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Chemistry

The ACS certified Chemistry major is the basic chemistry degree designed for students seeking careers in the chemical industry, or careers in law, government, journalism, business, etc., that would benefit from a strong background in the physical sciences and mathematics. Many B.S. graduates go on to M.S. or Ph.D. studies. Other degree options include a biochemistry option (also ACS certified), a polymers option (also ACS certified), a pre-professional option, and a chemistry education option.

Students may apply for scholarships available from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials. See the College/Departmental Scholarships page on the NDSU One Stop web site.

Pre-Professional Chemistry Option

This option is designed for students interested in medical, dental, optometry, or veterinary professional school, but who wish to have an alternative career path to careers in industry, law, government, journalism, business, etc., that would benefit from a strong background in the physical sciences and mathematics. This option also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in biochemistry, biotechnology, and molecular biology.

Polymers Option (ACS Certified)

This program is for students who wish to prepare for a career as a chemist in coatings and polymers industries, or for graduate school in polymer chemistry. This is the only program in the U.S. that combines an ACS-certified B.S. degree in Chemistry with a coatings and polymeric materials curriculum. Students have numerous opportunities to participate in the summer research and cooperative programs sponsored by the industry. Scholarship support from the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials is available to students who elect this option.

Pre-Chemistry Education Option

This option is designed for the student interested in a disciplinary major in chemistry, but who is also considering becoming a chemistry and physics teacher. The curriculum includes physics coursework beyond the usual chemistry major to enable the graduate to teach physics in most states. For teacher certification, students must apply to the School of Education to enroll in the additional requirements. ACS certification may be earned by taking CHEM 471 Physical Chemistry Laboratory, CHEM 429 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, and CHEM 432 Analytical Chemistry II/CHEM 432L Analytical Chemistry II Laboratory, as additional courses and choosing BIOC 460 Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I instead of CHEM 260 .

Scholarships starting in the sophomore year are available for students in the Chemical Education option.

Major Requirements

Major: Chemistry

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

College Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree – An additional 12 credits Humanities and Social Sciences and proficiency at the second year level in a modern foreign language. *12
Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree – An additional 6 credits in Humanities or Social Sciences *6

Major Requirements

Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.

Chemistry Core Requirements
Select one from the following (May satisfy general education category R):4
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I
Select one from the following (May satisfy general education category S):4
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory
Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 341Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 353Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I1
CHEM 354Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory II2
CHEM 364Physical Chemistry I3
CHEM 365Physical Chemistry II3
CHEM 380Chemistry Junior Seminar1
CHEM 431
431L
Analytical Chemistry I
and Analytical Chemistry I Laboratory
5
CHEM 471Physical Chemistry Laboratory (Not required for Pre-professional and Chemistry Education Options)2
BIOC 460Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I3
BIOC 460LFoundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory1
CHEM 491Seminar2
Related Required Courses
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions (May satisfy general education category C)3
or ENGL 324 Writing in the Sciences
MATH 128Introduction to Linear Algebra1
MATH 165Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R)4
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 259Multivariate Calculus3
PHYS 251
251L
University Physics I
and University Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
5
PHYS 252
252L
University Physics II
and University Physics II Laboratory
5
Option Select one of the five options listed below to complete the major.12-32
Total Credits74-94

Select one of the five options to complete major requirements (12-32 credits):

Option 1: ACS Certified Chemistry
CHEM 425
CHEM 429
Inorganic Chemistry I
and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
5
CHEM 432
432L
Analytical Chemistry II
and Analytical Chemistry II Laboratory
4
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
Total Credits12
Option 2: ACS Certified w/Biochemistry Option
BIOC 461Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II3
BIOC 473Methods of Biochemical Research3
BIOC 474Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology3
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
CHEM 425
CHEM 429
Inorganic Chemistry I
and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
5
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
MICR 350
350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
5
Select 6 credits of the following (Biology):6
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory
Plant Physiology
General Microbiology II
Cell Biology
Total Credits32
Option 3: Coating & Polymeric Materials
CHEM 425
CHEM 429
Inorganic Chemistry I
and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
5
CHEM 471Physical Chemistry Laboratory2
CHEM 432
432L
Analytical Chemistry II
and Analytical Chemistry II Laboratory
4
CPM 473Polymer Synthesis3
CPM 474
CPM 484
Applied Polymer Science
and Coatings I Laboratory
5
CPM 475
CPM 485
Coatings' Materials Science
and Coatings II Laboratory
5
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
Total Credits27
Option 4: Pre-Professional Option
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 220
220L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 221
221L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
4
CHEM 425Inorganic Chemistry I3
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
or STAT 330 Introductory Statistics
MICR 350
350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
5
Total Credits23
Option 5: Chemistry Pre-Education Application must be made to the School of Education in order to obtain a teaching degre
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
CHEM 425Inorganic Chemistry I3
EDUC 321Introduction to Teaching3
EDUC 322Educational Psychology3
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
or STAT 330 Introductory Statistics
PHYS Elective 3
Recommended for Education Option
BIOL 151
151L
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
4
GEOL 105
105L
Physical Geology
and Physical Geology Lab
4
Total Credits27

Minor Requirements

Chemistry Minor

Minor Requirements

Required Credits: 19

Required Courses
CHEM 121General Chemistry I3
CHEM 121LGeneral Chemistry I Laboratory1
CHEM 122General Chemistry II3
CHEM 122LGeneral Chemistry II Laboratory1
Electives11
300-400 level courses in chemistry, biochemistry, or coatings & polymeric materials; one lab course required.
Total Credits19

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.