Chemistry (ACS Certification), B.S.

Departmental Requirements

All students pursuing a major in Chemistry must complete a total of 120 credit hours of University courses as required by the major. This includes a minimum of 53 credit hours of Program Core courses, 15 credit hours of Supportive courses, 7 credit hours of Program Elective courses, 43 credit hours of General Education courses and 2 credit hours of Free Elective courses from the approved lists of requirements as outlined in the catalog.
To obtain an ACS-certified Chemistry degree, students are required to adhere to ACS guidelines in the submission of their CHEM 499 requirements.

Students in the Honors Program are advised to enroll in Honors designated courses.

Objectives

The objectives of the Chemistry Program are to:

1. Train students through demonstration, mentoring and personal experience to gain knowledge and develop chemical skills necessary to conduct scientific research.
2. Impart students with contemporary laboratory techniques and skills required to conduct scientific investigations.
3. Provide students with the academic curricula necessary to develop a strong understanding and knowledge of chemical theory and practice.
4. Prepare academically talented students for entry into graduate and professional schools (PhD, MD, PharmD, DOM, DDS, etc).

Career Opportunities

Students graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry will be qualified to apply for admission to professional or graduate programs in a variety of fields. They will also be highly qualified for admission to medical or other health profession programs. Students who choose to pursue employment after completing their B.S. degree will be qualified to work in a variety of fields including in industry as chemists for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, industrial or environmental management companies. Graduates can also work for government agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Websites which describe careers in chemistry include: The ACS website www.ACS.org; About Chemistry, http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blcareers.htm, and http://www.chemistryguide.org/jobs-in-chemistry.html. Students seeking employment are urged to secure summer internship positions and to explore these agencies and their web sites at least six months in advance of the time they intend to begin work.

ACS Certification - The Chemistry Program received approval from the American Chemical Society (ACS) to grant ACS certified degrees in 2003.