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B.A. Degree in Chemistry

Disclaimer: The most authoritative information about our Chemistry Undergraduate Programs is available in the Bulletin/Course Catalog issued the year the student started the program. This page does not include the UK Core Requirements.  See the UK Core section of the Course Bulletin for the complete UK Core requirements.

College Requirements

  • Foreign Language (placement exam recommended) - 0 to 14 credits
  • Disciplinary Requirements: Social Science (3), Humanities (3)
  • Electives (6)

Premajor Requirements

  • Chemistry:  CHE 105, 107, 111, and 113
  • Mathematics:  MA 113 or 132, MA 114

Major Requirements

  • Chemistry: CHE 226, 230, 231, 232, 133, 440, 441

Graduation Composition & Communication Requirement

  • WRD 310 Writing in the Natural Sciences
  • Previously this requirement was fulfilled by CHE 372 and CHE 472

Other Course Work Required for the Major

  • Chemistry: Major Field Options (21 credits) - Choose 21 hours at the 300-500 level with a prefix of ANA, BCH, BIO, CHE, CME, CS, EES, MA, MI, MSE, PAT, PGY, PHA, PHR, PHY, PM, RM, or STA. Credit will not be given for both BCH 401G and CHE 550 or CHE 553. At least 5 of these hours must be in CHE courses; at least 4 hours must be taken outside of CHE. Up to 9 hours of CHE 395 are recommended for students having a minimum GPA of 3.0 in CHE courses. Other courses may be approved by the Undergraduate Program Committee. Students working toward teaching accreditation may count 6 hours taken at the 300+ level from the College of Education. A maximum of 9 hours of undergraduate research or reading courses may be counted; such courses require approval of the Undergraduate Program Committee if the courses do not carry the CHE prefix.
  • Physics: PHY 211, 213 or PHY 231, 232, 241, 242

122 hours are requried for a degree.

 

Certification Requirements

B.A. majors desiring American Chemical Society certification must take CHE 442G and include MA 213, MA 322, CHE 450G, CHE 522, and CHE 550 in their program. An alternate physics sequence, PHY 231, 232, 241, and 242, is recommended, and at least 3 credits of CHE 395, or one of the following: CHE 521, 533, or 552 is required.

Curriculum for B.A. in Chemistry

Freshman Year

First Semester Hours
CHE 105 General College Chemistry I 3
CHE 111 General Chemistry Laboratory I 1
ENG 104 Composition (USP IV) 4
MA 113 Calculus I 4
University Studies (VIII) 3
Second Semester Hours
CHE 107 General College Chemistry II 3
CHE 113 General Chemistry Laboratory II 2
University Studies (VIII) 3
MA 114 Calculus II 4
Elective 3

Sophomore Year

First Semester Hours
CHE 230 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHE 231 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2
PHY 211 General Physics 5
Social Science (USP VII) 3
Humanities (A&S VIII) 3
Second Semester Hours
CHE 232 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHE 233 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2
PHY 213 General Physics 5
Social Science (USP VII) 3
Humanities (USP IX, A&S VII) 3

Junior Year

First Semester Hours
CHE 226 Analytical Chemistry 3
CHE 440G Physical Chemistry 4
Foreign Language I (USP II)1 4
COM 199 Presentational Communication Skills (USP V) 2 1
Cross-Cultural, Humanities or Social Science (USP X, A&S VIII or VII) 3
Second Semester Hours
CHE 441G Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2
WRD 310 Writing in the Natural Sciences 2 1
Major Field Option 3 3
Foreign Language II (USP II)1 4
Social Science or Humanities (A&S VII or VIII) 3

Senior Year

First Semester Hours
Major Field Option 3 3
Major Field Option 3 3
Major Field Option 3 3
Foreign Language III (A&S II) 1 3
Free Elective (A&S X) 3
Second Semester Hours
Major Field Option 3 3
Major Field Option 3 3
Major Field Option 3 3
Foreign Language IV (A&S II) 1 3
Free Elective (A&S X) 3
  • [1] Any foreign language sequence satisfying the College of Arts and Sciences requirement in foreign languages may be taken. German is recommended.
  • [2] COM 199 and two credits of WRD 310 satisfy the University Studies requirement for Oral Communication.
  • [3] Major field options must total at least 21 credits. Six credits of CHE 395 are recommended for students having a minimum 3.0 GPA in chemistry courses.