Academic Catalog 2025–2026

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Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Mission

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program aims to inspire discovery and innovation while providing a solid understanding of chemistry principles. Our curriculum combines theoretical learning with practical laboratory experience, preparing students to address real-world challenges in science and industry. We encourage teamwork across disciplines and promote scientific inquiry with a focus on sustainability. By fostering critical and creative thinking, we prepare graduates to be leaders in chemistry and make a positive impact on society. The program aligns perfectly with the university’s mission, reflecting a strong commitment to academic excellence while embracing the rich tradition of liberal arts education.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry shall be able to:

  1. Critically assess chemical concepts to solve problems associated with the various disciplines of chemistry,
  2. Implement research methods while abiding by high ethical and safety standards as individuals or as part of a team, and
  3. Prepare graduates for employment and graduate studies.

Student Outcomes

Upon completion of the B.S. in Chemistry, students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a solid foundation of analytical, organic, inorganic and physical chemistry.
  2. Analyze theoretical principles through proficient application of laboratory techniques and through instrumentation and modeling methods.
  3. Apply computational tools to model theoretical processes and experimental data.
  4. Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the development and implementation of a research project.
  5. Critically analyze scientific information.
  6. Explain chemical concepts to a diversified audience through effective written and oral presentation.
  7. Employ high ethical standards and good laboratory practice as chemists and as members of society.
  8. Employ teamwork to perform a task collectively and effectively.
  9. Develop independent learning skills.

Curriculum

A total of 94 credits are required to graduate, distributed as follows:

  • Major requirements: 48 credits (core courses: 39 credits; track-specific courses: 9 credits)
  • Other requirements: 16 credits
  • Free Electives: 3 credits
  • A total of 27 post-Freshman credits of Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum Z (LASC) is required as follows:
    • Core Courses: 6 credits (ENG202 and COM203)
    • Change Makers Courses: 6 credits
    • Artificial Intelligence Courses: 3 credits
    • Free Liberal Arts Elective Courses: 12 credits (BIO201 (3 cr.) is a requirement for all chemistry students. Students following the Medicinal Chemistry track must also complete BIO202 (3 cr.)).

Major Requirements (48 credits)

Core Course Requirements (39 credits)

  • CHM005 Preparatory Chemistry (0 cr.)
  • CHM201 Chemical Principles (3 cr.)
  • CHM300 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Lab (2 cr.)
  • CHM301 Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • CHM302 Instrumental Analysis (3 cr.)
  • CHM311 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM312 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM313 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM314 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM330 Physical Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM332 Physical Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM334 Physical Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM421 Inorganic Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • CHM422 Inorganic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM427 Inorganic Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM499P Capstone Project or CHM499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
  • BCH300 Essentials of Biochemistry (3 cr.)

Track-Specific Courses (9 credits)

Medicinal Chemistry Track

  • CHM350 Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM352 Method Validation and Quality Assurance (3 cr.)
  • CHM450 Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry II (3 cr.)

Environmental Chemistry Track

  • CHM340 Environmental Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • CHM352 Method Validation and Quality Assurance (3 cr.)
  • CHM430 Air Pollution Control (3 cr.)

Elective Courses (3 credits)

  • CHM351 Drug Discovery Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM425 Computational Chemistry (2 cr.)
  • CHM451 Chemical Pharmacology (3 cr.)
  • CHM432 Environmental Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • BIO201B General Biology I Lab (1 cr.)
  • BIO202B General Biology II Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM488D Special Topics in Environmental Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • CHM488E Special Topics in Medicinal Chemistry (3 cr.)

Other Requirements (16 credits)

Mathematics Requirements (9 credits)

  • MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
  • MTH304 Differential Equation (3 cr.)
  • MTH305 Probability & Statistics (3 cr.)

Physics Requirements (7 credits)

  • PHY201 Electricity & Magnetism (3 cr.)
  • PHY201B Electricity & Magnetism Lab (1 cr.)
  • PHY301 Classical Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)

Free Electives (3 credits)

LAS Courses (27 credits)

Recommended Study Plan – Medicinal Chemistry Track (Pre-Med Program)

You are required to complete 94* credits to graduate.

*BIO321 Genetics (3 cr.) is recommended to prepare for the MCAT exam

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

  • CHM005 Preparatory Chemistry (0 cr.)
  • CHM201 Chemical principles (3 cr.)
  • MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
  • LAS—- Artificial Intelligence (3 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
  • BIO201 General Biology I (3 cr.)
  • BIO201B General Biology I Lab (1 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • CHM300 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Lab (2 cr.)
  • CHM301 Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • MTH304 Differential Equation (3 cr.)
  • COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)
  • BIO202 General Biology II (3 cr.)
  • BIO202B General Biology II Lab (1 cr.)

Summer (6 credits)

  • LAS—- Change Makers (3 cr.)
  • LAS—- Free Elective * (3 cr.)

* PSY201 (Introduction to Psychology) is recommended to prepare for the MCAT exam 

Year Two

Fall (14 credits)

  • CHM311 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM313 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM330 Physical Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • PHY201 Electricity & Magnetism (3 cr.)
  • PHY201B Electricity & Magnetism Lab (1 cr.)
  • MTH305 Probability and Statistics (3 cr.)

Spring (14 credits)

  • CHM312 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM314 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM332 Physical Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM334 Physical Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM302 Instrumental Analysis (3 cr.)
  • PHY301 Classical Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (15 credits)

  • CHM350 Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM352 Method Validation and Quality Assurance (3 cr.)
  • CHM421 Inorganic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
  • BCH300 Essentials of Biochemistry (3 cr.)

Spring (14 credits)

  • CHM422 Inorganic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM427  Inorganic Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM450 Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM351 Drug Discovery Lab (1 cr.)
  • LAS—- Change Makers (3 cr.)
  • LAS—- Free Elective **  (3 cr.)

** SOC201 (Introduction to Sociology) is recommended to prepare for the MCAT exam 

Recommended Study Plan – Environmental Chemistry Track

You are required to complete 94 credits to graduate.

Year One

Fall (15 credits)

  • CHM005 Preparatory Chemistry (0 cr.)
  • CHM201 Chemical principles (3 cr.)
  • MTH201 Calculus III (3 cr.)
  • ENG202 Advanced Academic English (3 cr.)
  • LAS—- Artificial Intelligence (3 cr.) 
  • BIO201 General Biology I (3 cr.)

Spring (14 credits)

  • CHM300 Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis Lab (2 cr.)
  • CHM301 Analytical Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • PHY301 Classical Physics for Life Sciences (3 cr.)
  • MTH304 Differential Equation (3 cr.)
  • COM203 Art of Public Communication (3 cr.)

Summer (6 credits)

  • LAS—- Change Makers (3 cr.)
  • LAS—- Free Elective  (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (14 credits)

  • CHM311 Organic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM313 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM330 Physical Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • MTH305 Probability and Statistics (3 cr.)
  • PHY201 Electricity & Magnetism (3 cr.)
  • PHY201B Electricity & Magnetism Lab ( 1cr.)

Spring (14 credits)

  • CHM302 Instrumental Analysis (3 cr.)
  • CHM312 Organic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM314 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM332 Physical Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM334 Physical Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • LAS—- Change Makers (3 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (16 credits)

  • CHM340 Environmental Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • CHM421 Inorganic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
  • CHM432 Environmental Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM352 Method Validation and Quality Assurance (3 cr.)
  • CHM499R Undergraduate Research (3 cr.)
  • BCH300 Essentials of Biochemistry (3 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • CHM422 Inorganic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
  • CHM427 Inorganic Chemistry Lab (1 cr.)
  • CHM425 Computational Chemistry (2 cr.)
  • CHM430 Air Pollution Control (3 cr.)
  • LAS—- Free Elective (3 cr.)
  • LAS—- Free Elective (3 cr.)