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Chemistry Department

Description of Major

Either of two core sequences leads toward a degree in Chemistry.

Fall: First Year		Spring: First Year
Chem 103	General Chemistry Lecture	Chem 206	Organic Chemistry Lecture
Chem 151	General Chemistry Lab	Chem 252	Organic Lab
Fall: Second Year		Spring: Second Year
Chem 209 - OR - Chem 307	Organic Chemistry Lecture	Chem 305 - OR - Chem 308	General Chem Lecture
Chem 353	Organic Lab	Chem 354 - OR - Chem 356	General Chem Lab
Fall: Third Year		Spring: Third Year
Chem 309	Instrumental Analysis Lecture and Lab	Chem 320	Introduction to Research
Chem 301	Physical Chem	Chem 302	Physical Chem
Chem 391	Physical Chem Lab	Chem 392	Physical Chem Lab

Core Sequence A (Chem 209, 305) is recommended for students expecting to major in Chemistry. The first two years of Core Sequence B (Chem 307, 308) are the recommended and required courses for Biology majors. Students requiring one year of General Chemistry (such as Geology majors) should enroll in Chemistry 103 and Chemistry 308 along with the appropriate laboratory courses.

The minimum number of semester credits required for a major in Chemistry is 38. The 9 semester credits not included in the core sequences above are to be selected from the advanced Chemistry elective courses 401-406, 408, 411-412, 414-415, 456, 457.

Students wishing to fulfill the College GER and laboratory course requirement are encouraged to enroll in Chemistry 101 and 149. Chemistry 101 may also be taken without the 149 lab.

NOTE: Preference for enrollment in the lab courses Chemistry 151, 252, 353 and 354 will be given to students concurrently enrolled in the appropriate lecture courses.

Chemistry 101, 149, 150, 191, 291, 409, 410, 495 and 496 may not be included in the minimum 38 credits required for a major. No more than six semester credits in Chemistry 409, 495 and 496 may be applied toward a degree. Students may not obtain credit for both Chemistry 305 and Chemistry 335.

In a typical program majors will have completed Chemistry 103 and the sequence Chemistry 206 -209 - 305 or 206 - 307 - 308 plus Mathematics 111, 112 and 212 and Physics 101-102 before enrolling for Chemistry 301 in their junior year. The laboratory courses Chemistry 151, 252, 353, 354, 391 and 392 are taken concurrently with the appropriate lecture courses. Computer Science 141 is a valuable course in the general education of a chemist, and is strongly recommended; Mathematics 211 will also be valuable for many students.

Note: Most Chemistry majors choose to enhance their degrees with the American Chemical Society certification, which the department is authorized to award (see below).

The major writing requirement in the Department of Chemistry consists of two parts to be accomplished during the junior and senior years:

1. Majors in Chemistry will be required to enroll in Chemistry 320, Introduction to Chemical Research, normally during their junior year.
2. All majors are required to write a paper on which a grade of C or better is earned. This medium length paper (approximately 2000 words) will be required as part of one 400-level elective course in the student's program. Many students choose to apply the research report from Chemistry 409 or 496 toward this requirement.

Description of Minor

A minor in Chemistry requires the following 21 semester credits: Chemistry 103, 151, 206, 252, 209 or 307, one of 305, 335 or 308 , 353, 354 or 356, 301 or 341, and either 309 or one additional 400 level course.  A declaration of intent to minor form is available in the department office.

American Chemical Society Certification

The department is listed among those accredited by the American Chemical Society. Four tracks leading to certification are currently available:

1. A student may earn an ACS chemistry track certified degree by taking the courses required for a Chemistry major, including Chemistry 414 and one of the following: Chemistry 409 (3 or more credits) or 495-6.
2. A student may earn an ACS polymer track certified degree by taking the courses required for a Chemistry major, including Chemistry 411 and Chemistry 412 , polymer laboratory Chemistry 421 , and one of the following: Chemistry 409 (3 or more credits) or 495-6.
3. A student may earn an ACS biochemistry track certified degree by taking the courses required for a Chemistry major, including Chemistry 415 , biochemistry laboratory Chemistry 420, and one of the following: Chemistry 409 (3 or more credits) or 495-6 .  Bio 203, Bio 204 and one course selected from Bio 401, 402, 406, 420, 442 are also required for this track.
4. A student may earn an ACS chemical physics track certified degree by taking the courses required for a Chemistry major, including Chemistry 401, Chemistry 414,  Physics 201 (Modern), Physics 208 (Classical), one advanced Math or Physics elective, and one of the following:Chemistry 409 (3 or more credits) or 495-6. (please note that one additional physics course could provide the student with a minor in physics.)  As of this writing, very few schools in the country offer this opportunity.

Details for all tracks are specified in the department guidebook.