Chemistry, B.A.

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The B.A. in Chemistry degree plan is designed for students who intend to apply for admission to professional (pharmacy, medical, veterinary, dental) schools or to work as school teachers. This degree plan gives students a solid foundation in chemistry while also leaving an ample number of semester credits hours for various elective courses (such as those required for pharmacy or medical schools). BA Chemistry students will also take a one-semester seminar course which will enhance their oral and written communication skills.

Although a participation in faculty-directed research is not a requirement for BA Chemistry students, such research is always encouraged and is supported through a Chemistry Departmental Research Grant from the Welch Foundation and endowments from Zeon Chemicals and Petrotex. UHCL chemistry faculty members are active in various fields of chemistry (including biomedically and biologically relevant ones).

NB: this degree plan does not meet the American Chemical Society (ACS) certification requirements and thus is not recommended for students who plan to work in chemical or pharmaceutical industry or to pursue graduate studies in natural sciences.

Requirements

This degree requires 120 hours which includes 42 hours of University Core. However, some of the Major Requirements courses listed below also satisfy University Core. If other courses are taken to satisfy the University Core, the Major Requirements below are still necessary for graduation and substitutions are not accepted.

University Core Requirements (42 hours)

Communication (6 hours)

WRIT 1301 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 1302 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3

Mathematics (3 hours)

MATH 2413 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4

Additional Information

Three (3) hours of Calculus will count toward the University Core and one (1) hour will count toward the Major.

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Choose two from list.

CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

Choose one from list.

HUMN 1301 - Humanities Credit Hours: 3
LITR 2341 - Literature and Experience Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 1301 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
WGST 1301 - Gender Matters: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies Credit Hours: 3

Creative Arts (3 hours)

Choose one from list.

ARTS 1303 - World Art Survey I Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 1304 - World Art Survey II Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 2379 - Arts and the Child Credit Hours: 3

American History (6 hours)

HIST 1301 - United States History I Credit Hours: 3
HIST 1302 - United States History II Credit Hours: 3

Government/Political Science (6 hours)

POLS 2305 - Federal Government Credit Hours: 3
POLS 2306 - Texas Government Credit Hours: 3

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Choose one from list.

ANTH 2346 - General Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
CRIM 1301 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 2301 - Introduction to Psychology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3

Component Area Option (6 hours)

COMM 1315 - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 1100 - Learning Frameworks Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 1111 - Laboratory for General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 1112 - Laboratory for General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 1

Major Requirements (46 hours)

Major Requirements

Required minimum for all Major Requirements is “C-.”

CHEM 1111 - Laboratory for General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 1112 - Laboratory for General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 2123 - Laboratory for Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 2125 - Laboratory for Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 2323 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 2325 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 3310 - Advanced Chemical Calculations Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 3320 - Survey of Physical Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4222 - Laboratory for Physical Chemistry Credit Hours: 2
CHEM 4235 - Advanced Lab for Inorganic Chemistry Credit Hours: 2
CHEM 4268 - Lab for Instrumental Analysis Credit Hours: 2
CHEM 4274 - Laboratory for Quantitative Chemical Analysis Credit Hours: 2
CHEM 4335 - Inorganic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4367 - Instrumental Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4372 - Undergraduate Research I and Seminar Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4373 - Quantitative Chemical Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MATH 2413 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
PHYS 1101 - Laboratory for College Physics I Credit Hours: 1
PHYS 1102 - Laboratory for College Physics II Credit Hours: 1
PHYS 1301 - College Physics I Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1302 - College Physics II Credit Hours: 3
STAT 3308 - Computational Statistics Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3315 - Advanced Technical Writing Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

Students may take CHEM 4222 or CHEM 4235 .

Major Electives (31 hours)

Students must complete at least 12 hours of the following CHEM courses with grades of “C-” or better.

CHEM 4189 - Independent Study in Chemistry Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 4222 - Laboratory for Physical Chemistry Credit Hours: 2
CHEM 4242 - Laboratory for Biochemistry Credit Hours: 2
CHEM 4312 - Principles of Astrobiochemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4341 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4359 - Drug Discovery and Design Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4363 - Forensic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4365 - Introduction to Polymer Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4371 - Advanced Spectroscopic Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4368 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4376 - Introduction to Petroleum Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4379 - Undergraduate Research II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4389 - Independent Study in Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4391 - Selected Topics in Chemistry Credit Hours: 3

Required Electives (19 hours)

Students must complete up to 19 hours of the following courses with grades of “C-” or better. These courses may be selected from the list below or other courses from list above, or as approved by the CHEM Program Chair. To ensure a good fit with student’s career goals, a consultation with Chemistry Program Chair is strongly suggested.

BIOL 1306 - Biology for Science Majors I Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1106 - Laboratory for Biology for Science Majors I Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 1307 - Biology for Science Majors II Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1107 - Laboratory for Biology for Science Majors II Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 2321 - Microbiology for Science Majors Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 2121 - Laboratory for Microbiology for Science Majors Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 3341 - Molecular Genetics Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 3141 - Laboratory for Molecular Genetics Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 3373 - Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 3173 - Laboratory for Human Anatomy Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 4345 - Human Physiology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4241 - Laboratory for Physiology Credit Hours: 2
BIOL 4351 - Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4361 - Immunology Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 4332 - Histology Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4342 - Biochemistry II Credit Hours: 3
ENSC 3332 - Environmental Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
ENSC 4251 - Laboratory for Environmental Analysis Credit Hours: 2
ENSC 4355 - Environmental Sampling and Monitoring Credit Hours: 3