Chemistry, B.S.

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Plans in Chemistry lead to the bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degrees. The B.S. degree is designed to meet the needs of students planning careers as professional chemists and is recommended as preparation for graduate training or for a career in the chemical industry.

In 2015, the Chemistry Program completed an extensive evaluation and assessment and retained its accreditation by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The Chemistry Program continues to be on the ACS’s list of approved chemistry programs nationwide. In addition to regular university degree, students may obtain an ACS-certified B.S. degree in chemistry if they complete the appropriate curriculum with a GPA of 3.3 or above. Students enrolled in Chemistry plans may choose courses in all traditional areas of Analytical, Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry and Biochemistry. Moreover, students are encouraged to further enhance their studies by undertaking research with one of the Chemistry faculty in any of these areas. In regard to such research, it should be noted that the Chemistry plan has received an endowment from the Welch Foundation in the form of a Chemistry Departmental Research Grant. This fund has been expended in support of the research efforts carried out by the plan’s faculty during the training of students. The Chemistry plan also has an endowment from the Zeon Chemicals Company and Petrotex.

All chemistry courses taken at UHCL more than one year prior to being admitted to the Chemistry plan are subject to faculty review before being accepted for degree credit.

The B.S. degree is designed to meet the needs of students planning careers as professional chemists and is recommended as preparation for graduate training or for a career in the chemical industry.

Requirements

This degree requires 120 hours which includes 43 hours of University Core. University Core is listed separately in the catalog. However; some of the Major Requirements courses listed below also satisfy University Core. If other courses are taken to satisfy 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 (68 hours)

Major Requirement

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 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 4321 - Physical Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4322 - Physical Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4335 - Inorganic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4341 - Biochemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4365 - Introduction to Polymer Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4367 - Instrumental Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4368 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4371 - Advanced Spectroscopic Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4372 - Undergraduate Research I and Seminar Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4373 - Quantitative Chemical Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4379 - Undergraduate Research II Credit Hours: 3
MATH 2413 - Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
MATH 2414 - Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
PHYS 2125 - Laboratory for University Physics I Credit Hours: 1
PHYS 2126 - Laboratory for University Physics II Credit Hours: 1
PHYS 2325 - University Physics I Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 2326 - University Physics II Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3315 - Advanced Technical Writing Credit Hours: 3

Chemistry Electives (10 hours)

Must be selected from the approved list below, or other junior or senior (3000 or 4000) level Physical Science courses: ASTR, GEOL, PHYS, CHEM or other science or math courses approved by the faculty adviser. Required “C-” or better. No more than two courses in the same area. Courses in Biology (Cell & Molecular Biology, Anatomy, Genetics, Ecology), Psychology and Sociology required for MCAT and DAT tests will be accepted with faculty adviser approval.

CHEM 3333 - Environmental Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4189 - Independent Study in Chemistry Credit Hours: 1
CHEM 4251 - Laboratory for Environmental Analysis Credit Hours: 2
CHEM 4311 - Chemical Origins Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4312 - Principles of Astrobiochemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4328 - Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4342 - Biochemistry II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4355 - Environmental Sampling and Monitoring Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4359 - Drug Discovery and Design Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4360 - Bio-organic and Medicinal Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4363 - Forensic Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4376 - Introduction to Petroleum Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4389 - Independent Study in Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 4391 - Selected Topics in Chemistry Credit Hours: 3