Chemistry Major Requirements
Chemistry and Biochemistry Course Descriptions
Chemistry Class Listing
Chemistry Yearly Course Planner
Chemistry
PROFESSOR Curran, Chairman;
PROFESSORS BOBKO (EMERITUS), DEPHILLIPS, HEEREN (EMERITUS), HENDERSON, MOYER, and PRIGODICH;
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS CHURCH,* MITZEL,** AND PARR
INSTRUCTORS MORRISON and NESTOR
Chemistry is an interdisciplinary subject which deals with the composition, properties
and interactions of substances. It employs techniques from mathematics and physics
and has applications in all of the sciences and in engineering. The discipline is
typically viewed as having five major areas: analytical, biological, inorganic,
organic, and physical. The chemistry major is structured to provide a balanced presentation
of these areas. Students with special interest in biological chemistry should also
consider the Biochemistry major.
A Chemistry major can lead to a variety of careers besides chemical research. These
include the health professions, teaching, law, business, and management. A Chemistry
major is also an excellent preparation for a number of interdisciplinary areas including
biochemistry, pharmacology, material science, nutrition and food chemistry, neuroscience,
toxicology, forensic science, and art conservation.
Because of the structure of the Chemistry curriculum, anyone interested in pursuing the
study of Chemistry, whether for a major or otherwise, should contact a department faculty
member as soon as possible. The faculty member will aid in planning a schedule of courses
that will permit the most direct and complete fulfillment of the intended goal.
The following one semester courses are required for the Chemistry major: Chemistry 208L,
211L, 212L, 309L, 310, 312L, 313, 314L, and one 400-level chemistry course; Physics 102L or
231L; Mathematics 132. A grade of at least C- must be obtained in all required courses. The
Senior Exercise for the Chemistry major is Chemistry 309L.
The major as outlined above covers four of the five principal divisions of Chemistry.
The Chemistry Department, however, strongly urges those students who wish to prepare
for graduate study in Chemistry to take at least two 400-level Chemistry courses. Students who
wish to be certified by the American Chemical Society must complete two 400-level courses.
These courses must be Chemistry 404-Biological Chemistry and Chemistry 425 (minimum 1.0
credit). Since many graduate schools require that degree candidates demonstrate a reading
knowledge of at least one foreign language, the Chemistry Deaprtment also urges these majors to
take appropriate courses to acquire such proficiency.
Those students undertaking off-campus programs of study who wish to have a course or courses
counted toward partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Chemistry major must present
in writing a complete description of such courses for prior approval by the Chair of the
Department. If approved, credit will be granted only after a satisfactory demonstration of
completed work has been presented to the Chair of the Department. This must include a certified
transcript from the institution.
Advanced Placement - Students who have secured an advanced placement grade in Chemistry of 4 or
5 may receive 1 credit (This course credit may not be counted toward the Chemistry major.).
Teaching Assistantships - Students wishing to serve as Teaching Assistants for chemistry courses
must complete the appropriate form available from the registrar. All Teaching Assistantships will
be graded on the Pass/Low Pass/Fail basis.
Honors - Honors will be awarded to students with a B+ average (3.33 or better) in all courses
required for the major. A student must also complete at least one course credit of laboratory
research (Chemistry 425) approved by the Chemistry Department and earn a grade of at least B+.
Senior Thesis - A Senior Thesis requires a substantial amount of laboratory work. Students
contemplating writing a thesis should therefore consult with their research advisors in their junior
year. A Chemistry Department Thesis Application Form (available from the Chemistry Secretary) must be
submitted to the Chair of the Department by the fifth Monday of the fall semester of their senior year.
Chemistry faculty members will evaluate applications. Students whose thesis applications are approved will
enroll in Chemistry 499-Senior Thesis for 1.0 credit in the spring semester of their senior year and
participate in the departmental seminar series.
*On Leave, Fall Term
**On Leave, Spring Term