Chemistry

Overview

The department of Chemistry offers Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

Graduates holding the B.S. degree in Chemistry qualify in many fields as: teachers of Chemistry, supervisors in industry, technical sales personnel, and research chemists in federal, state, municipal, academic, or industrial laboratories. Students with high scholastic standing often continue with graduate work, where they may explore more thoroughly the specialized areas of chemistry in which they are interested.

The B.A. degree is useful for students who intend to pursue studies in parallel areas, such as secondary school teaching, to obtain additional majors, minors, or for pursuing professional school (such as medical, dental, or pharmacy school) outside of Chemistry. The B.S. degree is recommended for students who wish to pursue graduate studies or a research career in Chemistry. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation students should:

• Have firm foundations in the fundamentals and application of current chemical theories.
• Be able to design, carry-out, record, and analyze the results of chemical experiments.
• Use modern instrumentation and classical techniques to identify and solve chemical problems as well as explore new areas of research.
• Communicate the results of their work to chemists, as well as non-chemists.
• Understand the ethical and environmental dimensions of problems and issues facing chemists.
• Follow the proper procedures and regulations for safe storage, labeling, use of chemicals, and disposal of chemicals.
• Be able to use chemical literature (perform searches for, read, evaluate, and appropriately cite publications)
• Be skilled in problem solving, critical thinking, and analytical reasoning.

These skills may be applied to careers in education and industry; in professions such as law, medicine, environmental sciences, and forensic sciences. The curricula in Chemistry are approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Students who complete the program obtain an ACS certified baccalaureate degree provided they also take one Biochemistry course, typically BBMB 3010 Survey of Biochemistry, BBMB 3160 Principles of Biochemistry or BBMB 4040 Biochemistry I and BBMB 4050 Biochemistry II.

Liberal arts majors who wish to transfer into Chemistry at the end of their second year may still complete all degree requirements and graduate within five years.

Degree Requirements

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Chemistry students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated below for the major.

LAS majors require a minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000/4000 level. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement and career proficiency requirement.

Communication Proficiency requirement: According to the university-wide Communication Proficiency Grade Requirement, students must demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500. The department requires a grade of C- or better in ENGL 3140. 

Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. cultures and communities (formerly U.S. diversity) and a three-credit course in international perspectives. Check (http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/courses/div-ip-guide.html) for a list of approved courses. Discuss with your advisor how the two courses that you select can be applied to your graduation plan.

Chemistry, B.S.

Undergraduate students seeking the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemistry have the following courses in their degree programs as minimum requirements.

CHEM 1770 & CHEM 1780	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II	4-7
or CHEM 2010	Advanced General Chemistry
or CHEM 1670	General Chemistry for Engineering Students
CHEM 1770L	Laboratory in General Chemistry I	1
or CHEM 1770N	Laboratory in General Chemistry I
or CHEM 2010L	Laboratory in Advanced General Chemistry
or CHEM 1670L	Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering
CHEM 2110	Quantitative and Environmental Analysis	2
CHEM 2110L	Quantitative and Environmental Analysis Laboratory	2
CHEM 3010	Inorganic Chemistry	2
CHEM 3160	Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis	2
CHEM 3160L	Instrumental Analysis Laboratory	2
CHEM 3220L	Laboratory in Physical Chemistry	3
CHEM 3240	Introductory Quantum Mechanics	3
CHEM 3250	Chemical Thermodynamics	3
CHEM 3310	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 3320	Organic Chemistry II	3
CHEM 3310L	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I	1
or CHEM 3330L	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I (for Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors)
CHEM 3320L	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II	1
or CHEM 3340L	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II (for Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors)
CHEM 4020	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	3
CHEM 4010L	Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory	1
Two advanced Chemistry courses (min 4 credits)		4-6
CHEM 3990 Undergraduate Research or CHEM 4990 Senior Research is strongly recommended. Credits earned in 3990/4990/4900 may only be used to meet one of the advanced course requirements.
The following are required as supporting work:
ENGL 1500	Critical Thinking and Communication	3
ENGL 2500	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition	3
or ENGL 2500H	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
ENGL 3140	Technical Communication	3
LIB 1600	Introduction to College Level Research	1
LAS 2030	Professional Career Preparation	1
MATH 1650	Calculus I	4
MATH 1660	Calculus II	4
MATH 2650	Calculus III	4
PHYS 2310	Introduction to Classical Physics I	4
PHYS 2310L	Introduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory	1
PHYS 2320	Introduction to Classical Physics II	4
PHYS 2320L	Introduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory	1

Chemistry, B.A.

Undergraduate students seeking the Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in Chemistry have the following courses in their degree programs as minimum requirements.

One of the following sequences:		6-8
CHEM 1770 & CHEM 1780	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II
or CHEM 2010	Advanced General Chemistry
or CHEM 1670	General Chemistry for Engineering Students
CHEM 1770L	Laboratory in General Chemistry I	1
or CHEM 1770N	Laboratory in General Chemistry I
or CHEM 2010L	Laboratory in Advanced General Chemistry
or CHEM 1670L	Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering
CHEM 2110	Quantitative and Environmental Analysis	2
CHEM 2110L	Quantitative and Environmental Analysis Laboratory	2
CHEM 3010	Inorganic Chemistry	2
CHEM 3160	Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis	2
CHEM 3160L	Instrumental Analysis Laboratory	2
CHEM 3240	Introductory Quantum Mechanics	3
CHEM 3210L	Laboratory in Physical Chemistry	2-3
or CHEM 3220L	Laboratory in Physical Chemistry
CHEM 3250	Chemical Thermodynamics	3
CHEM 3310	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 3310L	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I	1
CHEM 3320	Organic Chemistry II	3
CHEM 3320L	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II	1
The following are required as supporting work:		12
ENGL 1500	Critical Thinking and Communication	3
ENGL 2500	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition	3
or ENGL 2500H	Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition: Honors
ENGL 3140	Technical Communication	3
LIB 1600	Introduction to College Level Research	1
LAS 2030	Professional Career Preparation	1
MATH 1650	Calculus I	4
MATH 1660	Calculus II	4
PHYS 2310	Introduction to Classical Physics I	4
PHYS 2310L	Introduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory	1
PHYS 2320	Introduction to Classical Physics II	4
PHYS 2320L	Introduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory	1

Teacher Preparation Focus

Chemistry majors seeking certification to teach Chemistry in secondary schools can follow the requirements of either the B.S. or the B.A. degree in Chemistry. In addition, they must take the complementary coursework listed below and meet all of the requirements of the Secondary Major in Education.  

Complementary Coursework
PSYCH 2300	Developmental Psychology	3
EDUC 4180	Secondary Science Methods I	3
EDUC 4190	Secondary Science Methods II	3
One course in Biology (BIOL 2110 & 2110L recommended)
One course in American History or Government

Note: Teacher license requirements are established by the Iowa Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and are subject to change. Recent changes may not be reflected in this catalog, but advisers and faculty will be aware. 

Chemistry, B.A.

Freshman
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 1770 or 20101,2,F	4-5	CHEM 1780 or 2110 and 2110L2	3-4
CHEM 1770N or 2010L2,F	1	CHEM 1010B	1
CHEM 1010A	1	MATH 1660	4
MATH 1650	4	Electives	6
ENGL 1500	3
LIB 1600	1
Electives
	14-15		14-15
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 3310	3	CHEM 3320	3
CHEM 3330LF,2	2	CHEM 3340L2,5	2
CHEM 1100	1	ENGL 2500	3
PHYS 2310	4	PHYS 23202	4
PHYS 2310L	1	PHYS 2320L2	1
Electives	3	CHEM 2110, CHEM 2110L (or Electives)	3-4
		LAS 2030	1
	14		17-18
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 3240	3	CHEM 3250	3
World Language - first semester of any world language accepted4	4	CHEM 3210LS	2
Electives	8	CHEM 3010S	2
		World Language - second semester4	4
		CHEM 5500 (strongly recommended)S	1
		Electives	3
	15		15
Senior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 3160F	2	BBMB 3010 (strongly recommended)	3
CHEM 3160LF	2	CHEM 3990 (strongly recommended)	1-30
ENGL 3140	3	Electives	12
Electives	9
	16		16-45
Total Credits: 121-153

¹

Advanced high school chemistry and strong algebra skills are necessary for success in CHEM 2010. Math ACT of 24 or greater is strongly recommended.

²

Students may substitute the following courses, if necessary:

• CHEM 2010 for 1770 and 1780;
• CHEM 1770L for 1770N or 2010L.
• CHEM 3310L and 3320L for 3330L and 3340L; however, this substitution may result in a program which is deficient in the laboratory experience recommended by the American Chemistry Society.
• CHEM 3210L for 3220L; however this substitution may result in a program which is deficient in the laboratory experience recommended by the American Chemistry Society.
• PHYS 1310/1310L and 1320/1320L for PHYS 2310/2310L and 2320/2320L, however PHYS 2310/2310L and 2320/2320L are highly recommended.

³

 Required of Chemistry Learning Community Members.

⁴

Completion of three years of foreign language in high school fulfills this requirement.

F

Class offered Fall Semester only.

S

Class offered Spring Semester only.

 

Individuals earning a B.A. degree in Chemistry who have taken 3310L, 3340L and 3220L can obtain American Chemical Society certification by taking an additional advanced chemistry lecture course of BBMB 3010 or 4040. CHEM 5500 may not be used to satisfy the Advanced Chemistry requirement.

Chemistry, B.S.

Freshman
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 1770 or 20101,2,F	4-5	CHEM 17801,2	3
CHEM 1770N or 2010L2,F	1	CHEM 2110	2
CHEM 1010A	1	CHEM 2110L	2
MATH 1650	4	CHEM 1010B	1
ENGL 1500	3	MATH 1660	4
LIB 1600	1	Electives	3
Electives
	14-15		15
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 3310	3	CHEM 3320	3
CHEM 3330L2,F	2	CHEM 3340L2,S	2
CHEM 1100F	1	ENGL 2500	3
MATH 2650	4	PHYS 2320	4
Electives		PHYS 2320L	1
PHYS 2310	4	CHEM 2110 & CHEM 2110L (or Electives)	3-4
PHYS 2310L	1	LAS 2030	1
	15		17-18
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 3240	3	CHEM 3250	3
CHEM 3160F	2	CHEM 3220LS	3
CHEM 3160LF	2	CHEM 3010S	2
World Language - first semester of any world language accepted3	4	World Language - second semester3	4
Electives	4	CHEM 5500 (strongly recommended)S	1
		Electives	3
	15		16
Senior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 4020F	3	CHEM 4010LS	1
ENGL 3140	3	Advanced Chemistry5	4-5
Electives	8	BBMB 3010 (strongly recommended)	3
		CHEM 3990 (strongly recommended, credits variable)	1-30
		Electives	6
	14		15-45
Total Credits: 121-153

¹

Advanced high school chemistry and strong algebra skills are necessary for success in CHEM 2010. Math ACT of 24 or greater is strongly recommended.

²

Students may substitute the following courses, if necessary:

• CHEM 2010 for 1770 and 1780;
• CHEM 1770L for 1770N or 2010L
• CHEM 3310L and 3320L for 3330L and 3340L; however, this substitution may result in a program which is deficient in the laboratory experience recommended by the American Chemistry Society.

³

Completion of three years of foreign language in high school fulfills this requirement.

⁴

The completion of two courses (minimum of 2 credits each) are required to meet this requirement. (In addition to advanced Chemistry courses, certain courses in Biochemistry-Biophysics, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics and Materials Science and Engineering are acceptable.) Up to four credits in undergraduate research (CHEM 3390 and/or 4990) can be counted as one of the two advanced chemistry courses. CHEM 5500 may not be used to satisfy the Advanced Chemistry requirement.

⁵

The program as listed above meets the standard for a certified degree of the American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training if BBMB 3010 or 4040 is one of the Advanced Chemistry Courses.

F

Class offered Fall Semester only.

S

Class offered Spring Semester only.

Chemistry Minor

The Department offers a minor in chemistry which may be earned by credit in:

CHEM 1770	General Chemistry I	4
CHEM 1770L	Laboratory in General Chemistry I	1
or
CHEM 1670 & 1670L	General Chemistry for Engineering Students and Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering	5
CHEM 1780	General Chemistry II	3
CHEM 2110	Quantitative and Environmental Analysis	2
CHEM 2110L	Quantitative and Environmental Analysis Laboratory	2
CHEM 3240	Introductory Quantum Mechanics	3
CHEM 3310 & CHEM 3320	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II	3-6
or CHEM 2310	Elementary Organic Chemistry
CHEM 3310L & CHEM 3320L	Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II	1-2
or CHEM 2310L	Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry
And one of the following:		2-5
CHEM 3010	Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 3160 & 3160L	Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory
CHEM 3250 & CHEM 3210L	Chemical Thermodynamics and Laboratory in Physical Chemistry
or CHEM 3220L	Laboratory in Physical Chemistry
CHEM 3320 & 3320L	Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II

The total minimum credits in Chemistry thus will be 20 to 23 depending on which advanced courses are selected. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.

The concurrent Chemistry/MBA program is designed to be completed in five academic years, with three years of undergraduate coursework followed by two years of MBA studies alongside the remaining undergraduate courses. 

Concurrent students are part of the full-time MBA program. Admission to the concurrent MBA program is competitive. You should apply during your junior year. Successful candidates demonstrate superior academic ability, strong leadership attributes, and clear career focus. Previous business coursework is not a requirement for application.  

Internships, co-op experiences, extracurricular, and leadership activities are highly valued in the MBA candidate selection process. However, you aren’t required to have additional coursework in business in preparing for the MBA. 

Admitted students typically have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above and have scored 600 or higher on the GMAT exam or GRE equivalent. If you’re interested in the concurrent MBA program, you should apply by March 15 of your junior year to be considered for scholarships and assistantships. The final application deadline is June 1.

Graduate Programs

The Department offers work for the degrees Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy with majors in Chemistry, Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical Chemistry. Co-majors may be taken between areas within Chemistry or between one of the areas in Chemistry and another department. Courses in other areas of Chemistry as well as courses in other departments may be used to satisfy the requirement for coursework outside the major field. A Ph.D. student in Chemistry may choose an additional specialty in one of six areas: Materials Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Biomolecular Sciences, Chemistry Education, Chemical Instrumentation, and Forensic Chemistry. A minimum of ten credits is required for each additional specialty. A course which counts towards an additional specialty may also count toward the outside course requirement. A minor in Chemistry is available to students in other departments. The Department participates in the interdepartmental major in Toxicology.

The Department of Chemistry requires all graduate students majoring in Chemistry to teach as part of their training for an advanced degree. Prerequisite to major graduate work is the completion of undergraduate work in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics substantially equivalent to that required of undergraduate Chemistry majors at this institution.