Faculty  

James W. Lane, Professor
Michael A. Waxman, Professor

The Chemistry major is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Students may take additional chemistry courses to prepare for graduate school and to meet requiqrements of the American Chemical Society to have transcripts marked "ACS-certified Major (General Option)."

56 credits

All grades in required courses for the major must be C or higher, except that two grades of C- may be counted toward the major. No minor is required.

Required courses:
CHEM 105      General Chemistry I - 5 credits
CHEM 106      General Chemistry II - 4 credits
CHEM 205/206         Quantitative Analysis - 5 credits
CHEM 320/322/327         Organic Chemistry I - 6 credits
CHEM 321/323         Organic Chemistry II - 5 credits
CHEM 345/347         Physical Chemistry I - 5 credits
CHEM 365      Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry - 3 credits
CHEM 360 or 366     Biochemistry or Inorganic Chemistry - 3 credits
CHEM 481 or 491 or 496     Research or Senior paper - 1 credit
CHEM 497      Senior Seminar - 1 credit
MATH 240/241         Calculus  - 8 credits
PHYS 201       Calculus-Based Physics I
or
PHYS 107/205          Algebra-Based Physics I
and
PHYS 202       Calculus Based Physics II
or
PHYS 108/206          Algebra-Based Physics - 10 credits
Total: 56 credits

Recommended: MATH 242

Notes:

1.         Secondary Education: Chemistry majors seeking certification to teach high school chemistry should choose CHEM 366. These students also must meet the Professional Education requirements. See the Secondary Education information under the Teacher Education section of this catalog, the Teacher Education handbook, and consult with your advisors in Chemistry and Teacher Education.

2.         Professional Chemistry option: This option is recommended for students considering graduate school in chemistry or employment as a professional chemist. The additional coursework provides the student with a stronger theoretical and practical foundation. In addition to the core required courses for the comprehensive liberal arts degree, students must also complete:

a.         CHEM 346/348 Physical Chemistry II        5 credits

b.         CHEM 375/376 Instrumental Analysis       5 credits

3.         American Chemical Society (ACS)-Certified option: This option is recommended especially for students who plan to attend graduate school in chemistry as well as for students desiring additional theoretical and laboratory training in specialized areas of chemistry. In addition to the core required courses for the comprehensive liberal arts degree, students also must complete:

a.         CHEM 346/348 Physical Chemistry II        5 credits

b.         CHEM 375/376 Instrumental Analysis       5 credits

c.          CHEM 360 and 366 (3 additional credits)   

            Biochemistry and Inorganic Chemistry      3 credits

d.         CHEM 367 Inorganic Chemistry Lab         1 credit

e.         A total of six credits of 400-level courses in Chemistry, excluding CHEM 497.

f.          One additional laboratory credit, which also may count for item e. A student who maintains a cumulative GPA of 2.000 for the aforementioned coursework is eligible to have his or her transcript marked "ACS-certified (General Option)" and to receive a certificate from the American Chemical Society indicating receipt of an ACS-certified degree. 

4.         Biochemistry option: Chemistry majors interested in attending graduate school in biochemistry or pursuing a career in the field of biochemistry are advised to take CHEM 360, 462/465 as well as the following biology courses: BIOL 130, 132, 330, 355, 440. While this is not a formal biochemistry major, students choosing this option will have completed the topics recommended for a biochemistry major by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Students who also choose BIOL 340 will complete a minor in biology.

63 credits

Forensic chemistry is increasingly used to solve crimes and provide evidence in court. The U.S. Department of Labor and the American Chemical Society are both optimistic about the job prospects for forensic chemists.

The Forensic Chemistry Concentration emphasizes analytical chemistry along with Criminal Justice courses dealing with handling evidence and other legal issues. The courses for this concentration satisfy the admission requirements for many forensic chemistry and forensic science graduate programs.

Those interested in attending graduate school in forensic chemistry or forensic science or pursuing a career in the field of forensics are required to take the following courses specifically tailored to the needs of this field.

Required courses:

CHEM 105      General Chemistry I - 5 credits
CHEM 106      General Chemistry II - 4 credits
CHEM 205      Quantitative Analysis Lecture - 3 credits
CHEM 206      Quantitative Analysis Laboratory - 2 credits
CHEM 320      Organic Chemistry Lecture I - 3 credits
CHEM 321      Organic Chemistry Lecture II - 3 credits
CHEM 322      Organic Chemistry Laboratory I - 2 credits
CHEM 323      Organic Chemistry Laboratory II - 2 credits
CHEM 327      Molecular Spectroscopy I - 1 credit
CHEM 360      Introduction to Biochemistry - 3 credits
CHEM 375      Instrumental Analysis Lecture - 3 credits
CHEM 376      Instrumental Analysis Laboratory - 2 credits
CHEM 381      Intermediate Topics * - 3 credits
BIOL/CHEM 465      Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Cell/Molecular Biology - 2 credits
BIOL/CHEM 481      Special Topics (internship) -  2 credits
BIOL 492/CHEM 497      Senior Seminar - 1 credit
BIOL 330        Genetics **  - 4 credits
CJUS 210        Criminal Procedure and Evidence - 3 credits
CJUS 212        Managing Criminal Investigations - 3 credits
MATH 240     Calculus and Analytic Geometry I - 4 credits
PHYS 107       Algebra-Based Physics I - 4 credits
PHYS 108       Algebra-Based Physics II - 4 credits 


* CHEM 381 - Topic: Introduction to Physical Chemistry

** A year of high school biology or BIOL 130 Principles of Biology is recommended.

A severe shortage exists of secondary education teachers in chemistry. Many high schools must hire students with only a minor in chemistry. Students with this major will be very competitive in the secondary education job market, especially if they also have a secondary education major in biology or mathematics.

Required courses - 35 credits:

Graduates may obtain this major only if they complete all requirements for secondary education certification.  A teaching minor or second teaching major is required with this major.

CHEM 105      General Chemistry I - 5 credits
CHEM 106      General Chemistry I - 4 credits
CHEM 205      Quantitative Analysis Lecture - 3 credits
CHEM 206      Quantitative Analysis Laboratory - 2 credits
CHEM 312      Organic Chemistry - A Short Course - 3 credits
CHEM 313      Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory - 2 credits
CHEM 381      Introduction to Physical Chemistry - 3 credits
MATH 115     Precalculus - 5 credits
PHYS 107       General Physics I (non-calculus based) - 4 credits
PHYS 108       General Physics II (non-calculus based) - 4 credits  

1. Students may substitute CHEM 320-323, 327 for CHEM 312/313.
   
2. Students may substitute CHEM 345 for CHEM 341.
   
3. Students may substitute PHYS 201 for PHYS 107 and PHYS 202 for PHYS 108.
   
4. Students must satisfactorily complete all DPI and UW-Superior requirements for secondary education certification, including NSEd 339 Teaching Science in the Secondary School.

A minimum of 22 credits of Chemistry, including: CHEM 105, CHEM 106.

Remaining credits must be obtained by completing one of the following sequences:

CHEM 205, 206, 312, 313, and either 300 or 360 or 345/347 (total 22-24)
or
CHEM 320-323, 327, and either 205/206 or 300 or 360 or 365 or 381* (total 23-25)

* CHEM 381 Introduction to Physical Chemistry (3 credits)