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Chemistry, BS

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Program Description

The Department of Chemistry offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Science degrees in chemistry. The department also offers a Bachelor of Science program, certified by the American Chemical Society, and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry education. While the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science curricula are designed to prepare undergraduate students for entrance into medical, dental, or other professional schools, the Bachelor of Science curricula are strongly suggested for students who wish to pursue a career as a professional chemist or graduate work in chemistry. All undergraduate degree programs are flexible and permit the option of a heavy concentration in chemistry courses or a combination of a chemistry major with extensive course work in allied (other sciences) or non-allied (business, arts) areas. To develop their academic programs to meet specific needs and individual interests, students should consult their academic advisors.

Bachelor of Science Degree

The Bachelor of Science candidate is required to complete the chemistry, mathematics, and physics course sequences in the following program outline with one exception: CHM 4990 - Special Problems in Chemistry is not required. However, it is expected that the serious chemistry major will complete at least four credit hours of this research course during the senior year.

The Bachelor of Science program includes broad coverage of the primary disciplines within the chemical field with course work in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. In addition to the Wright State Core, the degree program includes foundation studies in mathematics and physics. For the latter, the requirements may be met by either the PHY 1110, PHY 1120, PHY 1110L and PHY 1120L sequence or the PHY 2400, PHY 2410, PHY 2400L and PHY 2410L sequence.

Because the order in which science courses are taken is so important, students are advised to begin the mathematics, chemistry, and physics sequences as soon as possible.

Degree Requirements–Chemistry

Bachelor of Science Degree (ACS certified)

The ACS certified Bachelor of Science program is recommended particularly for those students who anticipate pursuing a career in chemistry. The program provides an in-depth coverage of the primary disciplines within the chemical field and adds further breadth to the course work required for the non-ACS Bachelor of Science program by the addition of courses in spectroscopy (CHM 4170), inorganic chemistry (CHM 4210, CHM 4210L) and biochemistry (BMB 4210). In addition, the physics requirement can be met only with the PHY 2400, PHY 2410, PHY 2400L and PHY 2410L sequence.

Bachelor of Science - Chemistry Education Degree

The Adolescence to Young Adult Chemistry Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. The Bachelor of Science candidate is required to complete the chemistry, mathematics, and physics course sequences in the following program outline, which includes the majority of the courses expected for the other B.S. programs, with the addition of overview courses in biology and earth and environmental studies and several courses in education.

Because the order in which science courses are taken is so important, students are advised to begin the mathematics, chemistry, and physics sequences as soon as possible.

Chemistry Education

Students who wish to teach chemistry in Ohio public high schools can pursue the Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Upon completion of this undergraduate degree program in the College of Science and Mathematics, students then must complete the Professional Educators Program (PEP) Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree through Wright State’s College of Health, Education, and Human Services. Graduates of the B.S. in chemistry and the M.Ed. Professional Educators Program are eligible to seek licensure from the Ohio Department of Education in either chemistry or chemistry in combination with another science field, depending on the content of the undergraduate curriculum.

Chemistry Honors Program

The honors program in chemistry is designed to provide recognition to the intellectually gifted student who pursues a program of independent study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The program is open to any chemistry major in the B.S. program having at least junior standing and a 3.25 or better overall GPA, including a 3.60 or better average in the four most recent chemistry lecture courses. The normal time for application for admission is at the end of the sophomore year and no later than the end of the junior year. Students apply for admission by contacting the chair of the undergraduate studies committee, who will examine the student’s record to determine eligibility. Eligible students are asked to submit a letter of intent (no longer than one typed page) indicating:

Why they wish to pursue departmental honors
The faculty member who has agreed to work with them
A description of the proposed project (with a timeline).

Upon acceptance into the program, the student should complete at least 9 credits of “A” research work, of which at least 6 credits will be CHM 4990. An additional 2 credit hours of “A” research work may be completed as collaborative research as specified in the letter of intent. The student also must pass with a minimum of a “B” grade two elective 4000-level lecture chemistry courses and present the research results at a local or national ACS meeting or other specialized conference and as an oral presentation as part of the CHM 8000 seminar series. Full details are available on the chemistry department website.

For More Information

Chemistry Concentration

Program Requirements:

I. WRIGHT STATE CORE: 42 HOURS

ELEMENT 1: COMMUNICATION: 6 HOURS

ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
ENG 2130 - Research Writing and Argumentation: Sciences Credit Hour(s): 3

ELEMENT 2: MATHEMATICS: 4 HOURS

Required

MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

ELEMENT 3: GLOBAL TRADITIONS: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 4: ARTS AND HUMANITIES: 3 HOURS

ELEMENT 5: SOCIAL SCIENCES: 6 HOURS

ELEMENT 6: NATURAL SCIENCES: 10 HOURS

Required

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2

ADDITIONAL CORE COURSES: 7 HOURS

Required

MTH 2310 - Calculus II Credit Hour(s): 4

II. DEPARTMENTAL CORE REQUIREMENTS: 15 HOURS

CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 3120 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 3120L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3

III. DEPARTMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND ELECTIVES: 28 HOURS

CHM 3190 - Chemical Literature and Composition Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 4200 - Inorganic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3510 - Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3510L - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 3520 - Physical Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3520L - Physical Chemistry Laboratory II Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 4350 - Instrumental Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 4350L - Instrumental Analysis Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 3
Seven hours of additional department-approved elective courses. Choose from the following:
CHM 4020/CHM 4020L
CHM 4170
CHM 4210/CHM 4210L
CHM 4370/ CHM 4370L
CHM 4610
CHM 4650
CHM 4680
CHM 4720
1 credit of CHM 4900 (cannot be repeated for additional elective credits)
3 credits from either BMB 4210 or BMB 4230
no more than 3 credits (combined total) in CHM 4880 and/or CHM 4990

IV. RELATED COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 14 HOURS

MTH 2320 - Calculus III Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
or
PHY 1100
PHY 1100L
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1

V. GENERAL ELECTIVES: 21 HOURS

CHM 4990 - Special Problems in Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 1 to 5 4 hours recommended

TOTAL: 120 HOURS

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.