BA in Chemistry

Program Overview

The BA in Chemistry program, certified by the American Chemical Society, provides a solid foundation in chemistry for students aiming for careers in medicine, education, business, or law. It emphasizes communication skills, critical thinking, and hands-on laboratory experience, preparing graduates for diverse opportunities in healthcare, industry, and research. The program also offers a Pre-Pharmacy option for students pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Program Outline

BA in Chemistry

Degree Overview:

• The program is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the largest scientific society globally.
• Requires 58 total credits including core chemistry, electives, and physics, math, and computer science courses.

Objectives:

• Provide students with a strong foundation in fundamental and applied chemistry, encompassing various disciplines like analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistries.
• Foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and quantitative and analytical reasoning abilities.
• Instruct students to design, conduct, troubleshoot, interpret, and document chemical experiments effectively.
• Train students in using standard laboratory equipment, modern instrumentation, and classical techniques while ensuring proper handling and safety procedures for chemicals.
• Prepare students for successful collaboration within teams and active contribution to group projects.

Outline:

Core Chemistry Courses (39 credits):

• College Chemistry
• Quantitative Analysis
• Organic Chemistry I and II
• Physical Chemistry I and II

Additional Requirements (19 credits):

• 6 credits of advanced chemistry courses
• 1 computer science course (e.g., Programming Foundations)

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the BA in Chemistry program, students will:

• Demonstrate a firm grasp of current chemical theories and their applications across diverse areas.
• Demonstrate strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and quantitative and analytical reasoning abilities.
• Efficiently design, execute, troubleshoot, analyze, and report on chemical experiments, identifying valid and reliable data.
• Utilize standard laboratory equipment, modern instruments, and traditional methods safely and effectively for conducting experiments.

Careers:

The BA in Chemistry exposes graduates to diverse career opportunities in various industries:

• Medicine and healthcare: Pharmaceutical research and development, clinical research, medical device design, healthcare administration.
• Education: Teaching chemistry at various levels, conducting research, working in curriculum development.
• Business and industry: Chemical manufacturing, environmental consulting, forensic science, product development, quality assurance.
• Law and regulation: Environmental law, patent law, regulatory compliance.
• Research: Conducting research in academia, government labs, or private industry.

Other relevant details:

• BA in Chemistry with Pre-Pharmacy Option: This option allows students to earn both a bachelor's in Chemistry and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 6 years.
• Learning outcomes specific to this option:
• Demonstrates a firm foundation in current chemical theories.
• Possesses effective communication skills.
• Demonstrates critical thinking, problem-solving, and quantitative and analytical reasoning.
• Conducts and analyzes chemical experiments effectively, identifying valid data.
• Utilizes laboratory equipment, instruments, and techniques safely and effectively.
• Collaborates effectively in teams and actively contributes to group projects.
• Professor Laura Pence is a faculty member in the Chemistry department, specializing in mentoring and guiding students on their post-graduation career paths.