Bachelor of Science with a Major in Chemistry

This degree is appropriate for students who plan to enter health profession schools; find jobs in chemical industry in sales, information services, management, or personnel; or work chemically related areas. The four-year outline shown below shows the 52 credit hours of courses required for the degree. The courses are listed in the years that most students take the courses, but in this degree program students often take some of the courses at other times.

Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Freshman Year

An introduction to chemistry for the science major. First semester topics include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, calculations involving chemical concentrations, gas laws and bonding. Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry of permission. 3 credits.
A continuation of first semester. Topics include kinetics, acids and bases, equilibrium, oxidation- reduction chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry and nuclear chemistry. Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry or permission. 3 credits.
Helps the student find his or her own voice within the demands and expectations of public expression. Both courses emphasize the development of clear, organized and rhetorically effective written prose. 3 credits.
Helps the student find his or her own voice within the demands and expectations of public expression. Emphasizes the development of clear, organized and rhetorically effective written prose. This course also emphasizes speaking, reading and research skills. Prerequisite: ENG 111 or permission of chairperson. 3 credits.
A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications. Prerequisite: placement testing or MAS 102. MAS 161 is a prerequisite for MAS 162. 3 credits per semester.
Second semester of a calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and infinite sets. Prerequisite: MAS 161. 3 credits.
† indicates a required course

Sophomore Year

An introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. Prerequisite: CHM 112. 3 credits.
A continuation of the first semester. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic systhesis. Prerequisite: CHM 112. 3 credits.
An introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Prerequisite or corequisite:CHM 114 and CHM 213. 1 credit.
A continuation from CHM 215. Introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHM 214. 1 credit.
The application of elementary principles of chemistry to provide a basis for understanding the physical and chemical properties of the elements. Topics include periodicity, acidity or basicity of metal cations and oxoanions, precipitation reactions, oxidation-reduction chemistry, and the structures of solids.
Students will be exposed to a number of advanced synthetic methods including inert atmosphere manipulations, high vacuum and temperature dehydrations, mixed solvent crystalizations, and photochemical transformations .
An introductory course in classical physics, designed for students who desire a rigorous mathematical approach to college physics. Calculus is used throughout. The first semester is devoted to mechanics and heat with laboratory work in each area. Prerequisite: MAS 111 or 161. 4 credits.
Second semester of Principles of Physics. An introductory course in classical physics, designed for students who desire a rigorous mathematical approach to college physics. Calculus is used throughout. The second semester is devoted to electricity, magnetism and optics with laboratory work in each area. Prerequisite or corequisite: MAS 111 or 161. 4 credits.
† indicates a required course

Junior Year

The study of thermodynamic laws and functions, including phase and reaction equilibria. Systems under study include ideal and real gases, ideal and non-ideal solutions, and multi-component phase transitions. Also included are electrochemistry, kinetic and transport processes, and surfaces. Prereqisite: CHM 112, MAS 162, and PHY 104 or 112. 3 credits.
The study of chemical systems from a molecular perspective. Basic concepts of quantum chemistry and statistical theory applied to atomic and molecular structure. Prerequisite: CHM 311. 3 credits.
Application of chemical instrumentation to a study of the principles of physical chemistry. Experimental work involves calorimetry, refractometry, conductivity, viscometry and atomic absorption, FTIR, UV-VIS, and NMR spectroscopy applied to the study of phase and reaction equilibria, kinetics, and atomic and molecular structure. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 311. Writing process. 1 credit.
Application of chemical instrumentation to a study of the principles of physical chemistry. Experimental work involves calorimetry, refractometry, conductivity, viscometry and atomic absorption, FTIR, UV-VIS, and NMR spectroscopy applied to the study of phase and reaction equilibria, kinetics, and atomic and molecular structure. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 312. Writing process. 1 credit.
† indicates a required course

Senior Year

Topics for this course include statistical methods; activity and activity coefficients; chemical equilibria involving complex systems; volumetric analyses including acid/base, precipitation, redox, and compleximetric tritrations; principles of electrochemistry, potentiometry, alectrogravimetry, coulometry, and voltametry.
Basic types of chemical instrumentation and their applications in analytical chemistry are examined. These include gas and liquid chromatography; infrared, UV-VIS, fluorescence, atomic absorption, and plasma emission spectrophotometry; nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry; and radiochemical methods. Prerequisite: CHM 112 and MAS 161. 3 credits.
Volumetric, spectrophotometric, and electrochemical methods are applied to the analysis of unknowns.
Chemical instrumentation is utilized in analytical method development and analysis.
† indicates a required course