Choosing a Concentration

The chemistry major has two parts: the core curriculum and an area of concentration. The core curriculum is common to all chemistry majors in includes courses in analytical, organic, and inorganic chemistry as well as classes in mathematics and physics.

The areas of concentration recognize the increasing number of ways that chemists provide an atomic and molecular perspective that is essential to interdisciplinary scientific research and teaching. All areas of concentration include courses in physical chemistry, but differ in their electives. In choosing an area of concentration, students are able to tailor the chemistry major to their academic interests and future goals.

Areas of concentration include:

Chemical Concentration:

A “standard” chemistry major, with all electives in the Chemistry department; also with the option to be certified by the American Chemical Society (see below). Only one course numbered 4000 or higher can serve as one of the two electives.

Requirements (3):
- CHEM 2260 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 2510 Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics
- CHEM 2520 Quantum Chemistry and Spectrometry
Electives (2):
- CHEM 2320 Biochemistry
- CHEM 2550 Introduction to Computational Chemistry
- CHEM 3000 or higher

Educational Concentration:

A concentration with electives in the Chemistry and Education departments. The four education course requirements also count toward an education minor or education coordinate major.

Requirements (5):
- CHEM 2510 Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics or CHEM 2520 Quantum Chemistry and Spectrometry
- EDUC 1101 Contemporary American Education
- EDUC 2203 Educating All Students
- EDUC 3301 Teaching and Learning
- EDUC 3302 Curriculum Development
Electives (2):
- Select two additional chemistry electives in consultation with the advisor

Environmental Concentration:

A concentration with electives in the Chemistry, Biology, EOS, and Physics departments. At least one of the molecular or environmental perspectives courses must be from the advanced level (3000-3999).

Requirements (4):
- CHEM 2510 Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics
- Two molecular perspective courses:
  - CHEM 2050 Environmental Chemistry
  - CHEM 3050 Environmental Fate of Organic Chemicals
  - CHEM 3055 Catalysis in Sustainable Chemical Processes
  - CHEM 3060 Transformation of Organic Chemicals in the Environment
  - CHEM 3100 Instrumental Analysis
- One environmental perspectives course:
  - CHEM 1105 Perspectives in Environmental Science
  - EOS 2005 Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change
  - EOS 2525 Marine Biogeochemistry
  - EOS 2585 Ocean and Climate
  - EOS 3020 Earth Climate History
  - PHYS 2810 Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics
  - PHYS 3810 The Physics of Climate
  - BIOL 2319 Biology of Marine Organisms
  - BIOL 2333 Benthic Ecology
  - BIOL 2327 Ecology
  - BIOL 2581 Forest Ecology and Conservation
Electives (1):
- One additional course from the molecular or environmental perspectives list

Geochemical Concentration:

A concentration with electives in the Chemistry and EOS departments. At least one elective must be at the advanced level (3000-3999).

Requirements (3):
- CHEM 2050 Environmental Chemistry
- CHEM 2510 Thermodynamics and Kinetics
- CHEM 3100 Instrumental Analysis
Electives (2):
- EOS 2005 Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change
- EOS 2165 Mountains to Trenches
- EOS 2585 Ocean and Climate
- EOS 3020 Earth Climate History
- EOS 3115 Research in Mineral Science

Neurochemical Concentration:

A concentration with electives in the Chemistry, Biology, and Psychology departments and Neuroscience program. Chemistry majors completing the neurochemical concentration cannot also major in neuroscience.

Requirements (5):
- BIOL 1102 Biological Principles II or BIOL 1109 Scientific Reasoning in Biology
- CHEM 2260 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 2320 Biochemistry
- CHEM 2510 Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics or CHEM 2520 Quantum Chemistry and Spectrometry
- One advanced neuroscience course (3000-3999)
Electives (2):
- BIOL 2135 Neurobiology
- BIOL 2510 Neuropharmacology
- BIOL 2553 Neurophysiology
- BIOL 2566 Molecular Neurobiology

The American Chemical Society (ACS)-certified major:

An option that requires additional coursework to augment the Chemical Concentration and provides rigorous pre-professional training for many career paths including the profession of chemistry, graduate studies in the sciences, medicine, secondary school teaching, and many fields in the business world. See the ACS Certified Major Requirements worksheet for details.