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 arts degree with a major in chemistry, 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 (*3 to 5)

Choose one of the following two courses:

NOTE:

*Major requirement.

The senior synthesis core requirement for the bachelor of arts degree with a chemistry major is CHEM 488 , CHEM 489 and 1 to 3 credits of CHEM 499 or 1 credit of CHEM 490 .

II. Major Program Requirements

47 credits in chemistry, including:

Choose 10 credits from among the following electives:

CHEM 260 - Laboratory Safety 2
CHEM 360 - Physical Chemistry I 3
CHEM 362 - Physical Chemistry III 3
CHEM 372 - Physical Chemistry Laboratory II 2
CHEM 415 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3
CHEM 425 - Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory 2
CHEM 426 - Instrumental Analysis 5
CHEM 436 - Advanced Organic Chemistry 3
CHEM 454 - Biochemistry I 3
CHEM 455 - Biochemistry II 2
CHEM 456 - Biochemistry III 3
CHEM 464 - Biochemistry Lab I 2
CHEM 465 - Biochemistry Lab II 1
CHEM 499 - Undergraduate Research 1 to 6
and special topics or independent study courses.

Chemistry Major

Requirements

I. Core Curriculum Requirements

Choose one of the following two courses:

NOTE:

II. Major Program Requirements

Choose 10 credits from among the following electives:

III. Other Major Department Requirements

Choose a physics series:

Series a:

Series b: