Chemistry (BA)
Description
The Chemistry and Biochemistry programs prepare students for advanced study in graduate, medical, dental or law schools and/or for employment in chemical and related industries, government or private research laboratories.
The Chemistry and Biochemistry programs educate students as professional chemists who can plan and reason through problem situations and develop responses that are scientifically correct and ethically and socially acceptable.
The Chemistry and Biochemistry curricula provide exceptional opportunities to combine a traditional education with advanced laboratory experiences including undergraduate research.
The undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry programs also provide core curriculum courses for students pursuing other Science, Engineering, and Liberal Arts curricula.
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Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to
• work safely and effectively in a laboratory.
• design experiments.
• use and/or interpret (qualitatively, quantitatively, and statistically) data collected by the following instruments: pH meter, analytical balance, UV/vis spectrometer, FTIR, GC/MS, and NMR.
• communicate effectively through oral and written reports.
• search the chemical literature including online sources.
• critically read the chemical literature.
• use computers to assist data collection and processing.
• demonstrate a mastery of factual knowledge across the five content areas of chemistry: organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemical.
• work effectively in small groups and teams.
• demonstrate an awareness of the ethical issues in chemistry. -
Degree Requirements - Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Chemistry (120 credits)
The bachelor of arts degree is designed for students who wish to combine a degree in Chemistry with another profession, such as secondary education, patent law, or scientific writing. This degree also prepares students to work in technical support positions.
Course Requirements
- CHM 1070 General Chemistry I (3 credits)
- CHM 1080 General Chemistry II (3 credits)
- CHM 1100 Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
- CHM 1120 Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
- CHM 2250 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
- CHM 2270 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
- CHM 2290 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
- CHM 2310 Advanced Organic and Inorganic Synthetic Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHM 3200 Computers in Chemistry and Molecular Modeling (1 credit)
- CHM 3330 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
- CHM 3410 Chemical Thermodynamics and Applications (3 credits)
- CHM 3420 Chemical Dynamics and Quantum Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHM 3870 Quantitative Analysis (3 credits)
- CHM 3880 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHM 4740 Recent Advances in Chemistry and Biochemistry (3 credits)
- CHM 4990 Chemistry Senior Assessment (0 credits)
- One upper-level Chemistry course from the following:
- Optional: Laboratory Research (CHM 3980, CHM 4980) max 6 credits
Additional Science and Mathematics Requirements
- PHY 1300 General Physics I (3 credits)
- PHY 1310 General Physics I Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHY 1320 General Physics II (3 credits)
- PHY 1330 General Physics II Laboratory (1 credit)
- MTH 1410 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (4 credits)
- MTH 1420 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4 credits)
Core Curriculum Courses
In addition to the courses required for this program listed above, the student must also fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum for this program.
Some of these courses may be satisfied by courses in your program. Please review your Degree Evaluation or consult your academic advisor for more information.
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Optional Concentration-BA Chemistry Research
The Research Concentration within the B.A. Chemistry major is designed for students who are interested in pursuing further research in graduate school or careers in industry, medicine, and science education. A research concentration will offer students an opportunity to read and explore scientific literature, develop hypotheses, design and implement experiments, collect and analyze data and communicate their findings. The Research Concentration involves both course-based research experiences and mentored laboratory research experiences. Students will gain experience problem solving by using the scientific method.
The concentration is a minimum of 9 credits and must include six credit hours from courses 3000+ level or higher.
Inquiry-based laboratory or course-based undergraduate research experience (at least 2 credits)
- BIO 1040 – Fundamentals of Bioinformatics (3 credits)
- BIO 2710 – Genetics Laboratory (2 credits)
- BIO 3201 – Applied Metagenomics (3 credits)
- BIO 3510 – Histology Laboratory (2 credits)
- BIO 3950 – Advanced Microbial Phage Genomics: SEA GENES (4 credits)
- BIO 4490 – Ecology Laboratory (2 credits)
- BIO 4640 – Physiology Laboratory (2 credits)
- BIO 4750 – Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory (2 credits)
- CHM 1150 – Research in Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
- CHM 1980 – Introduction to Research Methods in Chemistry and Biochemistry (1 credit)
- CHM 4750 – Biochemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHM 4830 – Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1 credit)
Note-Another laboratory course could be acceptable if it has a research attribute.
Laboratory Research (3-8 credits):
Each student must take two (2) academic semesters and/or summers of mentored research and it must include the preparation and presentation of a thesis.
- BIO 4920 (1-2 credits): Directed Studies: Laboratory Research
- BIO 4930 (1-2 credits): Directed Studies: Advanced Laboratory Research
- SCIE 4998 (0-1.5 credits): Undergraduate Research Thesis I
- SCIE 4999 (0-1.5 credits): Undergraduate Research Thesis II
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- CHM 3980 (1-2 credits): Introduction to Undergraduate Research
- CHM 4980 (1-2 credits): Undergraduate Research
- SCIE 4998 (0-1.5 credits): Undergraduate Research Thesis I
- SCIE 4999 (0-1.5 credits): Undergraduate Research Thesis II
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- SCIE 4980 (0 credits): Undergraduate Research
- SCIE 4998 (0-1.5 credits): Undergraduate Research Thesis I
- SCIE 4999 (0-1.5 credits): Undergraduate Research Thesis II
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- HON 4997 (1 credit): Honors Thesis Proposal
- HON 4998 (1 credit): Honors Thesis Approval
- HON 4999 (1 credit): Honors Thesis Defense Additional Requirement
Research Portfolio (0 credits, Pass/Fail):
Each student must prepare and submit a research portfolio containing the products from each of the courses in the research concentration. These include the presentations, reports, posters, research proposal, research reflections, final thesis, and final presentation. The research portfolio is the full story of the student's research trajectory and achievements. The portfolio is evaluated by the Research Concentration Committee.
Total Credits: 9 credits
Contact Kendra Evans, Ph.D., (kendrakr@udmercy.edu) for more information.
Program Contact Information
Program Chair: Matthew J. Mio, Ph.D.
Chemistry 113
McNichols Campus
Telephone: 313-993-1258
Email: chairchembiochem@udmercy.edu
Website