirements
Total Hours		 Cr Hrs
9
9
 12 
30
Total Credit Hours 120