2025-2026 DRAFT Academic Catalog 
    
    Nov 09, 2024  
2025-2026 DRAFT Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemistry, BA (CHEM-BA)


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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 Arts

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.

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 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: 42 Credit Hours


First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours


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 three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category. 

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours


Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours


Required

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.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours


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.

Required:

 

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours


Required

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours


Students will select up to 5 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.   

 

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. Departmental Core Requirements: 15 Credit Hours


III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 19 Credit Hours


IV. Related Course Requirements: 28 Credit Hours


V. General Electives: 16 Credit Hours


Total: 120 Credit Hours


Graduation Planning Strategy


The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

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