School of Arts and Sciences
Chemistry

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Course Listings for Chemistry

Professors
William R. Bartlett
Ron C. Estler
James W. Mills

Associate Professors
Robert E. Milofsky
Leslie E. Sommerville

Assistant Professors
Cindy C. Browder

The chemistry curriculum provides modern chemical skills and knowledge for students preparing for careers in areas such as environmental analysis, biotechnology, teaching, medicine, pollution control, and engineering. Many students continue their studies in professional or graduate programs while others start technical careers immediately after graduation.

The chemistry option prepares students for professional work in various areas of applied chemistry, for admission to graduate programs in chemistry, or for interdisciplinary careers in the environmental or medical fields. The biochemistry option prepares students for graduate programs in biochemistry or for employment in the rapidly expanding biotechnology field. Both options are appropriate preparations for health careers. The chemistry for secondary teachers option prepares students for teaching science at the secondary or elementary levels. This last option is not recommended for students interested in graduate programs in chemistry or biochemistry or employment in related industries.

The Chemistry Department offers certification by the American Chemical Society to students completing the ACS-certified curriculum. Preparation for graduate school often involves advanced elective coursework. Students planning on professional studies in pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, nursing, or veterinary medicine should consult with the chemistry faculty and the Pre-Health committee when planning their studies.

Chemists are concerned with the structure, composition, energy relationships, chemical conversions, and other properties of substances. The various areas of chemical and biochemical technology offer the largest field of employment in the physical sciences. Chemists are employed in fields such as environmental analysis, biotechnology, material science, semiconductors, waste management, pollution control, energy research and production, forensic science and pharmaceuticals. Chemistry graduates will find many applications for their training in the fields of education, business, industry, law, government, and medicine.

A minor in chemistry is available for students majoring in other disciplines. Requirements for a minor in chemistry are listed at the end of this section.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE WITH A MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY:

Chemistry Option
Courses: Credits:
General Education 35-46
** Courses marked with double asterisks may also be counted toward TS 1 requirements.
Specific Departmental Requirements:
Chem 150 Fundamentals of Chemistry I 4
**Chem 151Tx Fundamentals of Chemistry II 4
Chem 250 Organic Chemistry I 4
Chem 251 Organic Chemistry II 4
Chem 300W At the Forefront of Chemical Research 3
Chem 311 General Biochemistry I 3
Chem 356 Physical Chemistry I 3
Chem 357 Physical Chemistry II 3
Chem 360 Physical Measurements 2
Chem 363 Inorganic Chemistry 4
Chem 365 Analytical Chemistry 4
Chem 465 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4
Chem 496 Senior Seminar 1
Chem 497 Senior Seminar 1
Subtotal Specific Departmental Requirements 44
Auxiliary Requirements for Other Departments:
**Math 221Q-**222Q Calculus I & II 8
**Phys 217Tx (preferred) Physics for Science and Engineering I 5
OR  
Phys 201 College Physics I 5
AND  
Phys 218 (preferred) Physics for Science and Engineering II 5
OR  
Phys 202 College Physics II 5
Subtotal Auxiliary Requirements 18
Free Electives (variable)
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION 120
Note to transfer and former students: If you have taken any of your major requirements and received a different number of credits than listed above, you may need to complete additional major credit requirements.

Biochemistry Option
Courses: Credits:
General Education 35-46
** Courses marked with double asterisks may also be counted toward TS 1 requirements.
Specific Departmental Requirements:
Chem 150 Fundamentals of Chemistry I 4
**Chem 151Tx Fundamentals of Chemistry II 4
Chem 250 Organic Chemistry I 4
Chem 251 Organic Chemistry II 4
Chem 300W At the Forefront of Chemical Research 3
Chem 311 General Biochemistry I 3
Chem 312 General Biochemistry Lab 1
Chem 313 General Biochemistry II 3
Chem 356 Physical Chemistry 3
Chem 357 Physical Chemistry 3
Chem 360 Physical Measurements 2
Chem 363 Inorganic Chemistry 4
Chem 365 Analytical Chemistry 4
Chem 496 Senior Seminar 1
Chem 497 Senior Seminar 1
Subtotal Specific Departmental Requirements 44
Auxiliary Requirements from Other Departments:
**Math 221Q-**222Q Calculus I & II 8
**Phys 217Tx (preferred) Physics for Science and Engineering I 5
OR  
Phys 201 College Physics I 5
AND  
Phys 218 (preferred) Physics for Science and Engineering II 5
OR  
Phys 202 College Physics II 5
Bio 113 Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology 4
Choose one from the following:  
Bio 321 General Physiology 4
Bio 331 Microbiology 4
Bio 371/373 General Genetics/Molecular Genetics 2/1
Bio 455 Cell and Molecular Biology 4
Subtotal Auxiliary Requirements 25-26
Note: For Biochemistry majors, the Biology Department waives Bio 112N as a prerequisite for Bio 113 and has made Bio 113 the only prerequisite for the upper-division courses listed above. Students double majoring in chemistry-biochemistry and biology-cellular and molecular biology may take the senior seminar sequence in either chemistry (Chem 496 and 497) or biology (Bio 496 and 497); they may take the writing class in either chemistry (Chem 300W) or biology (Bio 380W); these students do not have to take both senior seminar sequences or both writing classes.
Free Electives (variable)  
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION 120

Chemistry for Secondary Teachers
Courses: Credits:
General Education 35-46
** Courses marked with double asterisks may also be counted toward TS 1 requirements.
Specific Departmental Requirements:
**Chem 123T Chemistry for Consumers
OR
Chem 323 Chemistry for Consumers 		3
Chem 150 Fundamentals of Chemistry I 4
**Chem 151Tx Fundamentals of Chemistry II 4
**Chem 125N Environmental Chemistry 4
Chem 250 Organic Chemistry I 4
Chem 251 Organic Chemistry II 4
Chem 300W At the Forefront of Chemical Research 3
Chem 311 General Biochemistry I 3
Chem 365 Analytical Chemistry 4
Choose one from the following:  
Chem 356 Physical Chemistry 3
Chem 363 Inorganic Chemistry 4
Chem 496 Senior Seminar 1
Chem 497 Senior Seminar 1
Subtotal Specific Departmental Requirements 38-39
Auxiliary Requirements from Other Departments:
**Geol 110Nx Earth Science 4
**Math 221Q Calculus I 4
Phys 201-202 College Physics I & II 10
**Bio 112N Intro to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology 4
ED 200 Intro to Education in America 4
**ED 210S Culture of Childhood and Youth 4
ED 421 Individualized Instruction in a Pluralistic Society 6
ED 424 Language and Math Literacy 4
ED 495 Student Teaching 15
Subtotal Auxiliary Requirements 55
Free Electives (variable)  
TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION 120
Note to transfer and former students: If you have taken any of your major requirements and received a different number of credits than listed above, you may need to complete additional major credit requirements.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN CHEMISTRY:  
Chem 150 Fundamentals of Chemistry I 4
**Chem 151Tx Fundamentals of Chemistry II 4
Chem 250 Organic Chemistry I 4
OR  
Chem 363 Inorganic Chemistry 4
Chem 365 Analytical Chemistry 4
Choose one of the following:  
Chem 305 Natural Products from Plants 3
Chem 311 General Biochemistry I 3
Chem 356 Physical Chemistry I 3
Total 19

THE ACS-CERTIFIED BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

Chemistry majors may qualify for certification by the American Chemical Society (ACS) upon graduation by successfully completing a core of specified courses in chemistry and related fields. This program is particularly recommended for students planning to seek employment in industry. The ACS certification of the Fort Lewis degree requires an extension of the degree requirements given above. Students will need to consult with their advisor to carefully plan their schedules to meet these requirements.

Students planning to earn an advanced degree in chemistry, engineering, medicine, or other science-based postgraduate program for the purpose of teaching or research are encouraged to extend the basic chemistry major by including three or four additional courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics. These courses should be selected in consultation with the chemistry faculty.

Chemistry majors are also encouraged to study a foreign language.

CHEMISTRY MAJOR FOR CAREERS IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Chemistry majors are well-prepared to seek admission to professional programs in law, medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, medical technology, and pharmacy. For assistance in planning their curricula, students interested in these programs should consult with members of the chemistry faculty who are members of the PreProfessional Advisory Committee.