Chemistry (BA)
This 121–123 credit program provides a comprehensive background in chemistry with room for humanities, social sciences or a second major. Students engage in labs, research or internships to build practical skills while preparing for medical, dental or pharmacy school, teaching, or roles in industry, public health and science communication. The BA offers flexibility for diverse professional goals.
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Chemistry
Academic Plan Code(s): CHM_BA
Program Information
The BA degree in chemistry is designed for students who want a more general education than is possible in the BS curriculum, while at the same time receiving a substantial background in chemistry. For several related fields, this program offers a broad pre-professional education.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 22 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1 | 40 | |
| Supporting Courses | 28-30 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121-123 | |
- 1
Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Early Start Program (Jointly with the College of Education and Human Development)
The Master of Arts in Teaching program in conjunction with the undergraduate programs in Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics offers a comprehensive and professionally-focused program leading to an additional degree of MAT Middle or Secondary Education. This early start program enables superior students to receive two degrees within five years. A total of 148 credits are required for the dual degrees: 121 credits of coursework devoted toward the baccalaureate degree and 36 credits toward the MAT, with nine hours double-counted. This program will be available for students who are entering their junior year. They may take graduate level courses in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) in their 4th year of study.
The current qualifications for the joint degree program have been agreed upon by discipline faculty from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education and Human Development. The criteria vary by discipline. Students enrolling in the accelerated program will be non-thesis students and must adhere to all policies pertaining to Graduate Students. All interested students must submit an application to the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) MAT program and meet the admission criteria.
Departmental Admission Requirements
Admission to the major in Chemistry requires completion of CHEM 202 (or equivalent course from another institution) with a grade of C or better. The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
| The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement: | ||
CHEM 201 | General Chemistry I - S | |
CHEM 207 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL | |
MATH 205 | Calculus I - QR | |
PHYS 221 | Fundamentals of Physics I - S | |
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 12 | |
| Electives in Humanities or Social Sciences 2 | 9 | |
| WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 22 | |
Program/Major Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 201 | General Chemistry I - S 4 | 3 |
| CHEM 202 | General Chemistry II - S 4 | 3 |
| CHEM 207 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL 4 | 1 |
| CHEM 208 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis II - SL | 1 |
| CHEM 209 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis III | 1 |
| CHEM 210 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis IV 4 | 1 |
| CHEM 341 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 344 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEM 425 | Instrumental and Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 441 | Elements of Physical Chemistry | 3 |
| or CHEM 465 | Physical Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 470 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory - WR 5 | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
CHEM 426 | Instrumental and Statistical Analysis Laboratory - WR | |
CHEM 528 | Contemporary Methods of Organic Synthesis and Analysis - CUE | |
CHEM 529 | Contemporary Methods of Inorganic Synthesis and Analysis - WR | |
CHEM 546 | Biochemistry Laboratory | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
CHEM 390 | Undergraduate Research - CUE, WR | |
CHEM 391 | Undergraduate Research - CUE | |
CHEM 392 | Undergraduate Research - CUE | |
CHEM 420 | Cooperative Internship in Chemistry - CUE, WR | |
CHEM 491 | Undergraduate Research - CUE | |
CHEM 492 | Undergraduate Research | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
CHEM 445 | Survey of Biochemistry | |
or CHEM 545 | Biochemistry I | |
CHEM 515 | Inorganic Chemistry | |
CHEM 527 | Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds - WR | |
CHEM 555 | Theory and Application of Computational Chemistry | |
CHEM 557 | Bio-Organic Phenomena | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 39 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| MATH 205 | Calculus I - QR | 4 |
| MATH 206 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Complete one of the following sequences: | 8-10 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
PHYS 221 | Fundamentals of Physics I - S | |
PHYS 222 | Fundamentals of Physics II - S | |
PHYS 223 | Fundamentals of Physics Lab I - SL | |
PHYS 224 | Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory II - SL | |
| Sequence 2: | ||
PHYS 295 | Introductory Laboratories I - SL | |
PHYS 296 | Introductory Laboratories II - SL | |
PHYS 298 | Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S | |
PHYS 299 | Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light | |
| Minimum Electives 6 | 12 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 28-30 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing one of the following: | ||
CHEM 390 | Undergraduate Research - CUE, WR | |
CHEM 391 | Undergraduate Research - CUE | |
CHEM 392 | Undergraduate Research - CUE | |
CHEM 420 | Cooperative Internship in Chemistry - CUE, WR | |
CHEM 430 | Practicum in Chemistry Education - CUE | |
CHEM 491 | Undergraduate Research - CUE | |
CHEM 528 | Contemporary Methods of Organic Synthesis and Analysis - CUE | |
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
- 1
Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language
- 2
In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above.
- 3
May be incorporated into other degree requirements
- 4
May fulfill General Education requirement.
- 5
CHEM 470 plus 3 semester hours of another WR course will fulfill the WR requirement.
- 6
Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
Flight Plan
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CHEM 201 | General Chemistry I - S | 3 |
| CHEM 207 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL | 1 |
| CHEM 208 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis II - SL | 1 |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 | Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | 1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 202 | General Chemistry II - S | 3 |
| CHEM 209 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis III | 1 |
| CHEM 210 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis IV | 1 |
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 341 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| PHYS 221 | Fundamentals of Physics I - S | 3 |
| PHYS 223 | Fundamentals of Physics Lab I - SL | 1 |
| MATH 205 | Calculus I - QR | 4 |
| General Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| PHYS 222 | Fundamentals of Physics II - S | 3 |
| PHYS 224 | Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory II - SL | 1 |
| MATH 206 | Calculus II | 4 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Perspectives - AHP2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 425 | Instrumental and Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 441 or CHEM 465 | Elements of Physical Chemistry or Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| Foreign Language 1 | 4 | |
| Humanities or Social Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 445 | Survey of Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 470 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory - WR | 2 |
| Humanities or Social Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Foreigne Language 2 | 4 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 426 | Instrumental and Statistical Analysis Laboratory - WR | 2 |
| CHEM 515 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| Foreign Language 3 | 4 | |
| Humanities or Social Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral US Perspectives - SBP1 | 3 | |
| Chemistry Research or Internship | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years. Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation. Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.
To create these reports:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Select the appropriate report.
- To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
- To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
- To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.