Chemistry Major

Description

Technical solutions are sought to address many societal needs such as,

• Development of new batteries, solar panels, and fuel cells,
• Replacement of current plastic materials with biodegradable ones,
• Developing new tests and drugs to detect and treat diseases,
• Making chemical manufacturing greener and more sustainable,
• Improving and expanding reuse and recyclability of materials.

The study of chemistry will open the door for you to enter a work force that is engaged in finding these technical solutions. The Chemistry major offers a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical laboratory experience in the areas of inorganic, organic, physical, and analytical chemistry as well as biochemistry to develop students’ skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and scientific inquiry. The ACS-Certified Chemistry major provides additional in-depth preparation especially useful for students who wish to pursue a Master’s, a Doctoral, or a professional degree after graduating from Brockport. Also consider the Biochemistry major or the Neuroscience major for entering the work force related to the life sciences and medicine. If you seek a career in chemical education, we offer two BS degree programs, the Chemistry Adolescence Education major and the Chemistry Adolescence Inclusive Generalist Education major.

Admission to the Program

Any undergraduate student can declare a major in chemistry.

Program Requirements

Students in the chemistry major pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete the corresponding degree’s requirements.

Minimum grades of “C” in CHM 205 and CHM 206 are required before students are allowed to take further chemistry courses in the major.

General Education Requirements (34* credits)

• GEP 100 Academic Planning Seminar (1 credit)
• ENG 112 College Composition (3 credits) (Q)
• Oral Communication (3 credits) (Y)
• Social Science (3 credits) (S)
• Humanities (3 credits) (H)
• US History & Civic Engagement (3 credits) (V)
• World History & Global Awareness (3 credits) (O)
• World Language (3 credits) (R)
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice (3 credits) (D)
• Arts (3 credits) (F)
• Contemporary Issues (3 credits) (I)
• Perspectives on Gender (3 credits) (W)

Major Department Requirements (39 credits)

• CHM205 College Chemistry I (4 credits)*(L)
• CHM206 College Chemistry II (4 credits)
• CHM301 Chemical Safety (1 credit)
• CHM302 Inorganic Chemistry I (4 credits)
• CHM303 Quantitative Chemical Analysis (4 credits)
• CHM305 Organic Chemistry I (4 credits)
• CHM306 Organic Chemistry II (4 credits)
• CHM400 Seminar I (1 credit)
• CHM401 Seminar II (1 credit)
• CHM405 Physical Chemistry I (3 credits)
• CHM406 Physical Chemistry II (3 credits)
• CHM408 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
• CHM409 Physical Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
• One additional lecture course chosen from: a CHM 300 or 400 level lecture not already required; MTH 203, or MTH 255 (3 or 4 credits)
• Any 300 or 400 level CHM lab not already required (excluding CHM 399) (1 credit)

Cognate or Additional Requirements (16 credits)

• MTH201 Calculus I (4 credits)*(M)
• MTH202 Calculus II (4 credits)
• PHS235 Physics I (4 credits)
• PHS240 Physics II (4 credits)

Prerequisites (0-6 credits)

• MTH 111 College Algebra
• MTH 122 Pre-Calculus (or three years high school math)

Electives (24-31 credits)

Total Credits (120 credits)

*denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements

Additional Degree Requirements

• Chemistry majors must earn a grade of C or better in CHM 205 and 206
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in all required major courses (Major Departmental Requirements).
• Completion of all college-wide degree requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be expected to:

1. identify and apply key principles of chemistry to solve complex problems.
2. analyze data and draw meaningful conclusions from chemical experiments and research.
3. explain chemical ideas in a coherent, logical, and compelling way, in both verbally and in writing using correct chemical terminology.
4. use a variety of chemical laboratory techniques safely and accurately to investigate chemical systems.
5. find chemical information using commonly available search engines and critically evaluate primary literature to further intellectual scientific pursuit.