Chemistry
Students may pursue chemistry by following either the specialized curriculum in chemistry (leading to the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry), or one of two options (Chemistry Option or Chemistry Teaching Option) in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum (leading to the Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences). The department also sponsors a minor in chemistry and a teacher education minor in chemistry. These programs of study are administered by the Department of Chemistry.
The specialized curriculum in chemistry is a rigorous, specialized program suitable for those planning careers in chemistry. It meets standards prescribed by the American Chemical Society. The chemistry option in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum is used by some students planning chemistry careers, but it is more often chosen by students wishing to obtain chemistry backgrounds for use in related fields.
Cooperative Education Program: Students accepted into the School of Chemical Sciences Cooperative Education Program spend alternate periods of attendance at the University with periods of employment in industry or government. Transcript recognition is given as well as a certificate of participation at graduation. Additional information and applications are available in the School of Chemical Sciences Placement and Student Services office.
Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum
Students must select one option.
Chemistry Option
E-mail: debe@uiuc.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required major and supporting course work normally equates to 48-51 hours including at least 30 hours in Chemistry or Biochemistry courses
General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction: Students qualify for graduation with distinction by exhibiting superior performance in both course work and in senior thesis research. To be eligible, a student must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 and must complete a senior thesis course (at least 6 hours of CHEM 499).
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 22-26 | Chemistry and biochemistry courses1 including: |
CHEM 440–Physical Chemistry Principles |
|
| or | |
CHEM 442–Physical Chemistry I |
|
| 4-8 | Two other 300- or 400-level courses, at least one of which must be outside physical chemistry. |
| 11 | MATH 220- Calculus I |
| MATH 230- Calculus II | |
| MATH 242–Calculus of Several Variables | |
| 8-10 | Select one group of courses: |
PHYS 101–College Physics, Mech & Heat and |
|
PHYS 102– College Physics, E&M & Modern |
|
| or | |
PHYS 211– Univ Physics, Mechanics and |
|
PHYS 212– Univ Physics, Elec & Mag |
Twelve hours of 300- or 400-level courses in Chemistry and/or Biochemistry must be taken on this campus.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
NOTE:Transfer credit in chemistry must be approved by an adviser in chemistry in order to be included in the 30 hours.
Chemistry Teaching Option
This option is designed to prepare the student to teach chemistry with a second teaching field in general science. In order to remain in good standing in this program and be recommended for certification, candidates are required to maintain UIUC, cumulative, content area, and professional education, grade-point averages of 2.5 (A= 4.0). Candidates should consult their advisor or the Council on Teacher Education for the list of courses used to compute these grade-point averages.E-mail: debe@uiuc.edu
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
General education: Students in the major must satisfy the LAS General Education requirements. In addition, one course must be selected from: SPCM 101, 113, 120, or THEA 210.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction: Students in this major may earn distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction, awarded on the basis of performance in student teaching and academic achievement.
Prerequisites to transfer to the Teaching Option (must be completed or be in progress prior to transfer into the teaching option): EPSY 201; EPS 201 or 202; CHEM 202, 203, 204, 205 (or CHEM 102, 103, 104, 105, 222, 223); CHEM 236 and 237 (or CHEM 232 and 233); MATH 220 and MATH 230. In addition, the student is required to pass the State Basic Skills Test before application to the teaching minor.
In addition to the requirements for the option listed below, students must complete the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching (37 hours). Conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences prior to completion of the minor requires approval by petition to the LAS Student Affairs Office. Ordinarily, all students will require 10 semesters to complete this program.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 9 - 11 | Select one group of courses: |
| CHEM 202–Accelerated Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 203–Accelerated Chemistry Lab I | |
| CHEM 204–Accelerated Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 205–Accelerated Chemistry Lab II | |
| or | |
| CHEM 102–General Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 103–General Chemistry Lab I | |
| CHEM 104–General Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 105–General Chemistry Lab II | |
| CHEM 222–Quantitative Analysis Lecture | |
| CHEM 223–Quantitative Analysis Lab | |
| 5 - 6 | Select one group of courses: |
| CHEM 236–Fundamental Organic Chem I | |
| CHEM 237–Structure and Synthesis | |
| or | |
| CHEM 232–Elementary Organic Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 233–Elementary Organic Chemistry Lab I | |
| 4 | CHEM 495–Teaching Secondary Chemistry |
| 4 | Select one: |
| CHEM 440–Physical Chemistry Principles | |
| or | |
| CHEM 442–Physical Chemistry I | |
| 5 | At least five additional hours of 300- or 400-level chemistry and/or biochemistry course work. |
| 11 | MATH 220–Calculus I |
| MATH 230–Calculus II | |
| MATH 242–Calculus of Several Variables (or MATH 243) | |
| 10 | PHYS 211–Univ Physics, Mechanics |
| PHYS 212–Univ Physics, Elec & Mag | |
| PHYS 214– Univ Physics, Quantum Phys | |
| 4 | IB 101–Biological Sciences |
| 4 | GEOL 101–Introductory Physical Geology |
| or | |
| GEOL 107–Physical Geology | |
| 3 | ASTR 100–Perspectives in Astronomy |
Twelve hours of 300- or 400-level courses in Chemistry must be taken on this campus.
All LAS General Education requirements (including foreign language) must be satisfied plus one Speech Communications course (SPCM 101, 113, 120, or THEA 210).
Major in Specialized Curriculum in Chemistry
The typical program of courses required to satisfy this degree totals 128-134 hours; in no case will a program totaling less than 120 hours qualify for graduation. Graduation requires grade point averages of at least 2.0 overall and 2.0 in chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses. The Department of Chemistry will supply, upon request, a brochure showing recommended semester-by-semester programs for the completion of the curriculum.Students in the specialized curriculum in Chemistry must include a course in Biochemistry in the Advanced Hours area or the Technical Elective area to be certified by the American Chemical Society as having met its specifications.
E-mail: debe@uiuc.edu
Web address for department: www.scs.uiuc.edu/chem
Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
General education: All campus general education requirements must be satisfied.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction: Students qualify for graduation with distinction by exhibiting superior performance in both course work and in senior thesis research. To be eligible, a student must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 and must complete a senior thesis course (at least 6 hours of CHEM 499).
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 351 | Core Chemistry: |
| CHEM 202–Accelerated Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 203–Accelerated Chemistry Lab I | |
| CHEM 204–Accelerated Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 205–Accelerated Chemistry Lab II2 | |
| CHEM 236–Fundamental Organic Chem I | |
| CHEM 237–Structure and Synthesis | |
| CHEM 312–Inorganic Chemistry | |
| CHEM 315–Instrumental Chemical Systems Lab | |
| CHEM 420–Instrumental Characterization | |
| CHEM 436–Fundamental Organic Chem II | |
| CHEM 442–Physical Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 444–Physical Chemistry II | |
| CHEM 445–Physical Principles Lab I | |
| 11 | Advanced Chemistry: |
| Chemistry/Biochemistry courses numbered 300 or higher, which must include one from the following:3 | |
CHEM 317–Inorganic Chemistry Lab |
|
CHEM 437–Organic Chemistry Lab |
|
CHEM 447–Physical Principles Lab II |
|
| Additional laboratory work:3,4 | |
BIOC 455–Biochemistry Laboratory |
|
CHEM 317–Inorganic Chemistry Lab |
|
CHEM 421–Separation Methods |
|
CHEM 423–Electronic Circuits I |
|
CHEM 437–Organic Chemistry Lab |
|
CHEM 447–Physical Principles Lab II |
|
CHEM 483–Solid State Structural Anlys |
|
CHBE 494-Special Topics (lab sections only) |
|
MCB 354-Biochem & Phys Bases of Life |
|
Additional chemistry/biochemistry courses to complete the 11-hour requirement in advanced chemistry (excluding CHEM 499) |
|
| 11 | Mathematics:1 |
| MATH 220–Calculus I | |
| MATH 230–Calculus II | |
| MATH 242–Calculus of Several Variables, or equivalent | |
| 10 | Physics:1 |
| PHYS 211– Univ Physics, Mechanics | |
| PHYS 212– Univ Physics, Elec & Mag | |
| PHYS 214– Univ Physics, Quantum Phys, or equivalent | |
| 14 | Technical Electives,4 including the following: |
| Required Mathematics:5 | |
MATH 498–Math Methods in Engineering |
|
or |
|
MATH 225–Introductory Matrix Theory, and |
|
MATH 385–Intro Differential Equations, or equivalent |
|
| Strongly Recommended: | |
CHEM 499–Senior Thesis (maximum of 10 hours) |
|
| Recommended: basic computer science | |
| Other technical courses chosen from: | |
Chemistry (300 or higher), biochemistry, chemical engineering (200 or higher) |
|
Courses in life sciences (all courses at 200 or higher) |
|
Mathematics or computer science above the basic level |
|
Other courses in the physical and biological sciences and engineering including CHEM 1996 |
|
| variable | Nontechnical Requirements:7 |
| General education: | |
Foreign language–three semesters of college study (or three years of high school study) in a single foreign language |
|
Composition I writing requirement (RHET 105, RHET 108, SPCM 111 and 112, or equivalent) |
|
Advanced Composition writing requirement8 |
|
Humanities/Arts to satisfy the campus general education requirements |
|
Social/Behavioral sciences to satisfy the campus general education requirements |
|
Cultural Studies to satisfy the campus general education requirement 9 |
|
| 31 | Free electives10 |
2. If necessary, CHEM 102 and 103, 104 and 105, 222, and 223 may be substituted for CHEM 202, 203, 204, and 205. Warning: CHEM 222 and 223 are offered only in the fall semester.
3. The course chosen from CHEM 317, 437, or 447 cannot be used to satisfy the additional chemistry lab requirement.
4. Students who present less than 6 semester hours credit in CHEM 499 for graduation must complete two additional courses chosen from the list. Students who will present at least 6 semester hours credit in CHEM 499 for graduation are required to complete only one laboratory course from the list.
5. Students contemplating transfer to the chemical engineering curriculum should choose MATH 225 and 385.
6. Three hours maximum credit. Additional courses in the sciences and engineering can be taken upon the approval of the chair of the chemistry department advising committee. Most approved courses must have a strong technical prerequisite, such as one year of college-level math or science.
7. The requirements for the Campus General Education categories Natural Sciences and Technology and Quantitative Reasoning I and II are fulfilled through required course work in the curriculum.
8. The course taken to satisfy the Advanced Composition requirement may also be used to partially satisfy one of the core chemistry, advanced chemistry, mathematics, physics, or technical electives requirements (if appropriate), or may be used to partially satisfy the free electives requirements.
9. The courses taken to satisfy Western and/or Non-Western Civilization requirements may also be used to satisfy nontechnical and/or free elective categories.
10. Restrictions: (1) Courses preparatory to or used to satisfy the minimum requirements specified in the above requirements may not be included as free electives. (2) No first-year foreign language course (e.g., 101, 102, or equivalent) may be included unless it is a different language than used to satisfy the foreign language nontechnical requirement.
Environmental Chemistry Option
E-mail: debe@uiuc.edu
This option is designed to provide a background in environmental chemistry that has sufficient breadth and depth to enable a student to work as an environmental chemist in the public or private sectors and/or to pursue an advanced degree in the field. Students who complete this option will be certified in environmental chemistry by the American Chemical Society.
The Environmental Chemistry Option is based on the Specialized Curriculum in Chemistry. Therefore, to be certified for this option, a student must satisfy all of the requirements for the Specialized Curriculum in Chemistry. In addition one course must be selected from each of four of the following categories (A-E):
| Requirements |
|---|
| Category A. Select one of the following: |
ENVS 398—Special Topics in Env Studies, or |
CEE 330—Environmental Engineering |
| Category B. Select one of the following: |
CEE 443—Env Eng Principles, Chemical, or |
ENVS 451—Environmental Organic Chem |
| Category C. CEE 447—Atmospheric Chemistry |
| Category D. Select one of the following: |
GEOL 460—Geochemistry, or |
NRES 487—Soil Chemistry |
| Category E. CHEM 499—Senior Thesis (environmental topic; minimum of 3 hours credit) |
Each of the courses on the above list qualifies as a Technical Elective for the Specialized Curriculum in Chemistry.
Minor in Chemistry
E-mail: debe@uiuc.edu
Web address for department: www.scs.uiuc.edu/chem
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 10 | Maximum of 10 hours of Chemistry courses numbered 205 or lower.1 |
| 6 | Minimum of 6 hours of 300- or 400-level Chemistry and/or Biochemistry courses |
| 4 | Chemistry courses selected in consultation with adviser |
| 20 | Total |
Teacher Education Minor in Chemistry
Teacher Education minors are available only to students seeking to add additional teaching fields to their teaching majors.
E-mail: debe@uiuc.edu
Web address for department: http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/chem
| Hours | Requirements1 |
|---|---|
| 10-11 | General chemistry, select one group of courses: |
| CHEM 202–Accelerated Chemistry I, and | |
| CHEM 203–Accelerated Chemistry Lab I, and | |
| CHEM 204–Accelerated Chemistry II, and | |
| CHEM 205–Accelerated Chemistry Lab II | |
| or | |
| CHEM 102–General Chemistry I, and | |
| CHEM 103–General Chemistry Lab I and | |
| CHEM 104–General Chemistry II, and | |
| CHEM 105–General Chemistry Lab II, and | |
| CHEM 222–Quantitative Analysis Lecture, and | |
| CHEM 223–Quantitative Analysis Lab | |
| (CHEM 121–Elem Quantitative Analysis may be taken as an alternative to CHEM 222 and 223) | |
| 5 | Elementary organic chemistry including laboratory |
| 10-12 | Chemistry or other physical science courses |
| 25-28 | Total |