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Nov 21, 2024
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Chemistry, B.S. (R, L)
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Chemistry majors have a variety of career paths open to them, from industrial, academic, or governmental positions with their Bachelor’s degree to further study in graduate and professional schools. Students can tailor their learning experience by choosing one of our six chemistry concentrations; two of which are Certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS), ensuring that these majors provide the rigorous coursework and experiences necessary for today’s job market. All students earn a comprehensive education in analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry and can select from focused classes such as astronomical, environmental, forensic, green, medicinal, or polymer chemistry.
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REAL Curriculum
This major fulfills the R and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. Students develop proficiency at using scientific and quantitative inquiry to predict the outcomes of chemical reactions, interpret data from analytical instrumentation, and execute laboratory investigations. Students reflect on how their experiences relate to their professional and career goals. Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the E and A areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.
REAL Foundational Requirements
Foundational Writing (3 credits)
Foundational Math (3 credits)
REAL Cornerstone Requirements
Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)
Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.
General Education Requirements
General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Chemistry major includes 28-30 general education credits.
Major Requirements (64-93 credits)
Required Major Core Courses (30 credits)
Math Requirements (8-10 credits)
Biology Requirements (4 credits)
Physics Requirements (8 credits)
Concentrations
All students must select at least one concentration (Advanced Biochemistry, Advanced Professional Chemist, Biochemistry: Life Sciences and Pre-Health, Forensics, Professional Chemist, or Teaching Licensure).
Advanced Professional Chemist Concentration
This concentration is a rigorous four-year program that provides a strong background in chemistry for those students who plan to become professional chemists. It provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in chemistry or related fields and will prepare students for careers in industrial, academic or governmental settings. With this concentration, the student will have an ACS approved degree.
Other Required Courses (23-24 credits)
Professional Chemist Concentration
This concentration is a rigorous four-year program that provides a strong background in chemistry for those students who plan to become professional chemists. It provides an excellent foundation for graduate study in chemistry or related fields and will prepare students for careers in industrial, academic or governmental settings.
Other Required Courses (14 credits)
Biochemistry: Life Sciences and Pre-Health Concentration
This concentration is a rigorous four year program recommended for students planning a career in pharmacy, medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine. The first three years are designed to optimally prepare students for the pre-entrance aptitude examination (PCAT, MCAT, DAT or GRE).
Other Required Courses (18 credits)
Advanced Biochemistry Concentration
This concentration is a rigorous four-year program recommended for students interested in a career in biochemistry. It provides a comprehensive foundation for graduate study in biochemistry, pharmacology, or related fields and prepares students for careers in industrial, governmental, or academic settings. With this concentration, the student will have an ACS approved degree.
Other Required Courses (24 credits)
Forensics Concentration
This concentration is a rigorous four year program recommended for students planning a career in forensic science. It provides a comprehensive foundation for graduate study in forensic chemistry, forensic science, or analytical chemistry and prepares students for careers in industrial, governmental, or academic settings.
Other Required Courses (28 credits)
Teaching Licensure Concentration
This concentration is a rigorous four-year program recommended for students planning a career in teaching Chemistry in High School. It provides a comprehensive foundation of the 5 major divisions of chemistry (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, and physical) while providing the necessary course work to obtain licensure to teach Chemistry in Virginia’s High Schools.
Required Courses (45 credits)
Additional Degree Requirements
To graduate with a major in chemistry, a student must attain an overall major grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Different courses are considered in the calculation of the major grade point average depending on the student’s concentration. All courses required for a given concentration count towards the major grade point average. In cases where additional (beyond those required) electives listed for a given concentration are taken, all count towards the major grade point average calculation.
Open Credit Hours (27-56 credits)
These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.
Total Credits Needed for Degree 120
(Includes Core Curriculum requirements, required courses and electives. Students should consult with their academic advisors in selecting elective courses to complete the 120 semester hours required for graduation.) |
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