Chemistry (B.S.)

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Student Learning Outcomes for Chemistry:

Students will be able to:

Explain fundamental chemistry concepts.
Communicate chemical knowledge.
Research a chemical problem or concept.
Design, execute, and interpret experiments to solve chemical problems.
Draw connections to other fields of study.
Work as a member of a team.
Envision and pursue multiple paths for purposeful life work.

The Chemistry major offers five concentrations: the American Chemical Society Approved Professional Chemistry curriculum, the Secondary Education Certification , the Chemistry Management curriculum, the Chemical Physics curriculum, and the Forensic Science curriculum.

All Chemistry majors must take:

American Chemical Society (ACS) concentration

The American Chemical Society (ACS) concentration prepares the student for graduate school or for a career in industrial or government laboratories. The ACS-approved curriculum requires:

Two courses from among:

Four credits from among:

Chemistry Management option

The Chemistry Management option is preparation for sales or management positions in chemical and related industries. The chemistry management curriculum requires:

Chemical Physics curriculum

The Chemical Physics curriculum is a foundation for work at the interface between chemistry and physics. This curriculum requires:

At least three courses (8 credits) from among:

CH 402 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CH 414 - Advanced Instrumental Analysis
CH 421 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
MA 201 - Linear Algebra
MA 321 - Differential Equations
MA 351 - Theory of Probability
MA 425 - Complex Variables
Approved 300- or 400-level Physics courses

At least four credits from among:

Forensic Science curriculum

The Forensic Science curriculum introduces students to the field of forensic science, preparing them for graduate school or for a career in the laboratory. The track provides a solid background in chemistry, along with some additional courses that would be of benefit for someone interested in pursuing a career in forensic science. The Forensic Science curriculum requires:

Four internship credits or four research credits from among:

Suggested first year courses:

Fall semester:

BIO 111 - Molecules, Cells, and Animal Systems (not required for Chemical Physics track)
CH 105 - NPS Fundamentals of Chemistry: Introduction to Molecular Science
MA 121 - MA Calculus I

Spring semester:

Notes:

These courses begin a highly structured program coordinated among several departments, and if not completed in the first year, lead to delayed graduation or extraordinary difficulties for subsequent advisors.

There is a strong correlation between students’ performance on the math portion of the SAT/ACT and CH 105, likely a result of quantitative thinking and analytical reasoning skills. To promote student success, when a student has very poor entrance exam scores, it may be advisable to delay BIO 111 rather than enrolling the student in both CH 105 and BIO 111 during the first semester. These students are encouraged to meet with the department chair to discuss a modified four-year plan.

Math placement will be determined by the Mathematical Sciences department. For the Chemical Physics track, competency must be through the MA 222 level. For the other tracks, competency must be through the MA 122 level. MA 121 is a necessary prerequisite for PHY 200 in the fall semester of the sophomore year. If a student places into MA 101, it is the department’s strong recommendation that he/she enroll in MA 101 only and not MA 101 and MA 121.

EC 101 is a requirement for students pursuing the chemistry management option.

If not completed in the fall, EN 100 must be completed during the spring semester.

A grade of C- or better must be earned in CH 105 in order to advance to CH 113

Students planning to apply to medical school should plan on taking BIO 112. The recommendation is to take it during the second semester of the first year.