BS in Chemistry
Degree Program Description
Chemistry is the study of matter and substances in order to understand, explain and predict how substances change. The BS degree is designed for those students who desire a more focused education in Chemistry and related Sciences than that provided by the BA degree, which is more general. There are three degree tracks for those who are pursuing a BS. The American Chemical Society certification track is recommended for BS students who desire professional employment as chemists or who plan to pursue graduate education in chemistry. A medicinal chemistry track is available to BS students who plan careers in the health professions or in pharmaceutical, clinical or medicinal chemistry. The third BS track, leading to simultaneous completion of a BS in Chemistry and a BSEd in Secondary Education with Emphasis in Chemistry, is appropriate for those students who wish to teach chemistry in secondary schools. Most chemistry majors continue their education in the best graduate schools or professional schools in the country. Many of our graduates are now physicians or have teaching and research careers at universities and colleges. Other graduates are managers in industry and specialists in their fields.
Major Program Requirements
Department Level Requirements must be completed in addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements. Students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
Students should consult with a chemistry advisor to schedule science and mathematics requirements in the appropriate order. Note that for a number of chemistry courses there is a prerequisite of a grade of C or better in a previous course. Please see the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies for assignment of an advisor.
Note that students pursuing a BS degree with a major in Chemistry may opt to satisfy the foreign language requirement through alternative course work consisting of no fewer than 12 credits numbered 2000 or above.
| Major Core Requirements | ||
| CHEM 1400 & CHEM 1401 | College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 1410 & CHEM 1411 | College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 2100 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2110 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2130 | Organic Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 2140 | Organic Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEM 2400 | Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry with Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 3200 | Quantitative Methods of Analysis with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 3700W | Undergraduate Seminar in Chemistry - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 1700 | Calculus II | 5 |
| Total Credits | 38 | |
Chemistry Major with BS Degree American Chemical Society Certification Track
| CHEM 4310 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 4330 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 4340 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| CHEM 3700W | Undergraduate Seminar in Chemistry - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| CHEM 4200 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis with Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 4400 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 4950 | Senior Research | 3 |
| or CHEM 4990H | Senior Honors Research I | |
| BIOCHM 4270 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| PHYSCS 2750 | University Physics I | 5 |
| PHYSCS 2760 | University Physics II | 5 |
| MATH 2300 | Calculus III | 3 |
| Total Credits | 37 | |
Medicinal Chemistry Track
| CHEM 4310 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 3700W | Undergraduate Seminar in Chemistry - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| CHEM 4170 | Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 4600 | Introduction to Radiochemistry with Lab | 3 |
| or BIO_SC 4328 | Introductory Radiation Biology | |
| PHYSCS 1210 | College Physics I | 4 |
| or PHYSCS 2750 | University Physics I | |
| PHYSCS 1220 | College Physics II | 4 |
| or PHYSCS 2760 | University Physics II | |
| BIO_SC 1500 | Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory | 5 |
| BIO_SC 2200 | General Genetics | 4 |
| BIO_SC 2300 | Introduction to Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIOCHM 4270 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4272 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Dual Degree in Chemistry and Secondary Education
| CHEM 4800 | Chemistry Teaching Practicum | 3 |
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
Sample Eight-Semester Program - Bachelor of Science with a Major in Chemistry (ACS Certification Track)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 1400 & CHEM 1401 | 4 | CHEM 1410 & CHEM 1411 | 4 |
| MATH 1500* | 5 | MATH 1700 | 5 |
| American History/Government* | 3 | PHYSCS 2750 | 5 |
| ENGLSH 1000* | 3 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 2100 | 3 | CHEM 2110 | 3 |
| MATH 2300 | 3 | CHEM 2130 | 2 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | General Education/Elective* | 3 |
| PHYSCS 2760 | 5 | General Education/Elective | 3 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | General Education/Elective | 3 |
| 17 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 2400 | 3 | CHEM 2140 | 2 |
| CHEM 3200 | 4 | CHEM 3700W | 3 |
| CHEM 4310 | 3 | CHEM 4330 | 3 |
| Second Language (or substitute) | 4 | Second Language (or substitute) | 4 |
| General Education/Elective* | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 4200 | 3 | CHEM 4400 | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4270 | 3 | CHEM 4340 | 3 |
| Second Language (or substitute) | 4 | CHEM 4950 or 4990H | 3 |
| General Education/Elective* | 3 | General Education/Elective* | 3 |
| General Education/Elective* | 3 | General Education/Elective* | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- *
Courses satisfy certain University general education requirements.
Sample Eight-Semester Program - Bachelor of Science with a Major in Chemistry (Medicinal Chemistry Track)
Check the Undergraduate Catalog for Prerequisites.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 1400 & CHEM 1401 | 4 | CHEM 1410 & CHEM 1411 | 4 |
| MATH 1500* | 5 | MATH 1700 | 5 |
| PSYCH 1000 | 3 | ENGLSH 1000* | 3 |
| American History/Government* | 3 | General Education/Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 2100 | 3 | CHEM 2110 | 3 |
| BIO_SC 1500 | 5 | CHEM 2130 | 2 |
| PHYSCS 1210 | 4 | BIO_SC 2200 | 4 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | PHYSCS 1220 | 4 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 2400 | 3 | CHEM 2140 | 2 |
| CHEM 3200 | 4 | CHEM 3700W | 3 |
| BIO_SC 2300 | 4 | BIOCHM 4270 | 3 |
| Second Language (or substitute) | 4 | Second Language (or substitute) | 4 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 4310 | 3 | CHEM 4170 | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4272 | 3 | Chemistry Elective (e.g. CHEM 4600) | 3-4 |
| Second Language (or substitute) | 4 | General Education/Elective* | 3 |
| General Education/Elective* | 3 | General Education/Elective* | 3 |
| General Education/Elective* | 3 | General Education/Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15-16 | ||
| Total Credits: 122-123 | |||
- *
Courses satisfy certain University general education requirements.
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.