Chemistry (BS)

Program Overview

The Chemistry (BS) program at Concord University provides a comprehensive understanding of chemistry, equipping students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities. The program offers four elective concentrations: Biochemistry, Professional Chemistry, Geochemistry, and 3+1 Health Sciences. Graduates are prepared for careers in research, teaching, industry, and government, or for advanced studies in chemistry or related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Program Overview: The Chemistry (BS) program at Concord University provides students with a comprehensive understanding of chemistry, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for a wide range of careers in the field.
• Objectives: The program aims to develop students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical abilities, foster their understanding of chemical principles and their applications, and prepare them for graduate studies or professional careers in chemistry or related fields.
• Program Description: The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in chemistry, including introductory coursework and foundational coursework in chemical laboratory safety, laboratory research methods and ethics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry.
Students can choose to focus their in-depth coursework in one of four elective concentrations: Biochemistry, Professional Chemistry, Geochemistry, or the 3+1 Health Sciences concentration. The program emphasizes hands-on laboratory experiences and is guided by the recommendations of the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training.

Outline:

• Core Requirements (8 credit hours):
• CHEM 101 General Chemistry I (3)
• CHEM 111 General Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
• CHEM 102 General Chemistry II (3)
• CHEM 112 General Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
• Foundational Course Work (18-19 credit hours):
• CHEM 210 Chemical Laboratory Safety (1)
• PHSC 219 Laboratory Research Methods and Ethics (1)
• CHEM 331 Organic Chemistry I (4)
• CHEM 341 Biochemistry (3)
• CHEM 347 Biochemistry Laboratory (1)
• CHEM 351 Analytical Chemistry (3)
• CHEM 357 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (2)
• One Chemistry Foundational Elective (3-4 credit hours):
• CHEM 352 Instrumental Analysis (3) and CHEM 358 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (1)
• CHEM 401 Physical Chemistry – Thermodynamics (3) and CHEM 407 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (1)
• CHEM 402 Physical Chemistry – Quantum Mechanics (3)
• CHEM 413 Inorganic Chemistry (3) and CHEM 417 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (1)
• Cognate Science and Mathematics (15-21 credit hours):
• MATH 103 College Algebra (3) or MATH 103C College Algebra (3) and MATH 104 College Trigonometry (3) or MATH 107 Precalculus (4)
• MATH 253 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (4)
• Three (3) or more credit hours of mathematics and/or computer science selected from MATH 105 or higher and/or CS 151 or higher.
(MATH 254 recommended).
• One (1) of the following 2-course physics sequences:
• PHYS 101 Introductory Physics (4) and PHYS 102 Intermediate Physics (4)
• PHYS 201 University Physics with Calculus, Part 1 (4) and PHYS 202 University Physics with Calculus, Part 2 (4)
• In-Depth Course Work: Select one of the following four elective concentrations:
• (1) Biochemistry
• Select 12-16 credit hours of electives from the following:
• CHEM 302 Cell and Molecular Biology (4) or BIOL 302 Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
• BIOL 329 Microbiology (4)
• BIOL 401 Genetics (4)
• BIOL 419 Immunology (4)
• CHEM 470 Independent Laboratory Research I (1-3)
• CHEM 471 Independent Laboratory Research II (1-3)
• CHEM course(s) numbered 300 or higher (no more than 8 credit hours)
• PHYS course(s) numbered 300 or higher (no more than 6 credit hours)
• (2) Professional Chemistry
• Select 12-16 credit hours of electives from the following:
• CHEM 302 Cell and Molecular Biology (4) or BIOL 302 Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
• CHEM 470 Independent Laboratory Research I (1-3)
• CHEM 471 Independent Laboratory Research II (1-3)
• CHEM course(s) number 300 or higher
• PHYS course(s) numbered 300 or higher
• (3) Geochemistry
• Select 12-16 credit hours of electives from the following:
• GEOL 205 Environmental and Applied Geology (4)
• GEOL 365 Earth Materials and Minerals (4)
• GEOL 375 Chemistry and Petrology of the Solid Earth (4)
• GEOL 470 Geology Research (1-6) and GEOL 471 Environmental Science Research (1-6) OR CHEM 470 Independent Laboratory Research I (1-3) and CHEM 471 Independent Laboratory Research II (1-3)
• Other GEOL course(s) numbered 380 or higher (no more than 6 credit hours)
• Other CHEM course(s) numbered 300 or higher (no more than 4 credit hours)
• (4) 3+1 Health Sciences (pre-Pharmacy)
• All of the following:
• BIOL 329 Microbiology (4)
• CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II (4)
• CHEM 460 Pharmacy Practicum (15) (30 credit hours transfer from an approved school of pharmacy)
• OR

Careers:

The program prepares students for a wide range of careers in chemistry, including research, teaching, industry, and government. Graduates may work as chemists, biochemists, analytical chemists, organic chemists, inorganic chemists, physical chemists, or environmental scientists. They may also pursue advanced degrees in chemistry or related fields.