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Chemistry Majors

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Sample 4-Year Plan: Chemistry B.A.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Chemistry B.S.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Chemistry-Biochemistry B.S.

Sample 4-Year Plan: Chemistry-Forensics B.S.

Bachelor of Science with a major in Chemistry

Students who aspire to careers as professional chemists should seek to obtain the Bachelor of Science degree. Students must complete the core courses listed below plus one of the three tracks:

ACS Certified Track

Biochemistry Track

Forensics Track

Students majoring in chemistry are urged to participate in independent research (CHE 292 or CHE 492) and are also encouraged to take at least one year of a foreign language and mathematics beyond Calculus II. A student completing the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is not required to complete a minor or an area of concentration.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) certified track meets requirements prescribed by ACS. Students may also receive ACS certification in the other Bachelor of Science tracks by selecting appropriate course options as indicated below.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.

Degree Requirements: B.S. – Chemistry


Core Courses		Credits
CHE 125	Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry		1
CHE 120/120L	General Chemistry I with Laboratory		4
CHE 121/121L	General Chemistry II with Laboratory		4
CHE 310/310L	Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory		4
CHE 311/311L	Organic Chemistry II with Laboratory		4
CHE 340/340L	Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory		4
CHE 360	Physical Chemistry I		3
CHE 361	Physical Chemistry II		3
CHE 362L	Physical Chemistry Laboratory		2
CHE 391W	Chemical Information and Writing		3
CHE 400	Chemistry Seminar		1
CHE 482	Biochemistry I		3
MAT 129 and 229	Calculus I and II
	OR		9
MAT 128, 227, and 228	Calculus A, B, and C
PHY 211 and PHY 213	General Physics I and II with Laboratory
	OR		8-10
PHY 220 and PHY 222	University Physics I and II with Laboratory
TOTAL CORE CREDITS		53-55

ACS Certified Track

The ACS certified track is designed to offer students a rigorous background in chemistry that will prepare them for careers in industrial chemistry and for graduate work in chemistry. With the addition of one year of biology (BIO 150/150L and 151/151L), this track is also well suited as a pre-professional degree (pre-medicine, pre-vet, pre-dental).


ACS Certified Track				Credits
CHE 320/320L		Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory			5
CHE 350/350L		Instrumental Analysis with Laboratory			4
Advanced content coursework: select at least 3 credits from the following:
CHE 410			Spectrometric Identification of Compounds
CHE 440			Environmental Chemistry
CHE 460/460L			Molecular Spectroscopy with Laboratory		3
CHE 483			Biochemistry II
CHE 511			Natural and Medicinal Product Synthesis
CHE 512			Physical Organic Chemistry
CHE 560			Quantum Mechanics
Advanced research methods coursework: select 3 credits from the following:
CHE 392	Advanced Laboratory Projects (1-3)
CHE 482L	Biochemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHE 483L	Biochemistry II Laboratory (1)				3
CHE 492	Research: Chemistry (1-3)
CHE 505	The History of Chemistry (2-3)
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS				15
Total Core Credits				53-55
TOTAL CREDITS				68-70

Biochemistry Track

The biochemistry track is designed for students who are interested in both chemistry and biology. In particular, it is designed for those students who are interested in the chemistry of living organisms. It is well suited for those who wish to pursue careers in biochemistry-related fields or for those students who wish to further their education in school or professional schools (medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, etc.).

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.


Biochemistry Track			Credits
CHE 482L	Biochemistry I Laboratory				1
CHE 483/483L	Biochemistry II with Laboratory				4
BIO 150/150L	Introduction to Biology I with Laboratory				4
BIO 151/151L	Introduction to Biology II with Laboratory				4
Select at least three of the following courses (one MUST be BIO 349-349L or BIO 400-400L)*
BIO 302/302L		General Microbiology with Laboratory (4)
BIO 349/349L		Genetics with Laboratory (4)
BIO 360		Advanced Biology of the Cell (3)
BIO 400/400L		Advanced Molecular Biology with Laboratory (4)		11-13
CHE 320/320L		Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory (5)
CHE 350/350L		Instrumental Analysis with Laboratory (4)
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS			24-26
Total Core Credits			53-55
TOTAL CREDITS			77-81

*To receive ACS certification, CHE 320-320L must be taken as one course in this distribution area.

Forensics Track

The forensics track is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in forensic science with a solid background in chemistry while gaining the basic knowledge needed to succeed in the criminal justice system. While a minor or area of concentration is not required with this track, it is strongly recommended that majors in this track complete the minor in criminalistics offered by the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice. By doing so, students will be much better prepared to work with other law enforcement professionals. Due to the complexity of this program, it is critical that students work closely with their advisor throughout their NKU academic career.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.


Forensics Track			Credits
CHE 482L	Biochemistry I Laboratory				1
BIO 150/150L	Introduction to Biology I with Laboratory				4
BIO 151/151L	Introduction to Biology II with Laboratory				4
BIO 349/349L	Genetics with Laboratory				4
BIO 400/400L	Advanced Molecular Biology with Laboratory				4
STA 205	Introduction to Statistical Methods				3
JUS 101	Introduction to Criminal Justice				3
JUS 204	Criminal Investigation				3
Select at least one course from the following:
BIO 455		Scanning Electron Microscopy (3)
CHE 350/350L		Instrumental Analysis with Laboratory (4)		3-4
TOTAL TRACK CREDITS			29-30
Total Core Credits			53-55
TOTAL CREDITS			82-85

To receive ACS certification, CHE 320-320L must be taken in addition to the listed courses.

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Chemistry

This degree is designed for those students who are interested in teaching chemistry at the high school level or for those students who will graduate with two majors. Students completing the Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry are required to complete a minor or an area of concentration if they have just one major.


Degree Requirements: B.A. - Chemistry			Credits
CHE 125	Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry				1
CHE 120/120L	General Chemistry I with Laboratory				4
CHE 121/121L	General Chemistry II with Laboratory				4
CHE 310/310L	Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory				4
CHE 311/311L	Organic Chemistry II with Laboratory				4
CHE 340/340L	Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory				4
CHE 360	Physical Chemistry I				3
CHE 361	Physical Chemistry II				3
CHE 362L	Physical Chemistry Laboratory				2
CHE 391W	Chemical Information and Writing				3
CHE 400	Chemistry Seminar				1
At least 3 additional hours of allowed 300 level or above chemistry courses					3
MAT 129 and 229		Calculus I and II
		OR		9
MAT 128, 227, and 228		Calculus A, B, and C
PHY 211 and 213		General Physics I and II with Laboratory
		OR		8-10
PHY 220 and 222		University Physics I and II with Laboratory
TOTAL CREDITS			53-55

Northern Kentucky University

Chemistry Majors

ACS Certified Track