Chemistry, B.S.

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The College of Arts and Sciences offers an undergraduate major in Chemistry with a curriculum that provides a strong background in the basic concepts of analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Laboratory courses provide hands-on experience in the operation of a number of modern scientific instruments. Upon graduation, the student is prepared for employment in government and industrial laboratories in a variety of entry-level positions. The program provides the necessary preparation for graduate work at the M.S. or Ph.D. level in chemistry and meets all requirements for admission to the M.S. in Analytical Chemistry at Governors State University.

American Chemical Society Certification

The B.S. in Chemistry at Governors State University is approved by the American Chemical Society. The American Chemical Society approves professional programs designed to meet guidelines that define high quality undergraduate education. Students qualify for certification by completing the degree requirements below, including at least six hours of advanced courses and sufficient laboratory course work for a total of 500 laboratory hours. All qualified graduates will receive certification by the American Chemical Society. Certified graduates are eligible for full membership in the American Chemical Society immediately upon graduation.

Program Expected Student Outcomes

Upon completion of the BS in Chemistry program, students will:

1. Acquire foundational knowledge in each of the five traditional subdisciplines of chemistry.

2. Develop problem-solving skills to proficiently conduct chemistry-related work.

3. Utilize modern library search tools to identify and access literature.

4. Perform chemical analyses using modern instrumentation.

5. Adhere to current safety practices to properly handle chemicals and instruments.

6. Describe concepts and results via reports and presentations.

Degree Requirements

Students must meet all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree.

In addition, only grades of “C” or better will be accepted for the following courses normally taken at the lower-division level: eight hours of general chemistry with laboratory, eight hours of organic chemistry with laboratory, eight hours of calculus-based physics with laboratory, and eight hours of calculus.

General Education Requirement (37-41)

The following courses (or the equivalent) are required to meet general education and major requirements:

Required Courses (67 Hours)

Chemistry Selectives (6 Hours)

Select six hours from the following courses:

CHEM - 4080 Special Topics In Chemistry (3)
CHEM - 4333 Analytical Biochemistry (2)
CHEM - 4334 Analytical Biochemistry Laboratory (1)
CHEM - 6145 Environmental Chemistry (3) NOTE: If selecting this course, student must meet with Academic Advisor for permission to enroll in graduate level course.

Electives (6-10 Hours)

Note: Chemistry students who are preparing for a graduate study in the physical sciences or engineering are encouraged to take MATH - 2294 Calculus III (4) , MATH - 2449 Linear Algebra (3) , or MATH - 4243 Analysis II: Complex Variable (3) .