Major Requirements

The chemistry department offers an American Chemical Society (ACS) major in chemistry, which is of value for students pursuing a career in chemistry and/or an advanced degree in chemistry or a related field. Within the ACS major students may choose to focus on various concentrations. The concentrations available are called traditional, biochemistry or neurochemistry. Students typically choose an ACS major with the traditional concentration if they are interested in a professional career in chemistry or an allied field. Students specifically interested in working in the area of neuroscience or biochemistry are encouraged to consider these concentrations.

The requirements for an ACS major in chemistry are 62 to 70 credits:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Training
CHEM 127 & CHEM 128	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II	8
MATH 121 & MATH 122	Calculus I and Calculus II	8
Select one of the following:		8
PHYS 111 & PHYS 112	General College Physics I and General College Physics II
PHYS 128 & PHYS 211	Physics for Scientists and Engineers and Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
CHEM 330	Analytical Chemistry I	4
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	4
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	4
CHEM 351	Physical Chemistry I	4
CHEM 373	Biochemistry I	4
CHEM 462	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
CHEM 403 & CHEM 404	Senior Seminar I and Senior Seminar II	2
Concentration
Select a concentration from Traditional, Biochemistry or Neurochemistry		12-20

Concentrations for an American Chemical Society (ACS) Major in Chemistry

Traditional Concentration

In-depth Training

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CHEM 352	Physical Chemistry II	4
CHEM 397	ACS Research	0
CHEM 431	Analytical Chemistry II	4
Select 4 credits from the following:		4
CHEM 344	Spectroscopy
CHEM 374	Biochemistry II
CHEM 445	Organic Chemistry III
CHEM/NEU 475	Neurochemistry
Total Hours		12

Biochemistry Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
BIOL 121	Cell Biology	4
CHEM 374	Biochemistry II	4
CHEM 398	ACS Research	0
CHEM/NEU 475	Neurochemistry	4
4 additional credits from biology		4
Select 4 credits from the following:		4
CHEM 344	Spectroscopy
CHEM 352	Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 431	Analytical Chemistry II
CHEM 445	Organic Chemistry III
Total Hours		20

Neurochemistry Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CHEM 374	Biochemistry II	4
CHEM 398	ACS Research	0
CHEM/NEU 475	Neurochemistry	4
NEU 109	Introduction to Neuroscience	4
NEU 252	Physical Neuroscience	4
Select 4 credits from the following:		4
CHEM 344	Spectroscopy
CHEM 352	Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 431	Analytical Chemistry II
CHEM 445	Organic Chemistry III
Total Hours		20

Degree and Graduation Requirements
In addition to the program-specific requirements listed above, all students must complete the graduation requirements specified for their degree.  See the Degree and Graduation Requirements section for more information.
 

Suggested Four-Year Plan

The four-year plan detailed below is a suggested coursework sequence. This plan may need to be adapted based on course offerings as well as individual student circumstances, such as transfer credit and study away experiences. 

ACS Major Traditional

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
CHEM 127	General Chemistry I	4
MATH 121	Calculus I	4
FYS 110	Engaged Citizenship Seminar	4
ENG 110 or COM 110	Writing to Engage or Communicating to Engage	4
WELL 110	Engaging in Lifelong Wellness	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 128	General Chemistry II	4
MATH 122	Calculus II	4
Core Exploration Course		4
COM 110 or ENG 110	Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage	4
WELL 111	Engaging in a Balanced Life	1
	Hours	17
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	4
PHYS 111	General College Physics I	4
World Language I		4
REL 200	Christianity and Religious Diversity	4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	4
PHYS 112	General College Physics II	4
World Language II		4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Third Year
Fall
CHEM 373	Biochemistry I	4
CHEM 351	Physical Chemistry I	4
Core Exploration Course		4
Elective		4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 330	Analytical Chemistry I	4
CHEM 352	Physical Chemistry II	4
Core Exploration Course		4
Religion 300 J Core Course		4
	Hours	16
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM 431	Analytical Chemistry II	4
Chemistry Elective or Elective		4
Core Perspectives Course		4
Elective		4
CHEM 403	Senior Seminar I	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 462	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
Chemistry Elective or Elective		4
Core Perspectives Course		4
Elective		4
CHEM 404	Senior Seminar II	1
	Hours	17
	Total Hours	132

ACS Major Traditional (needing CHEM 117)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
CHEM 117	Principles of Chemistry	4
FYS 110	Engaged Citizenship Seminar	4
ENG 110 or COM 110	Writing to Engage or Communicating to Engage	4
World Language I		4
WELL 110	Engaging in Lifelong Wellness	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 127	General Chemistry I	4
COM 110 or ENG 110	Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage	4
Core Exploration Course		4
World Language II		4
WELL 111	Engaging in a Balanced Life	1
	Hours	17
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 128	General Chemistry II	4
MATH 121	Calculus I	4
PHYS 111	General College Physics I	4
REL 200	Christianity and Religious Diversity	4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 330	Analytical Chemistry I	4
MATH 122	Calculus II	4
PHYS 112	General College Physics II	4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Third Year
Fall
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	4
CHEM 351	Physical Chemistry I	4
Core Exploration Course		4
Elective		4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	4
CHEM 352	Physical Chemistry II	4
Core Exploration Course		4
Religion 300 J Core Course		4
	Hours	16
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM 431	Analytical Chemistry II	4
CHEM 373	Biochemistry I	4
Core Perspectives Course		4
Elective		4
CHEM 403	Senior Seminar I	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 462	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
Chemistry Elective		4
Core Perspectives Course		4
Elective		4
CHEM 404	Senior Seminar II	1
	Hours	17
	Total Hours	132

ACS Major Biochemistry

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
CHEM 127	General Chemistry I	4
BIOL 121	Cell Biology	4
FYS 110	Engaged Citizenship Seminar	4
ENG 110 or COM 110	Writing to Engage or Communicating to Engage	4
WELL 110	Engaging in Lifelong Wellness	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 128	General Chemistry II	4
BIOL 122	Evolution and Diversity (OR Core Exploration Course)	4
Core Exploration Course		4
COM 110 or ENG 110	Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage	4
WELL 111	Engaging in a Balanced Life	1
	Hours	17
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	4
PHYS 111	General College Physics I	4
World Language I		4
REL 200	Christianity and Religious Diversity	4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	4
PHYS 112	General College Physics II	4
World Language II		4
Biology Elective or Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Third Year
Fall
CHEM 373	Biochemistry I	4
MATH 121	Calculus I	4
Core Exploration Course		4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 374	Biochemistry II	4
CHEM 330	Analytical Chemistry I	4
MATH 122	Calculus II	4
Core Perspectives Course		4
	Hours	16
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM 351	Physical Chemistry I	4
CHEM 475	Neurochemistry	4
Core Perspectives Course		4
Religion 300 J Core Course		4
CHEM 403	Senior Seminar I	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 462	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
Chemistry Elective		4
Elective		4
Elective		4
CHEM 404	Senior Seminar II	1
	Hours	17
	Total Hours	132

ACS Major Biochemistry (needing CHEM 117)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
CHEM 117	Principles of Chemistry	4
BIOL 121	Cell Biology	4
FYS 110	Engaged Citizenship Seminar	4
ENG 110 or COM 110	Writing to Engage or Communicating to Engage	4
WELL 110	Engaging in Lifelong Wellness	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 127	General Chemistry I	4
BIOL 122	Evolution and Diversity (OR Core Exploration Course)	4
Core Exploration Course		4
COM 110 or ENG 110	Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage	4
WELL 111	Engaging in a Balanced Life	1
	Hours	17
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 128	General Chemistry II	4
PHYS 111	General College Physics I	4
World Language I		4
REL 200	Christianity and Religious Diversity	4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 330	Analytical Chemistry I	4
PHYS 112	General College Physics II	4
World Language II		4
Biology Elective or Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Third Year
Fall
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	4
MATH 121	Calculus I	4
Core Exploration Course		4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	4
MATH 122	Calculus II	4
Religion 300 J Core Course		4
Core Perspectives Course		4
	Hours	16
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM 373	Biochemistry I	4
CHEM 475	Neurochemistry	4
CHEM 351	Physical Chemistry I	4
Core Perspectives Course		4
CHEM 403	Senior Seminar I	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 374	Biochemistry II	4
CHEM 462	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
Chemistry Elective		4
Elective		4
CHEM 404	Senior Seminar II	1
	Hours	17
	Total Hours	132

ACS Major Neurochemistry

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
CHEM 127	General Chemistry I	4
MATH 121	Calculus I	4
FYS 110	Engaged Citizenship Seminar	4
ENG 110 or COM 110	Writing to Engage or Communicating to Engage	4
WELL 110	Engaging in Lifelong Wellness	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 128	General Chemistry II	4
MATH 122	Calculus II	4
NEU 109	Introduction to Neuroscience	4
COM 110 or ENG 110	Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage	4
WELL 111	Engaging in a Balanced Life	1
	Hours	17
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	4
PHYS 111	General College Physics I	4
World Language I		4
REL 200	Christianity and Religious Diversity	4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	4
PHYS 112	General College Physics II	4
World Language II		4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Third Year
Fall
CHEM 373	Biochemistry I	4
CHEM 351	Physical Chemistry I	4
Religion 300 J Core Course		4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 374	Biochemistry II	4
CHEM 330	Analytical Chemistry I	4
Core Exploration Course		4
Core Perspectives Course		4
	Hours	16
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM 475	Neurochemistry	4
Chemistry Elective		4
Core Exploration Course		4
Elective		4
CHEM 403	Senior Seminar I	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 462	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
NEU 252	Physical Neuroscience	4
Core Perspectives Course		4
Elective		4
CHEM 404	Senior Seminar II	1
	Hours	17
	Total Hours	132

ACS Major Neurochemistry (needing CHEM 117)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
CHEM 117	Principles of Chemistry	4
Core Exploration Course		4
FYS 110	Engaged Citizenship Seminar	4
ENG 110 or COM 110	Writing to Engage or Communicating to Engage	4
WELL 110	Engaging in Lifelong Wellness	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 127	General Chemistry I	4
NEU 109	Introduction to Neuroscience	4
Core Exploration Course		4
COM 110 or ENG 110	Communicating to Engage or Writing to Engage	4
WELL 111	Engaging in a Balanced Life	1
	Hours	17
Second Year
Fall
CHEM 128	General Chemistry II	4
PHYS 111	General College Physics I	4
World Language I		4
REL 200	Christianity and Religious Diversity	4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 330	Analytical Chemistry I	4
PHYS 112	General College Physics II	4
World Language II		4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Third Year
Fall
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	4
MATH 121	Calculus I	4
Religion 300 J Core Course		4
Core Exploration Course		4
	Hours	16
Spring
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	4
NEU 252	Physical Neuroscience	4
MATH 122	Calculus II	4
Core Perspectives Course		4
	Hours	16
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM 373	Biochemistry I	4
CHEM 475	Neurochemistry	4
CHEM 351	Physical Chemistry I	4
Core Perspectives Course		4
CHEM 403	Senior Seminar I	1
	Hours	17
Spring
CHEM 374	Biochemistry II	4
CHEM 462	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
Chemistry Elective		4
Elective		4
CHEM 404	Senior Seminar II	1
	Hours	17
	Total Hours	132