Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biochemistry (Standard)
The Chemistry and Biochemistry (Standard) major is the most flexible degree program offered by the department, as it allows for some choice among the advanced courses. It allows students with other interests to develop a curriculum that best suits them. The resulting degree is a Bachelor of Science. It requires at least 36 credit hours of chemistry courses beyond General Chemistry.
B170 - Chemistry and Biochemistry (Standard) Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Professional)
The Chemistry (Professional) major is most suitable for majors who plan to pursue a graduate degree after obtaining their baccalaureate degree. It is the most rigorous in its chemistry course requirements. The professional degree program is also a good choice for students who begin their chemical studies unsure of their ultimate goal. This is because it is much easier to switch from the Professional degree program to either the Chemistry Standard or Biochemistry degree programs, even as late as the senior year, than to switch to the professional option from the standard option or biochemistry degree program.
The Chemistry (Professional) degree is certified by the American Chemical Society as appropriate for students wanting to pursue graduate studies. It also provides the best background in chemistry for students planning to pursue a job in chemistry after obtaining the baccalaureate degree. However, it is not a required degree for graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry, and some students prefer to take one of the other degree options so that there is room in their schedules to take additional courses outside chemistry that meet their career goals. For example, students wanting to pursue a research career in pharmaceutical research or biochemistry would want to take additional courses in microbiology or zoology. The Professional degree requires 40 credit hours of chemistry courses beyond General Chemistry.
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
The Biochemistry major is appropriate for premedical and predental students or students with a strong interest in biomedical research. It includes advanced biochemistry coursework and a molecular biology course. It requires 36 credit hours of chemistry courses beyond General Chemistry.
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Biosciences
This is our newest undergraduate degree, aimed at students who are specifically focused on a career in the healthcare profession. The requirements overlap with the prerequisites for medical, pharmacy, dental, and other health-related programs. As such, it does not adequately prepare students for a traditional graduate program in chemistry or biochemistry but might prepare them for a graduate program in biomedical studies (depending on the entry requirements for the individual program, since these can vary). And it will not prepare students for a wide variety of careers in the chemical industry. Students would be prepared for work in medical labs and related opportunities. So, students entering this program should be very focused on these types of careers and not consider a traditional graduate program in chemistry or biochemistry. It requires at least 40 hours of chemistry and biological science courses beyond general chemistry.
Minor in Chemistry
The Chemistry Minor (N175) is available to students majoring in other subjects. It can be attained by completing 15 major credit hours of upper-division Chemistry. No more than three of these credit hours may be completed through independent study. At least 6 hours must be earned in courses acceptable for residence credit by Arts and Sciences standards (i.e., excluding transfer, correspondence, and examination credit). Students interested in obtaining a chemistry minor should contact their advising college.
For more information, see the Undergraduate Handbook (pdf).
