Chemistry
Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program guides students in the study of the properties, composition, and structure of substances, the transformations they undergo, and the energy changes that occur during these processes. Students gain a strong foundation of knowledge in chemistry and develop their scientific skills needed to succeed in careers or post-graduate study. Our chemistry program is housed in a state-of-the-art science facility with modern instrumentation including FT-NMR, FTIR, GCMS, LCMS, HPLC, flame AAS, ICP, DSC, and SEM. Guided by expert faculty, students can choose from a variety of authentic hands-on learning experiences including undergraduate research, service learning, and internships. Students can also practice leadership skills and engage in professional development through involvement in the Chemist Honor Society or other registered student clubs. Students in this program select one of four concentrations: General Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Pre-Health Sciences, and Industrial Chemistry as described further below.
General Chemistry Concentration: This concentration provides students the opportunity to study a broad range of chemical sciences and is designed to allow flexibility in preparing students for a multitude of chemistry roles. Students can design a course of study that will prepare them for work in private sectors, government agencies, or for continued graduate education.
Environmental Chemistry Concentration: This concentration integrates the chemical, biological, and physical sciences providing students with a strong foundation in the study of chemical processes occurring in the environment which are impacted by human activities. Many environmental chemists work for local, state, or federal governments conducting research or monitoring and advising on policy, non-governmental organizations, or academia.
Pre-Health Sciences Concentration: This concentration provides students with a strong foundation in a variety of the laboratory sciences required for entry into and success in post-graduate professional programs and degrees including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and advanced research degrees in these fields.
Industrial Chemistry Concentration: This concentration provides students with a strong foundation in chemistry that can be applied to industrial applications such as processes in manufacturing and commercial production of chemicals. Many of our students obtain internships and careers within the local industries.
Recommended minors: Biology, Mathematics, or Sustainability
This degree prepares students for a variety of career opportunities ranging from applied or basic laboratory research in state and federal organizations and industry to education in public and private school systems. Furthermore, the degree provides the ideal preparation for entry into professional school and graduate programs including medical school, dental school, and veterinary school or advanced studies in chemistry.
Program Course Requirements
Click here to view Core IMPACTS General Education Curriculum requirements.
| Program Advice (can share with CORE curriculum): | ||
| MATH 1113 | Precalculus Mathematics (Required) | 3 |
| MATH 2253 | Calculus and Analytic Geom I (Required) | 4 |
| PHYSICS LAB SCIENCE SEQUENCE REQUIRED | 8 | |
| Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics II | ||
| Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics II | ||
Click here to view Core IMPACTS General Education Curriculum requirements.
| Core IMPACTS General Education Curriculum requirements | 42 | |
| NOTE: Core IMPACTS courses can also satisfy requirements in your Program of Study. Please review the requirements for your major to prevent taking extra courses. The USG Core IMPACTS curriculum is designed to ensure that students acquire essential knowledge in foundational academic areas and develop career-ready competencies. There are seven Core IMPACTS areas. Students at all USG institutions must meet the Core IMPACTS requirements in all specified areas. | ||
| Field of Study: Major Related | ||
| BIOL 1107K | Principles of Biology I | 4 |
| CHEM 2000 | Scientific Communication | 2 |
| CHEM 1211K | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1212K | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| MATH 2254 | Calculus and Analytic Geom II | 4 |
| Required Chemistry Courses | ||
| CHEM 3211K | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 3212K | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 3311K | Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 3312K | Instrumental Methods of Analys | 4 |
| CHEM 3411K | Physical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 3412K | Physical Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 4000 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| CHEM 4110K | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
| MATH 2255 | Calculus and Analytic Geom III | 4 |
| Upper Level Chemistry Electives | 9 | |
| Biochemistry | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Drug Action and Drug Design | ||
| Adv Organic Spectroscopy | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | ||
| Internship in Chemistry | ||
| Special Topics in Chemistry | ||
| Research in Chemistry | ||
| Choose one Concentration: **/***/**** | ||
| NOTE: Concentration must be declared through the Registrar's Office. One hour from MATH 2253 may be used toward the STM Electives in the concentration. | ||
| General Chemistry Concentration: | ||
| General Chemistry STEM Electives * | 14 | |
| Environmental Studies | ||
| Principles of Biology II | ||
| Botany **** | ||
| Principles of Entomology | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Principles of Programming I | ||
| Computing for Scien & Engineer | ||
| Statics | ||
| Materials Science&Engineering | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Statistics and Applications | ||
| Intro Envir Sustainability | ||
Any 3000 or 4000 level BIOL course EXCEPT BIOL 4000. **/***/**** | ||
Any 3000 or 4000 level SUST course EXCEPT SUST 4000. | ||
| Free Electives | 3 | |
Select 3 hours from any transfer credit courses in the College curriculum. | ||
| Environmental Chemistry Concentration: | ||
| Environmental Chemistry STM Electives * | 14 | |
| Environmental Studies | ||
| Principles of Biology II | ||
| Botany **** | ||
| Principles of Entomology | ||
| Research Methods in Biology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Plant Biology **** | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Freshwater Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Herpetology | ||
| Field Biology Techniques | ||
| Bioremediation | ||
| Ecotoxicology | ||
| Principles of Programming I | ||
| Computing for Scien & Engineer | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Statistics and Applications | ||
| Biological Statistics | ||
| Intro Envir Sustainability | ||
Any 3000 or 4000 level SUST course EXCEPT SUST 4000. | ||
| Free Electives | 3 | |
Select 3 hours from any transfer credit courses in the College curriculum. | ||
| Industrial Chemistry Concentration: | ||
| Industrial Chemistry STEM Electives * | 14 | |
| Principles of Biology II | ||
| Principles of Programming I | ||
| Computing for Scien & Engineer | ||
| Statics | ||
| Materials Science&Engineering | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Statistics and Applications | ||
| Biological Statistics | ||
| Intro Envir Sustainability | ||
Any 3000 or 4000 level SUST course EXCEPT SUST 4000. | ||
| Free Electives | 3 | |
Select 3 hours from any transfer credit courses in the College curriculum. | ||
| Pre-Health Sciences Concentration: | ||
| Pre-Health Sciences STM Electives * | 14 | |
| Principles of Biology II | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Microbiology | ||
| Research Methods in Biology | ||
| Cellular Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| General Microbiology **** | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Neuroscience | ||
| Readings in Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Pathology | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Human Evolution | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate A & P | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Biotechnology | ||
| Service Learning in Biology ** | ||
| Human Dissection | ||
| Special Topics in Biology *** | ||
| Research in Biology | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Biological Statistics | ||
| Free Electives | 3 | |
Select 3 hours from any transfer credit courses in the College curriculum. | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- *
One hour from MATH 2253 may be used toward the STM Electives in the concentration.
- **
Students are limited to a maximum of eight credit hours in applied learning courses (BIOL 3900, CHEM 3900, BIOL 4800, CHEM 4800, BIOL 4860, CHEM 4860, BIOL 4960, and CHEM 4960). Students are limited to a maximum of four credit hours in any one of the four applied learning categories; readings (BIOL 3900 and CHEM 3900), service learning (BIOL 4800 and CHEM 4800), internships (BIOL 4860 and CHEM 4860), and research (BIOL 4960 and CHEM 4960).
- ***
CHEM 4900 (Special Topics in Chemistry) and BIOL 4900 (Special Topics in Biology) can be taken multiple times when topic has changed.
- ****
Students will not be able to count both BIOL 1203K & BIOL 3510K or BIOL 2260K & BIOL 3340K in Upper Level or General Elective areas. A student may take both classes in these pairs, but only one course will count in the Upper Level or General electives. The other course may count as a free elective.
Courses
CHEM 1151K. Survey of Chemistry. 3-3-4 Units.
Introduces the fundamentals of chemistry including general principles of atomic structures, bonding, reactions, gases, water, solutions, pH and elementary organic chemistry and biochemistry.(S)
Prerequisites: MATH 1001, 1101, or 1111 and ENGL 0999 unless exempt.
CHEM 1211K. Principles of Chemistry I. 3-3-4 Units.
Explores the discipline of chemistry through an understanding of the basic laws and properties of matter, stoichiometry, atomic structure, chemical bonding, gas laws, solutions and the physical states of matter. Requires laboratory experimentation which illustrates applications of concepts studied in lecture.(F,S,M)
Prerequisites: MATH 1111 with a grade of "C" or better, ENGL 0999 unless exempt.
CHEM 1212K. Principles of Chemistry II. 3-3-4 Units.
Continues the exploration of the discipline of chemistry begun in CHEM 1211. Focuses on the more quantitative aspects of chemistry including chemical equilibria, kinetics, acid-base, solubility product, electrochemistry and coordination compounds. Requires laboratory development of techniques necessary to identify common metallic and non-metallic ions.(F,S,M)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1211K.
CHEM 2000. Scientific Communication. 2-0-2 Units.
An introduction to the principles of ethics in the chemical sciences. Also, the infrastructure of scientific scholarship is introduced with an emphasis on interaction with the scientific community, responsible conduct in research, and communication of scientific findings.(F)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1211K Corequisites: CHEM 1212K.
CHEM 3211K. Organic Chemistry I. 3-3-4 Units.
Introduces the chemistry of organic compounds including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, stereochemistry, monofunctional compounds and some polyfunctional compounds. Requires the illustration of techniques for synthesis, separation, purification and identification of organic compounds in the laboratory.(F,S,M)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1212K.
CHEM 3212K. Organic Chemistry II. 3-3-4 Units.
Continues the exploration of the chemistry of organic compounds with an emphasis on the characteristics and reactions of a variety of functional groups. Requires the illustration of techniques for synthesis, separation, purification and identification of organic compounds in the laboratory.(F,S,M)
Prerequisites: CHEM 3211K.
CHEM 3311K. Quantitative Analysis. 3-4-4 Units.
Introduction to statistics. The use of spreadsheets. Principles and techniques of volumetric analysis. Concepts of chemical equilibria as applied to acid-base, precipitation, and complex ion reactions. Electrochemistry and potentiometry. Introduction to spectroscopy and chromatography.(F,S)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1212K and MATH 1113.
CHEM 3312K. Instrumental Methods of Analys. 3-3-4 Units.
Theoretical principles and uses of modern instrumental methods covering: measurement theory, atomic spectroscopy, molecular spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, electrometry, electroanalysis and chromatographic separations.(S)
Prerequisites: CHEM 3311K.
CHEM 3411K. Physical Chemistry I. 3-3-4 Units.
A study of macromolecular phenomena in terms of micro molecular concepts including the gas state and thermodynamic.(F)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1212K, MATH 2254, PHYS 1112K or PHYS 2212K.
CHEM 3412K. Physical Chemistry II. 3-3-4 Units.
A continuation of CHEM 3411K including liquid and solid state, kinetics, and equilibria.(S)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1212K,MATH 2254, and PHYS 1112K or PHYS 2212K.
CHEM 3500. Biochemistry. 3-0-3 Units.
The chemical aspects of protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and nucleic acid, and enzyme function, bioenergetics, metabolism, photosynthesis, nuclei acid function, and protein biosynthesis.(S,M)
Prerequisites: BIOL 1107K and CHEM 3211K.
CHEM 3700K. Environmental Chemistry. 3-3-4 Units.
This course will cover the environmental chemistry involving the transport, distribution, reactions, and speciation of inorganic, organometallic and organic chemicals occurring in the air, soil and water environments at the local, national and global scale. Environmental transformations and degradation processes, toxicology, pollution and hazardous substances will be discussed(F)
Corequisites: CHEM 3211K.
CHEM 3900. Readings in Chemistry. 0-0-2 Units.
Independent in-depth study of the literature within a topic of current research in Chemistry. Approval of a faculty supervisor required before registration.(F,S, M)
Prerequisites: 12 hours of Chemistry and permission of the instructor.
CHEM 4000. Senior Seminar. 2-0-2 Units.
Survey of various topics, especially highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of chemistry.(S)
Prerequisites: 12 hours of upper level chemistry.
CHEM 4110K. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. 3-3-4 Units.
Advanced theories of bonding and structure in inorganic chemistry with emphasis on ligand field theory, bioinorganic chemistry, and organometallic chemistry(S)
Prerequisites: CHEM 3212K, CHEM 3311K.
CHEM 4120. Drug Action and Drug Design. 3-0-3 Units.
This course is intended to introduce chemistry and biology students the key concepts in medicinal chemistry that overlaps the disciplines of a variety of science fields extended from chemistry and biology. This course will primarily consist of molecular mechanisms of drug target interactions in the body and drug design strategies for improving drug action. Some discussion will be devoted to specific drug classes, but the primary focus of the course will be acquiring the chemistry and theory of general drug action and drug design. This course will include limited hands-on experience using available computer programs in medicinal chemistry. (S) Prerequisite(s): CHEM 3212K or permission of instructor.
CHEM 4420. Adv Organic Spectroscopy. 3-0-3 Units.
This course is intended to introduce the spectroscopic methods used in the modern determination of organic structures. This will primarily consist of the study of mass spectrometry (MS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. Some discussion will be devoted to instrumental methods, but the primary focus of the course will be acquiring skill in the interpretation of this spectral data. This course will include hands-on experience using instrumentation. (F even-numbered years) Prerequisites: CHEM 3212K
CHEM 4430. Advanced Organic Chemistry. 3-0-3 Units.
A study of organic reactions and mechanisms which builds on the foundations of Organic Chemistry I and II (CHEM 3211K/3212K). Topics may include carbonyl compounds, amines, pericyclic reactions, organometallics, and synthetic polymers.(F odd-numbered years)
Prerequisites: CHEM 3212K.
CHEM 4800. Service Learning in Chemistry. 0-0-1-4 Unit.
A lecture assistantship or laboratory assistantship within a chemistry course here at Dalton State. Repeatable for a maximum of 4 credit hours.(F,S,M)
Prerequisites: Approval of both a faculty supervisor and department chair.
CHEM 4860. Internship in Chemistry. 0-0-1-4 Unit.
A supervised, credit-earning work experience of one academic semester with a previously approved business firm, private agency or government agency. Repeatable for a maximum of 4 credit hours. (F,S,M).
Prerequisites: Permission of department chair.
CHEM 4900. Special Topics in Chemistry. 0-0-1-4 Unit.
Advanced concepts in chemistry will be presented, the detailed content varying from year to year. Course may be repeated for credit when topic differs.(Offered as Needed)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1212K and permission of instructor.
CHEM 4960. Research in Chemistry. 0-0-1-4 Unit.
Research project conducted by a student under guidance of a faculty member. Variable 1-4 hours. Repeatable for a maximum of 4 hours.(F,S,M)
Prerequisites: CHEM 1212K and approval of both a faculty supervisor and department chair.