Chemistry Major

The degree program in chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society. Students with this degree have entered graduate or professional programs in medicine, dentistry, chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, wood products chemistry, genetic counseling, materials science, chemical life sciences, and others. Graduates have embarked on professional careers in industries related to health care, clinical analysis, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, biotechnology, nutrition, and biochemical informatics, to name a few.

Our students benefit from the department’s dedication to its mission and from the capstone experience that initiates with a seminar course in which students develop a research plan designed to tackle a modern problem in chemistry or biochemistry. In subsequent quarters, students address questions raised in their plan by performing research in collaboration with a faculty mentor or with one of several local companies. The experience culminates with a seminar course in which written and oral presentations of the research are shared by all.

Requirements

In order to earn the bachelor of science in chemistry degree, students must complete a minimum of 180 quarter credits with a cumulative and major/department grade point average of 2.00, including the following:

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

ENGL 110 - College Writing: Inquiry and Argument 5
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Philosophy and Critical Thinking 5
ENGL 120 - Introduction to Literature 5
Fine Arts (one approved 5 credit course; see course descriptions ) (5)
PHIL 220 - Philosophy of the Human Person 5
Social Science I (5)
Social Science II (different discipline from Social Science I) (5)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase II (200-299) (see course offerings ) (5)
Ethics (upper division) (5)
Theology and Religious Studies Phase III (300-399) (see course offerings ) (5)
Interdisciplinary (3 to 5)
Senior Synthesis (CHEM 488 , CHEM 489 , and CHEM 499 required) (*3 to 5)

Choose one of the following two courses:

NOTE:

*Major requirement.

II. Major Requirements

60 credits in chemistry, including:

III. Other Major Department Requirements

NOTE:

1. For the American Chemical Society certified degree option, the 6-credit elective, above under II, must be replaced by CHEM 415 , CHEM 425 , CHEM 454 , CHEM 464 , and three additional credits of approved advanced work in chemistry (CHEM 499 is acceptable here). 2. For students planning graduate work, any of the courses, MATH 233 , MATH 234 , or CHEM 415 , CHEM 425 , CHEM 436 , CHEM 454 , CHEM 455 , CHEM 456 , CHEM 464 , and CHEM 465 are strongly recommended as electives. 3. The senior synthesis core requirement for the bachelor of science degree in chemistry is CHEM 488 , CHEM 489 and 1 to 3 credits of CHEM 499 .