Chemistry, BS

Chemistry

Bachelor of Science

Course Delivery

On Campus, Online, Hybrid

Total Credits

120 Credits

About the Program

The BS in Chemistry is a professional degree program accredited by the American Chemical Society, and is designed to prepare the student for a career in chemistry; this includes those anticipating admission to graduate study in chemistry. The program is not intended as a preparation for the study of medicine. Premedical students who wish to major in chemistry should elect the Biochemistry BA Pre-Med option. 

The BS in Chemistry requires more breadth and depth in chemistry, mathematics, and physics than the BA in chemistry. Students desiring a BS in chemistry are typically planning graduate studies in chemistry and/or careers as professional chemists in industry, private laboratories, and government agencies.


Focus of Study

The program features courses from each of the main areas of chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and biochemistry. Aspects of all these areas are introduced in general chemistry and they are then treated in detail in year-long advanced courses.

Organic chemistry features a rigorous program where synthetic, mechanistic, and spectroscopic methods are introduced. A comprehensive treatment of the principles of thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, kinetics, and spectroscopy is encompassed in the physical chemistry sequence.  The principles of quantitative analysis, analytical separations, and instrumental methods are covered in analytical chemistry. The sequence in inorganic chemistry focuses on modern theories of bonding and orbital symmetry.

The BS in Chemistry program requires strong preparation in mathematics through calculus and three semesters of physics.

Students wishing to pursue graduate study in chemistry should select research projects involving laboratory work by their junior year.


Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry requires the following:

  • A minimum of 56 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 coursework may apply to the bachelor’s degree.

Program Coursework

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

Chemistry Core Courses

Complete all of the following 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 4011 - Instrumental Analysis
  • CHEM 4012 - Instrumental Analysis Laboratory
  • CHEM 4101 - Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Spectroscopy
  • CHEM 4102 - Experimental Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy
  • CHEM 4111 - Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
  • CHEM 4112 - Experimental Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
  • CHEM 4211 - Biochemistry
  • CHEM 4301 - Inorganic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 4311 - Inorganic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 4312 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Lab
  • CHEM 4911 - Chemistry Capstone
Chemistry Electives

Complete 6 hours of upper-division (3000 + level) Chemistry Electives. Up to 6 hours may be from CHEM 4904 or 4905.

  • CHEM 4904 - Research: Upper Division
  • CHEM 4905 - Internship: Undergraduate
Auxiliary Required Courses

Complete all of the following courses:

  • BIOL 1350 - General Biology: Introduction to the Cell
  • MATH 1350 - Calculus I
  • MATH 1360 - Calculus II
  • MATH 2350 - Calculus III
  • PES 1110 - General Physics I - Calculus Based
  • PES 1120 - General Physics II
  • PES 1160 - Advanced Physics Lab I - Calc Based
  • PES 2130 - General Physics III
  • PES 2160 - Advanced Physics Lab II
LAS & Compass Requirements

Complete all of the following courses:

  • 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 (21 Credit Hours)
  • General Electives (3 Credit Hours)

Admission Details

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

Additional resources for Admissions: