Chemistry, Bachelor of Science (623)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/chemistry

Program Coordinator

Matthew J. Nee, matthew.nee@wku.edu, (270) 745-0114

The major in chemistry requires a minimum of 33 semester hours and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Requirements of the major include selecting one of four concentrations: ACS-Approved, Foundations, General, or Teacher Certification. The ACS-Approved Concentration does not require a minor or second major and is typically for students desiring graduate education in chemistry. The Foundations Concentration requires a minor or a second major and is appropriate for a wide range of career targets. The General Concentration requires a second major and is typically chosen by those in pre-health concentrations. The Teacher Certification Concentration is for students desiring Secondary Teacher Certification and requires a second major in Science and Mathematics Education (Reference Number 774). Prior to a selection of a program of study, a student should consult with a chemistry advisor to determine the most appropriate option.

Concentrations

ACS Approved (CHCR)
General Chemistry (CHGC)
Teacher Education (TCHR)
Pre-Jump Chemistry Advising (PJMP)
Foundations Chemistry Major (FCHM)

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ACS Approved Concentration (53 hours)
Foundations Concentration (37 hours)
General Chemistry Concentration (33 hours)
Chemistry Major with Teacher Certification Concentration (33 hours)

Program Requirements (33-53 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php .

ACS Approved Concentration (53 hours)

WKU is on the approved list of the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society. For the Chemistry Department to certify graduates in this concentration, the completion of a minimum of 53 hours of chemistry courses, 16-18 hours of math and science cognate courses, and the Colonnade general education courses for the Bachelor of Science is required. Required chemistry courses for the ACS Approved concentration are:

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
CHEM 120 & CHEM 121	College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory	5
CHEM 222 & CHEM 223	College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory	5
CHEM 320	Inorganic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 330	Quantitative Analysis	5
CHEM 340 & CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	5
CHEM 342 & CHEM 343	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	5
CHEM 398	Undergraduate Seminar	1
CHEM 399	Research Problems in Chemistry	2
CHEM 420 & CHEM 421	Inorganic Chemistry II and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory	4
CHEM 435 & CHEM 436	Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory	5
CHEM 446	Biochemistry I	3
CHEM 450 & CHEM 451	Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry I Laboratory	5
CHEM 452 & CHEM 453	Physical Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry II Laboratory	5
Total Hours		53

Required Support Courses for ACS Approved Concentration (16-18 hours)¹

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
MATH 136	Calculus I	4
MATH 137	Calculus II	4
Select one series from the following:		8-10
PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 & PHYS 332 & PHYS 233	Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I and Introduction to Physics and Biophysics II and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics II
or
PHYS 255 & PHYS 256 & PHYS 265 & PHYS 266	University Physics I and University Physics I Lab and University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory
Total Hours		16-18

¹: Students initially ineligible for MATH 136 should consult their academic advisor for the proper first course in mathematics. It is recommended that students in this program take MATH 237, MATH 307 and MATH 331 in addition to the minimum math requirements listed above. The University Physics track is strongly recommended for this concentration.

Foundations Concentration (37 hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses:
CHEM 120 & CHEM 121	College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory	5
CHEM 222 & CHEM 223	College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory	5
CHEM 320	Inorganic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 330	Quantitative Analysis	5
CHEM 340 & CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	5
CHEM 342 & CHEM 343	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	5
CHEM 398	Undergraduate Seminar	1
CHEM 446	Biochemistry I	3
CHEM 450 & CHEM 451	Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry I Laboratory	5
A minor or second major is required for this concentration
Total Hours		37

Required Support Courses for the Foundations Concentration (8-9 hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
MATH 136	Calculus I	4
Select one of the following course sequences:
PHYS 231 & PHYS 232	Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I	4-5
or PHYS 255 & PHYS 256	University Physics I and University Physics I Lab
Total Hours		8-9

General Chemistry Concentration (33 hours)

The General Chemistry Concentration is recommended for pre-health professions students majoring in chemistry and other students who desire a double major.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
CHEM 120 & CHEM 121	College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory	5
CHEM 222 & CHEM 223	College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory	5
CHEM 330	Quantitative Analysis	5
CHEM 340 & CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	5
CHEM 342 & CHEM 343	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	5
CHEM 320	Inorganic Chemistry I	3
or CHEM 446	Biochemistry I
CHEM 450 & CHEM 451	Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry I Laboratory	5
A second major is required for this concentration.
Total Hours		33

Additional Support Courses for the General Chemistry Concentration (8-9 hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
MATH 136	Calculus I	4
Select one of the following sequences:
PHYS 231 & PHYS 232	Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I	4-5
or PHYS 255 & PHYS 256	University Physics I and University Physics I Lab
Total Hours		8-9

Chemistry Major with Teacher Certification Concentration (33 hours)

Students interested in teaching chemistry must declare a second major in Science and Mathematics Education (SMED) available through the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Chemistry Major Requirements
CHEM 120 & CHEM 121	College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory	5
CHEM 222 & CHEM 223	College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory	5
CHEM 320	Inorganic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 330	Quantitative Analysis	5
CHEM 340 & CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	5
CHEM 446 & CHEM 447	Biochemistry I and Biochemistry Laboratory	5
CHEM 450 & CHEM 451	Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry I Laboratory	5
Total Hours		33

Required Support Courses for Teacher Education (16 hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
MATH 136	Calculus I	4
PHYS 231 & PHYS 232	Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I	4
PHYS 332 & PHYS 233	Introduction to Physics and Biophysics II and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics II	4
GEOL 111 & GEOL 113	The Earth and The Earth Laboratory	4
Total Hours		16

SMED Major Requirements (34 hours)

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
SMED 101	Step 1: Introduction to Inquiry-Based Approaches to Teaching	3
SMED 102	Step 2: Introduction to Inquiry-Based Lesson Design	3
SMED 310	Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science	3
SMED 320	Classroom Interactions	3
SMED 340	Perspectives on Mathematics and Science	3
SMED 360	Research Methods for Math and Science Teachers	3
SMED 470	Project-Based Instruction	3
SMED 489	SMED Student Teaching Seminar	3
SEC 490	Student Teaching	10
Total Hours		34

The Department of Chemistry offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. See https://catalog.wku.edu/graduate/enrollment/ or contact the chemistry graduate program coordinator for additional information.

This JUMP program allows students to start working toward their MS in chemistry while completing their bachelor’s of science degree in chemistry. Undergraduate students admitted into JUMP may take graduate courses that count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Up to 9 credit hours can be double-counted toward both degrees, and up to 12 hours of graduate courses can be taken while a student is completing the undergraduate degree. The key benefit of the JUMP program is that it allows students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated timeframe. For more information, see https://www.wku.edu/chemistry/.

A student must be a chemistry or biochemistry major, and they must have completed at least one semester long research experience with a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry to be considered for admission to the chemistry JUMP program. Note that admissions are competitive and dependent upon graduate program capacity.

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