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Chemistry Professors: Eberhart, Ruminski and Schoffstall
(Chair) Two programs (B.S. and B.A.) of study are open to students wishing to major in Chemistry. The program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is intended for those who plan to choose chemistry as a profession. This program should also be elected by students who plan to go on to graduate school in Chemistry. This program is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The Department of Chemistry at CU-Colorado Springs is one of 600 in the United States that is approved by the ACS. Many B.S. graduates gain employment as chemists upon completion of their B.S. degree program. Others go on to graduate studies. Students wishing a less comprehensive program in Chemistry, such as premedical students, should elect the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Chemistry. Judicious selection of additional courses permits the B.A. major to satisfy prerequisites for admission to graduate study in chemistry or related fields of study. There are five options for the B.A.: a general option, an environmental chemistry option, a biochemistry option, a pre-health professional option and a teacher education option. Students who are planning to complete a BA in Biology may complete a Biology/Chemistry double major. This chemistry program is available only to those who also complete the Biology major. Several chemistry courses are offered as a service to students majoring in other science fields and in social sciences and arts and humanities fields. CHEM 151 (Environmental Science) is a beginning- level course that has no chemistry prerequisites. CHEM 100 (Chemistry in the Modern World) is offered for non-science majors. CHEM 121 Introduction to Physical Science is an integrated science course with a focus on chemistry for non-science majors. CHEM 301 (Materials Science), and CHEM 385 (Chemical Origins of Life), are offered as elective courses for science majors. A degree option is available for secondary education teachers. Please contact the Student Success Center or the College of Education for further information concerning the education requirements for this option. Advising and Additional Departmental Rules Students majoring in Chemistry should keep a copy of the Department of Chemistry Advising Brochure that is in effect when they declare a major. This brochure will be referred to throughout the student’s career. Students are bound to the rules in effect when they first declare. This is important because the rules and course requirements may change somewhat from year to year. Chemistry majors should consult regularly with departmental faculty advisers, and in particular with the department chair, as outlined in the advising brochure. Academic advising is a very important aspect of one’s education. Decisions on application to medical schools and graduate schools and on employment are also critical. Students should consult faculty advisers when making these decisions. Students who complete a Chemistry degree may count 10 semester hours of PES 111, 112, 115, and 215 as part of their natural science area requirement. Since PES 111, 112, 115, and 215 are not on the approved list of courses, students not completing a Chemistry degree cannot count these courses toward their area requirement for a non-Chemistry Letters, Arts and Sciences degree. All students intending to elect CHEM 103 will complete a diagnostic examination to cover math skills. Students in many chemistry courses will be examined using standardized subject exams. Students who have not taken chemistry in high school should take CHEM 115. Bachelor of Science — Chemistry The B.S. in Chemistry is a professional degree program accredited by the American Chemical Society, designed to prepare the student for a career in chemistry, including 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 B.A. degree with a major in Chemistry.
The program features courses from each of the main areas of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, physical and biochemistry. Aspects of analytical and biological chemistry are introduced in General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. They are then treated in detail in advanced courses in analytical chemistry. Inorganic Chemistry is introduced in General Chemistry. A two-semester lecture-laboratory sequence in Inorganic Chemistry is taken by seniors after they have had Physical Chemistry. The inorganic courses are founded upon modern theories of bonding and orbital symmetry. Organic Chemistry is covered in a one-year sequence featuring a rigorous laboratory program where synthetic and spectroscopic methods are introduced. A comprehensive treatment of the principles of thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, kinetics, and spectroscopy is encompassed in the two-semester physical chemistry sequence. The B.S. 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 independent study projects involving laboratory work by their junior year. Suggested four-year sequences of courses are shown below. The courses required for the B.S. degree are implicit in this sequence. Students who have started their programs by taking CHEM 100 or 101, and who decide to major in Chemistry or another science, should take the CHEM 103-106 sequence. Students electing the B.S. degree who have taken CHEM 331, 332, 333, 334 before deciding to major in Chemistry should take two hours of credit in CHEM 940 (Independent Study) in organic chemistry or CHEM 338. Students are required to select three upper- division electives in chemistry. One may be CHEM 940-3
Freshman Year 10 CHEM 103, 106 (108 also recommended) 8 MATH 135, 136 6 ENGL 131, 141 (3) C S 101, 105, 106 or 107 (recommended) 4 BIOL 110, 111 3 Elective 31 Sophomore Year 6 CHEM 331, 332 4 CHEM 337, 338 10 PES 111, 112, 115, 215 4 (7) MATH 235, (340 recommended) 6 Electives 30 Junior Year 8 CHEM 451, 452, 455 9 CHEM 417, 418, 420 3 PES 213 3 CHEM 483 6 Electives 29 Senior Year 7 CHEM 401, 402 2 CHEM 495, 496 9 Chemistry electives (upper-division) 12 Electives 30 Total Hours 120 All chemistry core courses are offered every year. Not all chemistry elective courses are offered each year. Consult the Schedule of Courses for offerings available each semester. Bachelor of Arts — Chemistry This degree program is suitable for students wishing a major in Chemistry and is limited to fewer credit hours in chemistry, physics, and mathematics than the B.S. major. B.A. graduates may be students interested in a more general degree and others such as premedical or predental students, students having an interest in both biology and chemistry or chemistry and some other discipline, students who switch over to a Chemistry major during their third or fourth year of college careers, and students who are unsure of their goals early in college. Many B.A. students do choose to go on to graduate school in chemistry and prepare themselves by taking sufficient elective courses in chemistry and related disciplines in order to qualify for acceptance. Additional elective courses for B.A. Chemistry majors are CHEM 940-3 or other upper-division electives. The year-by-year curriculum for the general option is shown here. Degree Options General Option Freshman Year 10 CHEM 103, 106 (108 also recommended) 8 MATH 135, 136 6 ENGL 131, 141 6 Electives 30 Sophomore Year CHEM 331, 332 6 CHEM 337, 338 4 PES 111, 112 8 PES 115, 215 2 BIOL 110, 111 4 Electives 6 30 Junior Year 9 CHEM 417, 418, 420 7 CHEM 451, 452, 454 3 CHEM 483 12 Electives 31 Senior Year 3 CHEM 401 2 CHEM 495, 496 6 Chemistry electives (upper-division) 18 Electives 29 Total Hours 120 Environmental Chemistry Option This B.A. program is designed for those students having an interest in environmental processes and problem solving from a chemical perspective. Many environmental issues are multi-dimensional and require the application of chemical principles, processes, and techniques within other disciplines. The strength of this program option is the combination of chemical principles with those of other earth systems. This degree program will give the student a solid foundation in chemistry while pursuing a multi-disciplinary approach that includes coursework in Biology, Ecology, Geography, and Economics.
10 CHEM 103, 106 (108 also recommended) 8 MATH 135, 136 6 ENGL 131, 141 4 BIOL 110, 111 3 LAS area requirement 31 Sophomore Year 6 CHEM 331, 332 4 CHEM 337, 338 8 PES 111, 112 2 PES 115, 215 3 BIOL 370 4 GES 100 3 Elective 30 Junior Year 3 CHEM 341 4 CHEM 417 7 CHEM 451, 452, 454 3 CHEM 483 3 ECON 101 3 GES 441 6 Electives 29 Senior Year 2 CHEM 495, 496 3 CHEM 401 3 CHEM 418 2 CHEM 420 3 GES 450 or GES 451 3 Chemistry Elective 14 Electives 30 Total Hours 120 Biochemistry Option This B.A. program has been established particularly for those students having an interest in Biological Chemistry and Biochemistry. Biochemistry students really need a large part of two majors, one in Chemistry and one in Biology. The Biochemistry Option was designed to include as requirements those courses that are fundamental to the field of Biochemistry. The most important feature of the program is
that two semesters of Biochemistry are required as well as a biochemistry laboratory
course. Genetics and molecular genetics are also required. The program requires two
semesters of Physical Chemistry. CHEM 103, 106 (108 also recommended) 10 MATH 135, 136 8 BIOL 110, 111 4 ENGL 131, 141 6 Elective 3 31
Sophomore Year CHEM 331, 333 5 CHEM 332, 334 5 BIOL 302 3 PES 111, 112 8 PES 115, 215 2 Electives 6 29
Junior Year CHEM 417 4 CHEM 451, 452, 7 CHEM 481, 482 7 CHEM 455 or 486 2 or 3 Electives 9 30
Senior Year CHEM 495, 496 2 BIOL 383 3 Electives 19 CHEM Electives 6 30 Total Hours 120 Pre-Health Professional Option The B.A. degree in Chemistry with Pre-Health Option is designed for students who are interested in chemistry and who plan a career in a health-oriented profession such as medicine or dentistry. This option requires courses similar to those required by medical and dental schools. It requires 36 credit hours of chemistry. The degree program allows for 36 elective credit hours. Freshman Year CHEM 103, 106 (108 also recommended) 10 (11) MATH 135, 136 8 BIOL 110, 111, 115, 116 8 ENGL 131, 141 6 32
Sophomore Year CHEM 331, 332 and 333, 334, or 337, 338 10 ENGL 150 3 PES 101, 102, 115 or 111, 112, 115, 215 10 Elective or area requirements 6 29
Junior Year CHEM 417, 451, 452*, 483 13 Electives or area requirements 18 31
Senior Year CHEM 401 3 Electives or area requirements 25 28 Total Hours 120 *CHEM 454, 495, & 496 may be taken in lieu of CHEM 452. It is recommended that students take one or two chemistry elective courses or independent study in addition to the required courses, e.g., CHEM 418 and 420 or a chemistry elective course such as CHEM 301, 341 or 531, etc. Students who wish to work as chemists or to pursue graduate studies in chemistry should elect one of the other program options (either B.S. or B.A. in chemistry. Teacher Education Option The B.A. degree in Chemistry with Teacher Education Option is designed for students wishing to be high school chemistry teachers. This program has very specific requirements and no room for elective courses that will count towards graduation. It is important to consult with advisors for the Department of Chemistry and the College of Education. Freshman Year CHEM 103, 106 (108 also recommended) 10 (11) MATH 135 4 ENGL 131, 141 6 PHIL 100 or 102 3 Electives or area requirements 9 32
Sophomore Year CHEM 331, 332 and 333, 334 or 337, 338 10 BIOL 110, 151 6 PES 101, 102 or 111, 112 and 115 and 105 or 106 12 PSY 100 4 32
Junior Year CHEM 401, 417, 451, 454, 483, 495, 496 16 PES 215 1 GEOL 101 4 Humanities 300 level course 3 Electives or area requirements and an Education course 8 32
Senior Year Required education courses (Consult with the College of Education) 31 31 Total Hours 127 This curriculum allows for little flexibility for completion in 127 credit hours. However, it is recommended that students take one or two chemistry elective courses or independent study in addition to the required courses. Be aware that taking these additional courses will require more hours for graduation than 127 credit hours. Students who wish to work as chemists or to pursue graduate studies in chemistry should elect one of the other program options (either B.S. or B.A.) in chemistry. Biology/Chemistry Double Major This option provides for a major in chemistry for students who fulfill requirements for a B.A. in Biology. A student who completes all requirements for the B.A. in Biology at UCCS may also complete a B.A. in Chmeistry by finishing the following coursework with grades of C or better. Cross-listed courses may not be double counted towards both majors. Cross-listed courses to be used for the chemistry major must be selected as CHEM courses. Physical chemistry courses require MATH 136. List of courses: General Chemistry: Chem 103and 106 10 cr hrs Organic Chemistry: Chem 331, 332 and 333, 334 or 337, and 338 10 cr hrs Additional 400- 500- level Chemistry Courses (Select four from the following list.) Modern Inorganic Chemistry (Chem 401) 12-14 cr hrs Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (Chem 402) Analytical Chemistry I (Chem 417) Physical Chemistry I (Chem 451)-Math 136 is a prerequisite for this course. Physical Chemistry II (Chem 452)-Math 136 is a prerequisite for this course. A 400- or 500- level Chemistry elective course. *General Biochemistry I (Chem 481) *General Biochemistry II (Chem 482) *Biochemistry Principles (Chem 483) *Molecular Genetics (Chem 484) *Biochemistry Laboratory (Chem 486) Total chemistry credit hours 32-34 cr hrs *These courses may be selected if the courses were not taken as Biology courses counting towards the major in Biology. Note: Students electing the combination of Chem 417, 451 and 452 may select Physical Chemistry Laboratory (Chem 455-2) as a fourth course. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Materials Science (CHEM 301) is offered in alternate years. Honors Program In addition to the normal undergraduate curriculum in chemistry, the department offers interested and qualified undergraduates an opportunity to increase further the breadth and depth of their chemical training through the Departmental Honors Program. Prior to or during the first semester of the junior year, interested students should contact any chemistry faculty member regarding the prospect of departmental honors work. Graduation with departmental honors requires students to have achieved at least a 3.4 grade point average, and to carry out an independent study project, which is to be reported in both written and verbal forms (seminar). Minor in Chemistry A student may complete a Minor in Chemistry by finishing the following coursework with grades of C or better: one year of General Chemistry (CHEM 103 and 106), one year of Organic Chemistry (the sequence CHEM 331, 332, 333, 334, or the sequence CHEM 335, 336, 337, 338), and two courses selected from Modern Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 401), Analytical Chemistry I (CHEM 417), Physical Chemistry I (CHEM 451) and Biochemistry. Chemistry 330 does not satisfy any portion of the required one year of the Organic Chemistry sequence. Students should familiarize themselves with the prerequisite requirements for these courses. Undergraduate Research All chemistry majors are strongly encouraged
to enroll for independent study and to become engaged in one or more research experiences.
Numerous opportunities for summer research with stipends exist at many neighboring
universities and sometimes at CU-Colorado Springs. Many students start on their Breakage Deposit/Usage Fee There is a total charge of $25 for each laboratory course: one course, $25; two courses, $50; etc. $20 of the $25 charge is a fee and $5 is a deposit against breakage. If breakage charges do not exceed the breakage deposit, any balance up to $5 will be refunded at the end of the term. Students who drop or withdraw before any liability accrues against this deposit will receive a $5 refund at the time they drop. The policy for fee refunds for dropping or withdrawing is described in the General Information Section. Independent study courses are considered to be lab courses. Graduate Studies in Chemistry Master of Basic Science Students wishing to do most or all of their graduate work at CU-Colorado Springs, as well as those students wanting a general science master’s program, can choose to work toward the M.B.S. degree, which is described at the end of the Letters, Arts and Sciences section in this Bulletin. Professor Schoffstall is the Chemistry Option advisor. Several chemistry courses are not offered every year. Check the Schedule of Courses for offerings available each semester. |