Chemistry

Faculty

Professors: James Eberhart, Ronald Ruminski, and Allen Schoffstall; Associate Professors: David Anderson (Chair) and David Weiss; Assistant Professors: Sonja Braun-Sand, Renee Henry, and Janel Owens; Professor Adjunct: Gordon Kresheck; Senior Instructors: Chester Dymek and Mary Bethé Neely; Instructors: Cynthia Applegate, Larry Augenstein, John Balyeat, Lisa Eagan, Danielle Fox, and Brett Mayer.

Program Description

Two programs of study (BS and BA ) are open to students wishing to major in chemistry. The program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in chemistry is intended for those who plan to choose chemistry as a profession. This program should also be elected by students who plan to go on to graduate school in chemistry. This program is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The Department of Chemistry at UCCS is one of 600 in the United States that is approved by the ACS. Many BS graduates gain employment as chemists upon completion of their BS degree program.

Others go on to graduate studies. Students wishing a less comprehensive program in chemistry, such as premedical students, should elect the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in chemistry. Judicious selection of additional courses permits the BA major to satisfy prerequisites for admission to graduate study in chemistry or related fields of study. There are five options for the BA: a general option, an environmental chemistry option, a biochemistry option, a pre-health professional option and a teacher education option.

Students who are planning to complete a BA in biology may complete a biology/chemistry double major . This chemistry program is available only to those who also complete the biology major.

Several chemistry courses are offered as a service to students majoring in other science fields and in social sciences and arts and humanities fields. CHEM 100 Chemistry in the Modern World, CHEM 130 CSI-Forensic Chemistry, and CHEM 151 Environmental Science, all of which have an optional lab component, are offered for non-science majors. CHEM 301 Materials Science, CHEM 341 Environmental Chemistry, and CHEM 388 Forensic Chemistry are offered as elective courses for science majors.

A teacher education degree option is available for secondary education teachers. Please contact the Student Success Center or the College of Education for further information concerning the education requirements for this option.

Students may also select a minor in Chemistry , apply to the Master of Sciences program in Chemistry , or complete a dual BS/MSc or BA/MSc degree.

Not all chemistry courses are offered every year. Check the Schedule of Courses for offerings available each semester.

Advising

Students majoring in chemistry should keep a copy of the Department of Chemistry Advising Brochure that is in effect when they declare a major. This brochure will be referred to throughout the student’s career. Students are bound to the rules in effect when they first declare a major. This is important because the rules and course requirements may change somewhat from year to year. Chemistry majors should consult regularly with departmental faculty advisors, and in particular with the department chair, as outlined in the advising brochure. Academic advising is a very important aspect of one’s education. Students need to plan their courses carefully since there are numerous and specific prerequisites for advanced courses that must be completed in an orderly sequence during the freshman through the junior years. In addition, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences requirements in the humanities and social sciences must be worked into the schedule. If students are not able to follow the curricula outlined in the Four-Year Plans for our degree programs, the possibility for scheduling conflicts increases, and the likelihood of finishing in four years decreases. Decisions on application to medical, dental and graduate schools and on employment are also critical. Students should consult faculty advisors when making these decisions.

Additional Departmental Rules

Area Requirements: Natural Science

Students who complete a chemistry degree may count 10 semester hours of PES 111, 112, 116, and 216 as part of their natural science area requirement. Since PES 111, 112, 116, and 216 are not on the approved list of courses, students not completing a chemistry degree cannot count these courses toward their area requirement for a non-chemistry College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences degree.

Chemistry Electives

For chemistry majors, chemistry electives must be chosen from upper division chemistry courses.

Exams

As part of the department’s assessment protocol, students in many chemistry courses will be examined using standardized ACS subject exams.

Preparatory Chemistry

Students who have not taken chemistry in high school should take CHEM 115 Preparatory Chemistry, prior to attempting the General Chemistry sequence (CHEM 103-106).

Grade Requirements

Chemistry majors must achieve grades of C or better in all chemistry courses required for the major. Grades of C or higher are also required for all required biology, physics and math courses.

Laboratory Fee

There is a $50 fee for each laboratory course: one course, $50; two courses, $100; etc. The policy for fee refunds for dropping or withdrawing is described in the General Information section. Independent Study courses are considered to be lab courses. Lab fees are charged for these courses.

Outcomes, Chemistry, BS/BA

Acquire knowledge in the areas of biology, mathematics, physics, and technology to enable the student to manipulate experimental data and facilitate the understanding and derivation of fundamental relationships.
Learn principles and applications of general, organic, analytical, physical and inorganic areas of chemistry and biochemistry, and an integrated overview of chemistry.
Be able to compete effectively for a position in the workplace as a professional chemist, for admission to graduate or professional schools, or for careers in other fields.
Be able to communicate effectively about topics of importance to chemists.
For those students who take service courses in chemistry, to achieve the course objectives and fulfill the chemically related goals and requirements of their majors.
Chemistry majors meet with an advisor in the chemistry department to plan out their learning experience in chemistry and related courses.

Honors Program

In addition to the normal undergraduate curriculum in chemistry, the department offers interested and qualified undergraduates an opportunity to increase further the breadth and depth of their chemical training through the Departmental Honors Program. Qualified students are invited to participate in honors sections of CHEM 106 and CHEM 338. To participate fully in the chemistry honors program, students should also complete an independent study honors project in chemistry and submit an honors thesis to the department. Students completing an honors thesis will automatically be considered for graduation with departmental honors. Prior to or during the first semester of the junior year, interested students should contact any chemistry faculty member regarding the prospect of graduation with departmental honors. Graduation with departmental honors requires students to have achieved at least a 3.4 grade point average and to carry out an independent study project, which is to be reported in both written and verbal forms (seminar).

Undergraduate Research

All chemistry majors are strongly encouraged to enroll in Independent Study (CHEM 940) and to become engaged in one or more research experiences. Many students start on their research in the sophomore year and definitely in the junior year. Apply by seeing the department chair or another Chemistry faculty member.