Program Description
The Department of Chemistry offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Science degrees in chemistry. The department also offers a Bachelor of Science program, certified by the American Chemical Society, and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry education. While the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science curricula are designed to prepare undergraduate students for entrance into medical, dental, or other professional schools, the Bachelor of Science curricula are strongly suggested for students who wish to pursue a career as a professional chemist or graduate work in chemistry. All undergraduate degree programs are flexible and permit the option of a heavy concentration in chemistry courses or a combination of a chemistry major with extensive course work in allied (other sciences) or non-allied (business, arts) areas. To develop their academic programs to meet specific needs and individual interests, students should consult their academic advisors.
Bachelor of Science Degree
The Bachelor of Science candidate is required to complete the chemistry, mathematics, and physics course sequences in the following program outline with one exception: CHM 4990 - Special Problems in Chemistry is not required. However, it is expected that the serious chemistry major will complete at least four credit hours of this research course during the senior year.
The Bachelor of Science program includes broad coverage of the primary disciplines within the chemical field with course work in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. In addition to the Wright State Core, the degree program includes foundation studies in mathematics and physics. For the latter, the requirements may be met by either the PHY 1110 , PHY 1120 , PHY 1110L and PHY 1120L sequence or the PHY 2400 , PHY 2410 , PHY 2400L and PHY 2410L sequence.
Because the order in which science courses are taken is so important, students are advised to begin the mathematics, chemistry, and physics sequences as soon as possible.
Degree Requirements–Chemistry
Bachelor of Science Degree (ACS certified)
The ACS certified Bachelor of Science program is recommended particularly for those students who anticipate pursuing a career in chemistry. The program provides an in-depth coverage of the primary disciplines within the chemical field and adds further breadth to the course work required for the non-ACS Bachelor of Science program by the addition of courses in spectroscopy (CHM 4170 ), inorganic chemistry (CHM 4210 , CHM 4210L ) and biochemistry (BMB 4210 ). In addition, the physics requirement can be met only with the PHY 2400 , PHY 2410 , PHY 2400L and PHY 2410L sequence.
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry Education Degree
The Adolescence to Young Adult Chemistry Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. The Bachelor of Science candidate is required to complete the chemistry, mathematics, and physics course sequences in the following program outline, which includes the majority of the courses expected for the other B.S. programs, with the addition of overview courses in biology and earth and environmental studies and several courses in education.
Because the order in which science courses are taken is so important, students are advised to begin the mathematics, chemistry, and physics sequences as soon as possible.
Chemistry Education
Students who wish to teach chemistry in Ohio public high schools can pursue the Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Upon completion of this undergraduate degree program in the College of Science and Mathematics, students then must complete the Professional Educators Program (PEP) Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree through Wright State’s College of Health, Education, and Human Services. Graduates of the B.S. in chemistry and the M.Ed. Professional Educators Program are eligible to seek licensure from the Ohio Department of Education in either chemistry or chemistry in combination with another science field, depending on the content of the undergraduate curriculum.
Chemistry Honors Program
The honors program in chemistry is designed to provide recognition to the intellectually gifted student who pursues a program of independent study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The program is open to any chemistry major in the B.S. program having at least junior standing and a 3.25 or better overall GPA, including a 3.60 or better average in the four most recent chemistry lecture courses. The normal time for application for admission is at the end of the sophomore year and no later than the end of the junior year. Students apply for admission by contacting the chair of the undergraduate studies committee, who will examine the student’s record to determine eligibility. Eligible students are asked to submit a letter of intent (no longer than one typed page) indicating:
- Why they wish to pursue departmental honors
- The faculty member who has agreed to work with them
- A description of the proposed project (with a timeline).
Upon acceptance into the program, the student should complete at least 9 credits of “A” research work, of which at least 6 credits will be CHM 4990 . An additional 2 credit hours of “A” research work may be completed as collaborative research as specified in the letter of intent. The student also must pass with a minimum of a “B” grade two elective 4000-level lecture chemistry courses and present the research results at a local or national ACS meeting or other specialized conference and as an oral presentation as part of the CHM 8000 seminar series. Full details are available on the chemistry department website.
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