Chemistry

College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
907-474-5510
www.uaf.edu/chem/

B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S. Degrees; Minor

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Minimum Requirements for Degrees: 120 credits

Our programs prepare students for employment as research chemists in federal, state, municipal, academic or industrial laboratories, and in premedicine as laboratory technicians, industry supervisors and technical sales personnel. Our programs also provide a technical base for chemistry teachers. Graduates also find positions in the environmental sciences, oceanography and related interdisciplinary fields. Many chemistry graduates elect to pursue advanced M.S., Ph.D., pharmacology or MD degrees.

The chemistry curriculum meets the American Chemical Society standards covering the basics of general, organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. Undergraduate research leading to publications is strongly encouraged, and many of the laboratory-based courses have a research component built into them. The B.S. and B.A. programs may be completed without an optional concentration, or students can opt for an additional focus in biochemistry, environmental chemistry or forensic chemistry. The B.S. programs generally prepare students for a career in chemistry or biochemistry, or for professional school. The B.S. in chemistry is an ACS-approved degree program. The environmental chemistry concentration provides courses that help students study the chemistry of the natural environment by adding geology, biology or atmospheric courses, and it prepares students for graduate studies and/or careers in the environmental industry. The biochemistry concentration provides an enhanced curriculum in biological chemistry for students seeking advanced careers in biochemistry, medicine or health sciences. The B.A. degree provides breadth in the curriculum for study of a minor subject and requires more humanities courses. The B.A. best prepares students for careers in chemistry-related fields like environmental law, forensic science, science education, anthropology, etc. Limited teaching assistantships are often available for upper-division students, which strengthen leadership and communication skills.

The bachelor's degrees in chemistry and concentrations in biochemistry and environmental chemistry provide excellent research opportunities and background for undergraduate students through connection to corresponding graduate programs. See graduate programs in chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, and environmental chemistry.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department is housed in the Reichardt Building, where laboratories are equipped with research-grade instrumentation, providing hands-on experience to students for entry into graduate school or industry. See the departmental website for more information, www.uaf.edu/chem/.

Major -- B.A. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F251X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements. (As part of the B.A. degree requirements, complete: MATH F252X.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    CHEM F105X--General Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F106X--General Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F202--Basic Inorganic Chemistry--3 credits
    CHEM F212--Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis--4 credits
    CHEM F321--Organic Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F325--Organic Chemistry II (4)
         or CHEM F351--General Biochemistry- Metabolism(3)--3-4 credits
    CHEM F314W--Analytical Instrumental Laboratory (3)--3 credits
    CHEM F331--Physical Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F481--Seminar--1 credit
    CHEM F482O--Seminar--2 credits
  4. Ensure that you have satisfied the university requirement of 39 upper-division credits and two writing-intensive (W) courses, which will typically require either taking more upper-division chemistry courses or a significant number of upper-division courses in other disciplines, likely your minor.
  5. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

Note: This degree does not encompass the depth required to be an American Chemistry Society-approved chemistry degree. Students taking this degree will not receive a certificate from ACS. Students intending to continue in chemistry or biochemistry careers or graduate studies should select a B.S. degree program.

Optional Concentration: Forensic Chemistry

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F251X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements. (As part of the B.A. degree requirements, complete: MATH F252X.)
  3. Complete the program (major) requirements as listed under chemistry B.A. degree, including:
    CHEM F314W--Analytical Instrumental Laboratory--3 credits
  4. Complete the following:*
    CHEM F332--Physical Chemistry II--4 credits
  5. Earn a minor in justice using the following courses to complete the requirements:*
    JUST F110--Introduction to Justice--3 credits
    JUST F222--Research Methods--3 credits
    JUST F251--Criminology--3 credits
    JUST F300X--Ethics and Justice**--3 credits
    JUST F354--Procedural Law--3 credits
    JUST F454W--Advanced Problems in Procedural Law--3 credits
  6. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

** JUST F300X may not be used to fulfill core ethics requirement.

Note: This degree does not encompass the depth required to be an American Chemistry Society-approved chemistry degree. Students taking this track will not receive a certificate from ACS. Students intending to continue in chemistry or biochemistry careers or graduate studies should select a B.S. degree program.

Major -- B.S. Degree (American Chemistry Society-approved)

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F251X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH F252X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
  3. Complete the program (major) requirements:*
    CHEM F105X--General Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F106X--General Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F202--Basic Inorganic Chemistry --3 credits
    CHEM F212--Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis--4 credits
    CHEM F321--Organic Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F325--Organic Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F331--Physical Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F332--Physical Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F351--General Biochemistry -- Metabolism--3 credits
    CHEM F434W--Chemistry Capstone Laboratory--3 credits
    CHEM F481--Seminar--1 credit
    CHEM F482O--Seminar--2 credits
    CHEM F488--Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research--3 credits
    MATH F253X--Calculus III--4 credits
  4. Complete two of the following:*
    CHEM F402--Inorganic Chemistry--3 credits
    CHEM F450--General Biochemistry -- Macromolecules --3 credits
    CHEM F314W--Analytical Instrumental Laboratory--3 credits
  5. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

Note: Upon completing the required curriculum and fulfilling all general university requirements, students will receive a certificate from the American Chemical Society indicating approval of their degree program.

Optional Concentrations: Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry

Biochemistry

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F251X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete: MATH F252X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    CHEM F105X--General Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F106X--General Chemistry II--4 credits
    BIOL F115X--Fundamentals of Biology I--4 credits
    BIOL F116X--Fundamentals of Biology II--4 credits
    CHEM F202--Basic Inorganic Chemistry--3 credits
    CHEM F212--Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis--4 credits
    CHEM F321--Organic Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F325--Organic Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F331--Physical Chemistry I--3 credits
    CHEM F351--General Biochemistry -- Metabolism--3 credits
    CHEM F450--General Biochemistry -- Macromolecules --3 credits
    CHEM F481--Seminar--1 credit
    CHEM F482O--Seminar--2 credits
    CHEM F488--Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research--6 credits
  4. Complete four of the following advanced chemistry/math courses:* **
    CHEM F332--Physical Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F434W--Chemistry Capstone Laboratory--3 credits
    CHEM F314W--Analytical Instrumental Laboratory--3 credits
    CHEM F402--Advanced Inorganic Chemistry --3 credits
    CHEM F420--Applications of NMR Spectroscopy--3 credits
    MATH F253X--Calculus III--4 credits
  5. Complete 10 credits of the following biology/biochemistry courses:* **
    CHEM F360--Cell and Molecular Biology--4 credits
    CHEM F455O--Environmental Toxicology--3 credits
    CHEM F470--Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience--3 credits
    CHEM F474--Neurochemistry--3 credits
    BIOL F240--Beginnings in Microbiology--4 credits
    BIOL F260--Principles of Genetics--4 credits
    BIOL F310--Animal Physiology--4 credits
    BIOL F342--Microbiology--4 credits
    BIOL F402W--Biomedical and Research Ethics--3 credits
    BIOL F417O--Neurobiology--3 credits
    BIOL F462O--Concepts in Infectious Disease--3 credits
    BIOL F465--Immunology--3 credits
  6. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

** Courses selected under numbers 4 and 5 above must meet baccalaureate degree requirements for 39 upper-division credits and two writing-intensive courses.

Note: This degree is intended for students interested in careers in biochemistry or pre-professional students, providing extra depth in biological sciences. The selection of optional courses will determine if the curriculum conforms to the American Chemistry Society-approved chemistry degree. Students desiring an ACS-approved chemistry degree should consult with their advisor about optional courses that will meet ACS requirements.

Environmental Chemistry

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F251X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH F252X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    CHEM F105X--General Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F106X--General Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F202--Basic Inorganic Chemistry--3 credits
    CHEM F212--Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis--4 credits
    CHEM F314W--Analytical Instrumental Laboratory--3 credits
    CHEM F321--Organic Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F325--Organic Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F331--Physical Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F332--Physical Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F434W--Chemistry Capstone Laboratory--3 credits
    CHEM F481--Seminar--1 credit
    CHEM F482O--Seminar--2 credits
    CHEM F488--Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research--3 credits
    MATH F253X--Calculus III--3 credits
  4. Complete two of the following:*
    ATM F101X--Weather and Climate of Alaska--4 credits
    BIOL F115X--Fundamentals of Biology I--4 credits
    BIOL F116X--Fundamentals of Biology II--4 credits
    GEOS F101X--The Dynamic Earth--4 credits
    GEOS F262--Rocks and Minerals--3 credits
  5. Complete two of the following:*
    ATM F401--Introduction to Atmospheric Science--3 credits
    BIOL F342--Microbiology--4 credits
    CHEM F406--Atmospheric Chemistry --3 credits
    CHEM F455O--Environmental Toxicology--3 credits
    GEOS F417--Introduction to Geochemistry --3 credits
    NRM F380W--Soils and the Environment--3 credits
  6. Minimum credits required--120 credits

* Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

Note: A course in statistics (e.g. STAT F200X, STAT F300, or GEOS F430) is suggested. The selection of optional courses will determine if the curriculum conforms to the American Chemistry Society-approved chemistry degree. Students desiring an ACS-approved chemistry degree should consult with their advisor about optional courses that will meet ACS requirements.

Requirements for Chemistry Teachers (grades 7-12)

  1. Complete all the requirements of the chemistry B.A. or B.S. degree.
  2. All prospective science teachers must complete the following:
    PHIL F481--Philosophy of Science--3 credits

Note: We strongly recommend that prospective secondary science teachers seek advising from the UAF School of Education early in your undergraduate degree program so that you can be appropriately advised of the State of Alaska requirements for teacher licensure.

Minors

Chemistry

  1. Complete the following:
    CHEM F105X--General Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F106X--General Chemistry II--4 credits
  2. Complete the following:
    CHEM F212--Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis*--4 credits
    CHEM F321--Organic Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F325--Organic Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F331--Physical Chemistry I--4 credits
  3. Complete one of the following additional chemistry lab courses:
    CHEM F202--Basic Inorganic Chemistry--3 credits
    CHEM F332--Physical Chemistry II--4 credits
  4. Minimum credits required--27 credits

Biochemistry

  1. Complete the following:
    CHEM F105X--General Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F106X--General Chemistry II--4 credits
  2. Complete the following:
    CHEM F321--Organic Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F325--Organic Chemistry II--4 credits
    CHEM F331--Physical Chemistry I--4 credits
    CHEM F351--General Biochemistry -- Metabolism--3 credits
  3. Complete one of the following chemistry lab courses:
    CHEM F202--Basic Inorganic Chemistry--3 credits
    CHEM F212--Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis--4 credits
  4. Minimum credits required--26 credits