2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Chemistry, BA (CHEM-BA)

CIP Code: 400501

Program Description

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.

The Bachelor of Arts degree candidate is required to complete the chemistry, mathematics, and physics course sequences in the following program outlines. The general elective requirement may be satisfied with any course sequence in the College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) or the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), including additional chemistry courses, life sciences courses, or individual research projects (CHM 4990 ). Chemistry majors who are Bachelor of Arts degree candidates are required also to complete 18 credit hours outside the Colleges of Science and Mathematics and Engineering and Computer Science. This requirement may not be satisfied with Wright State Core requirements.

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

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 elective 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.

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 37 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 1 Credit Hour

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one additional credit hour in the Additional Core Courses category.

UVC 1010 - First Year Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours

Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.

Required:

MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 10 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Required:

CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1210R - General Chemistry Lab I Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 1220R - General Chemistry Lab II Recitation Credit Hour(s): 0

Additional Core Courses: 4 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 4 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Required:

MTH 2310 - Calculus II Credit Hour(s): 4

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Core Requirements: 15 Credit Hours

CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 3120 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3120L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2

III. Major Requirements and Electives: 19 Credit Hours

CHM 3190 - Chemical Literature and Composition Credit Hour(s): 2 (IW)
CHM 3560 - Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 3510L - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2 (IW)
Chemistry electives Credit Hour(s): 12. Choose from the following list of approved electives
CHM 4020 - Environmental Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 4020L - Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
CHM 4170 - Applied Chemical Spectroscopy Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 4370 - Electroanalytical Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 4370L - Electroanalytical Chemistry Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
CHM 4610 - Synthetic Polymer Chemistry Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 4680 - Experimental Nanomaterials and Nanoscience Credit Hour(s): 3
- 1 credit hour of CHM 4900 (cannot be repeated for additional elective credits)
- 3 credit hours from either BMB 4210 or BMB 4230
- no more than 3 credit hours (combined total) in CHM 4880 and/or CHM 4990

IV. Related Course Requirements: 28 Credit Hours

Choose one 10 credit hour sequence of Physics, either algebra-based physics (PHY 1110 or 1120) or calculus-based physics (PHY 2400 and 2410). MTH 2300 is a prerequisite for PHY 2400. MTH 2310 is a prerequisite for PHY 2410.

18 credit hours outside of COSM and CECS, not counting those used to satisfy Wright State Core requirements
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
and
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
OR
PHY 2400 - General Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1
and
PHY 2410 - General Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 1

V. General Electives: 21 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.