Degree Requirements - 126 credits
Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree with this major
Chemistry Major Requirements: 17 courses, 62-68 credits
Core Requirements (16 courses and corresponding laboratories where applicable, 58-64 credits)
Choose one of the following:
Choose one of the following:
Elective (1 lecture course and 1 lab, 4 credits)
Students are required to take one course of in-depth study, with an additional credit of laboratory. These courses are not offered every year, and careful consultation with an academic advisor is recommended.
Choose one of the following applicable lecture courses:
To satisfy the requirement for the one credit laboratory, students may either take the laboratory associated with the lecture course, when offered, or use one credit of independent study, which is a variable credit course.
Choose one of the following applicable laboratory courses:
| CHEM-L332 | Advanced Biochemical Techniques and Research Lab | 1 |
| CHEM-L355 | Environmental Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| CHEM-L453 | Introduction to Pharmacology and Toxicology Lab | 1 |
| CHEM-510 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| PHYS-L153 | University Physics III Lab | 1 |
Note: The curricula for the BA and BS degrees in Chemistry may satisfy the requirements for certification by the American Chemical Society. In order to satisfy the American Chemical Society Certification Requirements, students must conduct a research project for their senior seminar project.
Residency Requirement Policy: In the College of Arts and Sciences, a two-course (8 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for completion of a minor and a four-course (16 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for the completion of a major.
About the Chemistry Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Chemistry Major Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
| Learning Goals |
Learning Objectives |
| Students will... |
Students will be able to... |
| Know problem-solving and critical thinking |
- Define a problem clearly and develop a testable hypothesis
- Analyze data and perform calculations
- Draw conclusions |
| Know scientific information literacy |
- Retrieve information from library and journal search engines (e.g. SciFinder, PubMed, Google Scholar)
- Critically analyze and/or discuss literature |
| Know laboratory skills |
- Synthesize, separate, and characterize compounds
- Carry out an experiment precisely and accurately using the appropriate instrumentation
- Record results in a laboratory notebook
- Work safely in the laboratory |
| Know effective written and oral communication skills |
- Prepare and present a scientific poster
- Prepare and present formal oral scientific presentation
- Write a paper in the style of a professional scientific journal |
| Understand scientific ethics |
- Avoid plagiarism (including self-plagiarism)
- Cite scientific literature appropriately
- Follow ethical guidelines when keeping a laboratory notebook |
| Know the Fundamentals of Chemistry and Biochemistry |
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of inorganic chemistry (electronic structure, physical and chemical properties, bonding, inorganic chemical reactions and analyses, stoichiometric relations between reactants)
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of organic chemistry (structure and bonding in organic molecules; acid/base properties of molecules and how they affect reactivity; organic mechanisms, predict outcomes/routes; spectral analysis (IR, NMR, MS); green chemistry)
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of analytical chemistry (collect and analyze data from analytical instrumentation including spectrometric instruments (UV-vis, NMR, infrared ATR-FTIR, fluorometer); chromatographic instruments (GC); and electroanalytical instrumentation (potentiometry))
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of physical chemistry (quantum chemistry; molecular spectroscopy; statistical thermodynamics; laws of thermodynamics; spontaneity; chemical and physical equilibria; chemical kinetics; advanced theories of reaction rates)
- Demonstrate mastery of the fundamentals of biochemistry (structure/function of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids; protein folding, regulation; enzyme kinetics, inhibition, thermodynamics; bioinformatics) |
| Know advanced chemistry concepts |
- Apply advanced theories of bonding to the structural geometry and reactivity of coordination complexes |
About the Chemistry Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Honors
To complete requirements for honors in the major, a candidate must:
-
Graduate with a major GPA of 3.5 or higher
-
Graduate with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
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Complete CHEM-H429
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Complete a final project involving original independent laboratory or field research and/or in-depth analysis that is approved by the major department and research advisor
-
CAS Honors Program students only: Present work from the senior honors experience at the Honors Symposium or Pecha Kucha event
To become a candidate for honors in the major, a student must:
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Have a major GPA of 3.5 or higher
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Have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
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Apply to the departmental honors committee and an advisor(s) by submitting an independent project proposal for pre-approval by October of senior year
About the Chemistry Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page