Chemistry, BA

Secondary Education Option
Program Delivery
On Campus, Online, Hybrid
Total Credits
121 Credits

About the Program

The BA in Chemistry with the secondary education option is designed for students wishing to become high school chemistry teachers.

Focus of Study

This program has very specific requirements and little room for elective courses that will not count towards graduation. It is important to consult with advisors from both the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the College of Education.

For more information on the requirements for the Initial Secondary Licensure, see the Secondary Initial License Certificate.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Chemistry - Secondary Education Option requires the following:

  • A minimum of 33 credit hours of CHEM coursework. At least 16 of those hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 or higher).
  • 28 additional hours of auxiliary coursework.
  • A grade of C or better in all CHEM and auxiliary coursework.
  • A minimum 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all CHEM coursework.
  • No more than 60 credit hours of CHEM course work may apply to the bachelor’s degree.
  • 33 hours of UCCS Teach course work.
  • A grade of "B-" or better must be earned in all Education courses.
  • Education courses should be taken in the appropriate semester. See the advising four-year plan for details.

*Students must contact the chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry in the semester prior to that in which they wish to teach in order to determine an appropriate lab to teach.

Program Coursework

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Chemistry Core Courses

  • CHEM 1401 - General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 1402 - General Chemistry Laboratory I
  • CHEM 1511 - General Chemistry for Majors II
  • CHEM 1513 - General Chemistry Laboratory for Majors II
    • Note: CHEM 1511/1513 is recommended, but students may elect to take the non-majors courses, CHEM 1411/1412.
  • CHEM 3201 - Organic Chemistry for Majors I
  • CHEM 3203 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory for Majors I
  • CHEM 3211 - Organic Chemistry for Majors II
  • CHEM 3213 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory for Majors II
    • Note: Students who have earned credit hours for CHEM 3101/3102 and 3111/3112 must take CHEM 3203 and 3213.
  • CHEM 4001 - Analytical Chemistry
  • CHEM 4002 - Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
  • CHEM 4211 - Biochemistry
  • CHEM 4701 - Biophysical Chemistry

Chemistry Electives

Complete 3 hours of upper-division (3000 + level) Chemistry Electives.

Auxiliary Required Courses

  • BIOL 1350 - General Biology: Introduction to the Cell
  • BIOL 1360 - General Biology: Introduction to the Cell Laboratory
  • GEOL 1010 - Physical Geology
  • MATH 1330 - Calculus for Life Sciences
  • PES 1110 - General Physics I - Calculus Based
  • PES 1160 - Advanced Physics Lab I - Calc Based
  • PES 1120 - General Physics II
  • PES 2160 - Advanced Physics Lab II
  • PES 1050 - General Astronomy I or PES 1060 - General Astronomy II
  • PSY 1000 - General Psychology

UCCS Teach Requirements

  • UTED 1030: Inquiry Approaches/Lesson Plan Design for Secondary Math/Science Teaching
  • UTED 2010: Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science
  • UTED 3020: Classroom Interactions
  • UTED 4710: Project-based Instruction
  • UTED 4720: Reading in the Content Area
  • UTED 4730: Apprentice Teaching UCCS Teach and Seminar
  • UTLS 3030: Perspectives on Science and Math
  • UTLS 3040: Science Research Methods

LAS & Compass Requirements

  • GPS 1010: Gateway Program Seminar
  • ENGL 1310: Rhetoric & Writing I
  • ENGL 1410: Rhetoric & Writing II
  • HUM 3990: Special Topics in Humanities
  • Other LAS and Compass Requirements (9 Credit Hours)
  • General Electives (9 Credit Hours)

Admission Details

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

Start Your Applicaton