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Oct 08, 2024
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2024-2025 General Catalog [Current]
Chemistry - Professional Emphasis (B.S.)
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Return to: Department of Chemistry and Physics
Program Summary
Chemistry is a fundamental field of study that explores the physical world. Chemists seek to understand the properties and behavior of matter and then utilize this knowledge to solve problems and create solutions for critical issues related to human health, material development, and environmental issues, among many other applications. The Chemistry - Professional Emphasis (B.S.) degree is primarily designed for students wanting to attend a graduate school program in chemistry. However, students that obtain this degree find themselves highly qualified for admission to professional health programs or immediate employment in chemistry-related fields.
The Southern Utah University chemistry faculty are committed to instilling an understanding of chemistry and its relevance through quality teaching, scholarly activities, and service. In a world that is becoming increasingly more technical and complex, providing chemical instruction with the depth, breadth, and rigor required to meet this need is of primary importance.
As chemistry faculty, we endeavor to provide students with quality, current, comprehensive courses and hands-on experience to serve the following needs:
- Preparation of students for the pursuit of a graduate degree in chemistry.
- Preparation of students for the pursuit of a degree in the health sciences (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc.).
- Preparation of students to gain immediate employment in a chemistry-related field upon obtaining their degree.
- Preparation of students who choose to become chemical educators.
- Education of students to think critically and independently.
- Improvement of students’ communicative, creative, analytic, and information-gathering skills.
To accomplish these goals, the chemistry faculty will provide the following:
- Honest evaluations of students’ abilities and potential.
- A climate of mutual trust and respect among faculty, staff, and students.
- The explanation, demonstration, and application of basic scientific principles and methodologies.
- Opportunities for mentorship through undergraduate research, employment, and other experiential and high-impact practices.
Program Information
- All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the major.
- All prerequisite courses must be passed with “C” (2.0) or better.
- All Chemistry majors must successfully complete an exit exam before graduation.
- Knowledge of computer science is strongly recommended.
- This degree does not include the requisite number of upper-division hours. Students completing this degree will fill the upper-division requirement with elective credit.
- Credits greater than 10 years old will not be accepted in this major.
- Some courses are taught every other year. Consult your advisor for scheduling help.
- Chemistry - Professional Emphasis is recommended for students who wish to receive professional career preparation. This degree emphasis follows the guidelines set forth by the American Chemical Society.
American Chemical Society (ACS) Certification
The SUU Professional Chemistry Emphasis is certified by the ACS. Graduates can become certified ACS graduates by completing a few requirements in addition to those for the major. This certification provides additional benefits to the graduate. Please contact any chemistry faculty member for details.
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General Education Requirement (30-35 Credits)
See General Education for course options.
- Core Course Requirements (12-15 Credits)
- Breadth Area Requirements (16-20 Credits)
Please note: All students must complete a minimum of 30 credits between the Core and Breadth Area requirements.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Requirement (12 Credits*)
- Bachelor of Science Degree - Math or Science minimum requirement 12 Credits
* Note: A portion of the B.S. requirements may be met by fulfilling the General Education Core and Breadth Areas. Because of this, these credits are typically not counted in the degree total at the bottom of page. Some students majoring in non-science fields may need additional math/science courses to reach the minimum 12 credits. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.
Chemistry - Professional Curriculum (82-84 Credits)
Required Chemistry Courses (56 Credits)
Required Math Courses (16-18 Credits)
Complete One of the Following
Note
* Students who are not prepared for this math course may need additional math credits/preparation. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for more information.
Required Physics Courses (10 Credits)
Free Electives (4-14 Credits)
Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn a minimum of 40 upper-division credits (courses numbered 3000-4999). Students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for details.
Total Credits, B.S. Degree: 120
Program Learning Outcomes
- Problem-Solving Skills: Students will develop experience in defining problems, creating testable hypotheses, designing, and executing experiments, analyzing data using appropriate statistical methods, and inferring appropriate conclusions.
- Chemical Literature Skills: Students will be able to use the peer-reviewed scientific literature effectively and evaluate technical articles critically. Computer applications and resources will be emphasized as a method to navigate the literature.
- Laboratory Skills: Students will be able to carry out laboratory procedures appropriate for their level of study using standard techniques and accepted laboratory practices. Students should understand responsible disposal techniques, comply with safety regulations, utilize safety data sheets (SDS) to identify and minimize potential chemical and physical hazards in the laboratory, and know how to handle laboratory emergencies effectively.
- Communication Skills: Students will have multiple opportunities to present information in a clear and organized manner, write well-organized and concise reports in a scientifically appropriate style, and use technology for data analysis, chemical structure drawing, and other software to aid in the communication of scientific information.
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Return to: Department of Chemistry and Physics
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