Programs of Study illinois home
   

Chemistry

www.scs.uiuc.edu/chem

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
1. Excluding CHEM 101, 108, 121, and 199.

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
4 At least four 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
1. Hours given are those typical to meet requirement.

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

1.CHEM 101 may not count in the 20 hours.

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

1. Students are advised that additional course work is necessary to teach middle grades six through eight. Consult the certification officer at 505 East Green Suite 203 for additional information.

  
 
 
Site created by the Office of Web Services

Programs Contact

University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign


© 2003 The Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois