Department/Program:
Chemistry
Majors, Minors & Degrees:
Minors
The department offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Both degrees are excellent preparation for many career options, including industry, teaching, chemical engineering, and a wide selection of graduate/professional studies.
The B.A. degree in Chemistry is suited for those who want to pursue a core of chemistry coursework with the option of pursuing a broader background in the liberal arts and sciences (e.g., additional minors or a second major). This degree is suited for those who wish to pursue a degree in chemical engineering through our Engineering dual-degree program.
The B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is suited for those who want to pursue a combination of courses focused on connections between the chemical and biological sciences. While the core of the degree remains chemistry, this degree also includes a selection of biology courses connected to the molecular sciences.
Students interested in a career in chemical engineering can participate in the Engineering Dual-Degree Program described in the Department of Physics section of this catalog. Chemical Engineering students must complete the Engineering dual-degree program prerequisites (e.g., introductory computer science and advanced math) in addition to completing either a B.A. in Chemistry or a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology before transferring to one of our partner institutions to complete the engineering degree (typically two additional years).
Students interested in a career in the health sciences will find that a B.A. in Chemistry or a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, combined with the individual pre-health program prerequisites not included in the degree requirements, provides a strong foundation for pursuit of a wide range of health sciences related graduate/professional programs.
Department Learning Outcomes
Majors will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the core descriptive material in inorganic, physical, analytical, organic and polymer (macromolecular) chemistry, and biochemistry.
- Describe the structure of atoms and molecules.
- Understand relationships between structure and reactivity.
- Predict mechanisms and products of chemical transformations.
- Use retrosynthetic analysis to design syntheses of organic compounds.
- Understand thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of physical and chemical transformations.
- Use mathematical methods to solve quantitative problems dealing with stoichiometry and quantitative analysis, thermodynamics and equilibrium, kinetics, and quantum mechanics.
- Analyze and interpret the data derived from modern methods of spectroscopic, electrometric, and chromatographic analysis, and understand the fundamental principles upon which these instrumental methods of measurement are based.
- Evaluate and understand error and uncertainties in physical measurements.