Chemistry - BS
The BS program in Chemistry is arranged so that a student obtains a comprehensive, solid foundation in all of the major branches of chemistry, combined with a suitable measure of individual flexibility. The latter objective is met in part by a strong emphasis on involving the undergraduate BS chemistry major in exciting, innovative, state-of-the-art research programs. Most students in the BS program become involved in research during their junior year and continue this until graduation. Students frequently receive research scholarships and fellowships, which include opportunities for summer research programs. It is not uncommon for an undergraduate chemistry major to be a coauthor of scientific publications in major research journals before graduation.
Undergraduate chemistry research activities involve substantial use of modern scientific equipment, including major instrumentation. The student involved in this activity also gains considerable insight into the profession by means of substantial individual contact with chemistry department faculty.
The BS degree in Chemistry is the appropriate program for students planning advanced degree programs in chemistry, biochemistry, forensics, chemical physics and other fields. Students planning careers in chemical industry should also choose the BS degree in Chemistry. Students may wish to choose electives suggested in the biological or environmental chemistry tracks. This degree program satisfies fully the accreditation requirements of the American Chemical Society.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| CHEM 100 | Horizons in Chemistry | 1 |
| CHEM 119 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I 1 | 4 |
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| HIST 105 | History of the United States 2 | 3 |
| MATH 151 or MATH 171 | Engineering Mathematics I or Calculus I | 4 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 120 | Fundamentals of Chemistry II 1 | 4 |
| HIST 106 | History of the United States 2 | 3 |
| MATH 152 or MATH 172 | Engineering Mathematics II or Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 206 | Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science | 3 |
| PHYS 226 | Physics of Motion Laboratory for the Sciences | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 227 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 231 | Techniques of Organic Chemistry | 2 |
| PHYS 207 | Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science | 3 |
| PHYS 227 | Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory for the Sciences | 1 |
| Select one of the following | 4 | |
| Several Variable Calculus | ||
| Engineering Mathematics III | ||
| Engineering Mathematics III | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 228 | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 234 | Organic Synthesis and Analysis 3 | 3 |
| CHEM 362 | Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Principles of Statistics I | ||
| Select one of the following: 5 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 315 | Fundamentals of Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 318 | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 327 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 433 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 5 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 325 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 328 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| Select three of the following: 5 | 9 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 326 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHEM 415 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 491 | Research 6 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 7 | 3 | |
| Organic Chemistry III | ||
| Chemical Biology | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Nuclear Chemistry | ||
| Polymer Chemistry | ||
| Materials Chemistry of Inorganic Materials | ||
| Industrial Chemistry | ||
| Green Chemistry | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry I | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Modern Physics | ||
| Select two of the following: 5 | 6 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 434 | Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 481 | Seminar 3 | 2 |
| CHEM 491 | Research 6 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 7 | 3 | |
| Organic Chemistry III | ||
| Chemical Biology | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Nuclear Chemistry | ||
| Polymer Chemistry | ||
| Materials Chemistry of Inorganic Materials | ||
| Industrial Chemistry | ||
| Green Chemistry | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry I | ||
| Comprehensive Biochemistry II | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Modern Physics | ||
| Select two of the following: 5 | 5 | |
General elective | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Select a section designated for chemistry majors. |
| 2 | Students may substitute any 6 hours of American history courses approved by the University Core Curriculum to fulfill this requirement, but no more than 3 hours may be in Texas history. Students seeking teacher certification must take HIST 105 and HIST 106. |
| 3 | This is a designated C- or W-course. |
| 4 | Must be selected in consultation with an advisor. |
| 5 | These electives must include 12 hours of courses which meet the language, philosophy and culture (3 hours), creative arts (3 hours), social and behavioral science (3 hours) and communication (3 hours) requirements of the University Core Curriculum. In addition, 3 hours of courses must be in the area of International and Cultural Diversity and 3 hours must be in the area of Cultural Discourse. These may be in addition to the previous 12 hours of University Core Curriculum courses, or if a course in this category satisfies an area of the Core, it can be used to meet both requirements. Electives should be chosen in consultation with the chemistry advisor. Electives should be chosen in consultation with the chemistry advisor and should be selected to meet the residency requirement (36 hours at 300-400 level must be taken at TAMU). Electives recommended in the various track programs should be strongly considered. |
| 6 | The total hours of CHEM 485 and CHEM 491 taken by BS chemistry majors on a graded (A–F) basis may not exceed 15. Additional hours of these courses may be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. |
| 7 | Students wishing to complete an American Chemical Society certified degree program must take at least one semester of biochemistry (i.e., BICH 410 or BICH 440). |