College of Science and Health > Academics > Chemistry and Biochemistry > Undergraduate > Chemistry (BS) > Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Common Core

All students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in chemistry must complete a common core of courses in the department. These courses are consistent with the requirements of all degree programs accredited by the American Chemical Society. The courses in the common core consist of:

Introductory Courses

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Select one of the following:		4-6
CHE 130 & CHE 131	GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
CHE 120 & CHE 131	GENERAL CHEMISTRY IP and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
Select one of the following:		4-6
CHE 132 & CHE 133	GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
CHE 122 & CHE 133	GENERAL CHEMISTRY IIP and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
CHE 134 & CHE 135	GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III	4

The department occasionally offers General Chemistry in the summer. In this case, the combination of CHE 136/CHE 137 and CHE 138/CHE 139 may substitute for the three-quarter sequences above.

Foundation Courses

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
CHE 204 & CHE 205	ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY	4
CHE 230 & CHE 231	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I	4
CHE 232 & CHE 233	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II	4
CHE 234 & CHE 235	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY III and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III	4
CHE 261	INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS (lecture and lab)	4
CHE 300	THERMODYNAMICS AND INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS	4
CHE 320 & CHE 321	INTERMEDIATE INORGANIC CHEMISTRY and INTERMEDIATE INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY	4
CHE 340 & CHE 341	BIOCHEMISTRY I and EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY I	4

In-Depth Courses

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
CHE 302	QUANTUM CHEMISTRY	3-4
CHE 315	PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LAB	4
Select 16 credit hours from any of CHE 250 through CHE 399, excluding CHE 346. One of these courses must have a lab component or be a research course (CHE 392, CHE 397, or CHE 398).		16

Calculus

One year of calculus is required to earn a baccalaureate degree in chemistry. This may be accomplished by completing any one of the following five course sequences offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences:

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Sequence One
MAT 147	CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS I	6
MAT 148	CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS II	6
MAT 149	CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS III	6
Sequence Two
MAT 150	CALCULUS I	4
MAT 151	CALCULUS II	4
MAT 152	CALCULUS III	4
Sequence Three
MAT 160	CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS I	5
MAT 161	CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS II	5
MAT 162	CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS III	5
Sequence Four
MAT 170	CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES I	5
MAT 171	CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES II	5
MAT 172	CALCULUS III WITH DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS	5
Sequence Five
MAT 155	SUMMER CALCULUS I	6
MAT 156	SUMMER CALCULUS II	6

Students interested in earning credit for multi-variable calculus should not take the MAT 170/MAT 171/MAT 172 sequence. Business calculus cannot be substituted for any of the sequences above.

Physics

One year of calculus-based physics is required to earn a baccalaureate in chemistry. This may be accomplished by completing the following three-course sequence offered by the Department of Physics:

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PHY 170	UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I	4
PHY 171	UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II	4
PHY 172	UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III	4

Non-calculus-based physics cannot be used to meet the requirements of the common core unless previously approved by the departmental Exceptions Committee or academic advisor.

Departmental Program Requirements

The following enrollment-related policies are fully enforced by the Department of Chemistry

All students enrolling in the first course of a General Chemistry sequence must independently meet a minimum mathematics requirement. See the course descriptions for General Chemistry for up-to-date information.
All prerequisite chemistry courses must be completed with a C- or better. Students not meeting this requirement may be removed from course rosters before the start of an academic session. This requirement may be waived only with departmental consent.
The department offers lower-level sequences several times each academic year. Due to potentially small class sizes, upper-level courses are typically scheduled every other year. Students should consult with their faculty academic advisor to develop a program they can complete in a timely fashion.

Sequencing and Prerequisites

Students should begin their General Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus sequences in their freshman year, provided they have an adequate mathematics background. The Organic Chemistry sequence and Analytical Chemistry should be taken in the sophomore year. Students not yet prepared for calculus should take the prerequisite courses in the first year and take Calculus and General Physics one year later than suggested above. Advanced courses in Chemistry may be taken as soon as students have met the appropriate prerequisites.

Since the Undergraduate Common Core in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics is particularly demanding in the first two years, students take the majority of their Liberal Studies courses in their junior and senior years. This is necessary so that students have the necessary prerequisites for advanced courses.

Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited. No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.

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Undergraduate

Major Requirements