The Bachelor of Arts program, through the availability of a generous number of electives, gives the student a firm and broadly-based foundation in chemistry, with the option of pursuing other educational objectives involving specialization in at least one other field in depth. This objective is accomplished by means of the BA program flexibility and by the inclusion of a minor area of study in another discipline. Additional elective hours allow further diversification.
The BA degree offers somewhat more flexibility than the BS program, in terms of tailoring a program of study that combines chemistry with an interest in subject areas such as biochemistry, biology, business, computer science, education, forensics, medicine or physics. Although the BA program may in any specific case turn out to be a somewhat less technical curriculum, it meets the needs of many students who plan to use chemistry as a springboard to a career in chemical sales, marketing, law, technical writing, teaching at a pre-college level, science journalism, etc., to name only a few possibilities.
A BA degree in Chemistry coupled with a minor in Biology, or completion of a biological chemistry track, is excellent preparation for a variety of careers in the health-related disciplines. In particular, a BA degree in Chemistry is excellent and proven preparation for medical and dental schools, and affords the superior student the opportunity to maintain flexibility for a broad spectrum of medical or dental careers.
Although not required for the BA program, abundant research opportunities are available to students. The BA program also permits and encourages non-technical elective courses.
Plan of Study Grid Course | Title |
---|
First Year |
Fall |
CHEM 100 | Horizons in Chemistry | 1 |
CHEM 119 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I 1 | 4 |
ENGL 104
| Composition and Rhetoric
or Technical and Professional Writing | 3 |
MATH 151
| Engineering Mathematics I
or Calculus I | 4 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
CHEM 120 | Fundamentals of Chemistry II 1 | 4 |
MATH 152
| Engineering Mathematics II
or Calculus II | 4 |
| 3 |
2 | 4 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Second Year |
Fall |
CHEM 227 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 3 |
CHEM 231 | Techniques of Organic Chemistry | 2 |
PHYS 206 | Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science | 3 |
PHYS 226 | Physics of Motion Laboratory for the Sciences | 1 |
POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
CHEM 228 | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3 |
CHEM 234 | Organic Synthesis and Analysis 3 | 3 |
PHYS 207 | Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science | 3 |
PHYS 227 | Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory for the Sciences | 1 |
POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Third Year |
Fall |
CHEM 315 | Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
CHEM 318 | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 327 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| 3 |
2 | 6 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Spring |
CHEM 325 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
CHEM 328 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| 3 |
2 | 9 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Fourth Year |
Fall |
CHEM 326 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
CHEM 481 | Seminar 3 | 2 |
| 3 |
| Comprehensive Biochemistry I | |
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | |
| Biochemistry I | |
| Biochemistry II | |
| Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry | |
| Analytical Chemistry | |
| Organic Chemistry III | |
| Chemical Biology | |
| Inorganic Chemistry | |
| Nuclear Chemistry | |
| Polymer Chemistry | |
| Materials Chemistry of Inorganic Materials | |
| Industrial Chemistry | |
| Green Chemistry | |
| Special Topics in... | |
| Modern Physics | |
2 | 9 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
| 3 |
| Comprehensive Biochemistry I | |
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | |
| Biochemistry I | |
| Biochemistry II | |
| Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry | |
| Analytical Chemistry | |
| Organic Chemistry III | |
| Chemical Biology | |
| Inorganic Chemistry | |
| Nuclear Chemistry | |
| Polymer Chemistry | |
| Industrial Chemistry | |
| Materials Chemistry of Inorganic Materials | |
| Green Chemistry | |
| Special Topics in... | |
| Modern Physics | |
2 | 9 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 12 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
Graduation requirements include a requirement for 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a Core category, a college/department requirement, or a general elective can be used to satisfy this requirement.
Chemistry majors may take
CHEM 485 or CHEM 491 as elective courses. The total hours of CHEM 485 and CHEM 491 taken on a graded (A-F) basis may not exceed 9. Additional hours of these courses may be taken on an S/U basis. A maximum of 6 hours of these courses may be included on the degree plan.
Electives should be chosen in consultation with the chemistry advisor and should be selected to meet the residency requirement.