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.
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 list of approved general education courses is available here .
- 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, should they apply.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 39 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
College Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| * | Humanities and Social Sciences may be fulfilled by any course having the following prefix: ADHM, ANTH, ARCH, ART, CJ, CLAS, COMM, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HDFS, HIST, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the approved list of general education courses in humanities and social sciences (general education categories A and B). These credits must come from outside the department of the student’s major. |
Major Requirements
Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 341 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 353 | Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 354 | Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEM 364 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 365 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 380 | Chemistry Junior Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 431 & 431L | Analytical Chemistry I and Analytical Chemistry I Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 471 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory (Not required for Pre-professional and Chemistry Education Options) | 2 |
| BIOC 460 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I | 3 |
| BIOC 460L | Foundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 491 | Seminar | 2 |
| Related Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 321 | Writing in the Technical Professions (May satisfy general education category C) | 3 |
| or ENGL 324 | Writing in the Sciences | |
| MATH 128 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 1 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R) | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 259 | Multivariate Calculus | 3 |
| 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 Credits | 74-94 | |
Select one of the five options to complete major requirements (12-32 credits):
Option 1: ACS Certified Chemistry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Option 2: ACS Certified w/Biochemistry Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 461 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| BIOC 473 | Methods of Biochemical Research | 3 |
| BIOC 474 | Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology | 3 |
| 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 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| 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 Credits | 32 | |
Option 3: Coating & Polymeric Materials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 425 & CHEM 429 | Inorganic Chemistry I and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 471 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 432 & 432L | Analytical Chemistry II and Analytical Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| CPM 473 | Polymer Synthesis | 3 |
| 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 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Option 4: Pre-Professional Option
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 425 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| or STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics | |
| MICR 350 & 350L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Option 5: Chemistry Pre-Education Application must be made to the School of Education in order to obtain a teaching degre
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 150 & 150L | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 425 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| EDUC 321 | Introduction to Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 322 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| MATH 266 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| 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 Credits | 27 | |
Minor Requirements
Chemistry Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 19
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 121L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 122L | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| Electives | 11 | |
| 300-400 level courses in chemistry, biochemistry, or coatings & polymeric materials; one lab course required. | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
