Offered as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Major
Concentrations: Chemistry BS/ACS Accredited Curriculum, Biochemistry BS/ACS Accredited Curriculum, Forensic Chemistry BS, Chemistry BA
Students majoring in chemistry typically enter positions in private, academic, or government laboratories, or they enroll in graduate or professional schools. There are outstanding opportunities for graduate study in chemistry. A bachelor’s degree in chemistry provides excellent preparation for graduate study in a number of other fields, including business, dentistry, engineering, environmental studies, forensic science, law, medical technology, medicine, oceanography, pharmacology, teaching, and veterinary medicine.
The Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS) has approved the chemistry program’s curricular offerings, faculty, and facilities. Students who complete the approved program are certified by the American Chemical Society and become eligible for full membership in the society upon graduation. The ACS certified degree options are strongly encouraged for students planning to attend graduate school or seeking employment in industrial or research positions.
The degree option in forensic chemistry is designed on the recommendations of the National Institute of Justice and is excellent preparation for students seeking employment as a forensic laboratory technician.
The bachelor of arts in chemistry is specifically designed for students with career aspirations related to health care, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician’s assistant, and veterinary medicine. The required courses are based on the recommendations of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the top healthcare graduate programs in the United States.
For Students Starting Before Fall 2023
Chemistry BS/ACS Accredited Curriculum, Four Year Plan
In the fall of your freshman year, you can expect to take:
– 14 credits.
Winter term of freshman year, students pursuing the BS in Biochemistry take:
– 14 credits.
For the spring term, freshmen will take:
– 14 credits.
In the fall of sophomore year, students pursuing the BS in Chemistry can expect to take:
– 16 credits.
Winter term in your second year you will likely take the following courses:
– 17 credits.
In spring term of their second year, students will generally take:
– 16 credits.
In the fall of junior year, Chemistry BS students can expect to take:
– 15 credits.
In winter term, juniors take:
– 18 credits.
In the spring term, students may expect to take:
– 16-17 credits.
In the fall of their senior year, Chemistry BS students can expect to take:
– 13-17 credits.
In winter term, seniors generally take:
– 13-17 credits.
Spring term of year 4, Chemistry BS students complete their undergraduate education with the following courses:
– 13-14 credits.
Biochemistry BS/ACS Accredited Curriculum, Four Year Plan
In the fall of your freshman year, you can expect to take:
– 19 credits.
Winter term of freshman year, students pursuing the BS in Biochemistry take:
– 19 credits.
For the spring term, freshmen will take:
– 19 credits.
In the fall of sophomore year, students pursuing the BS in Biochemistry can expect to take
– 16 credits.
Winter term in your second year you will likely take the following courses:
– 18 credits.
In spring term of their second year, students will generally take:
– 16 credits.
In the fall of junior year, Biochemistry students can expect to take:
– 13 credits.
In winter term, juniors take:
– 15 credits.
In the spring term, students may expect to take:
– 12 credits.
In the fall of their senior year, Biochemistry BS students can expect to take:
– 14 credits.
In winter term, seniors generally take:
– 15 credits.
Spring term of year 4, Biochemistry BS students complete their undergraduate education with the following courses:
– 13 credits.
Forensic Chemistry BS, Four Year Plan
In the fall of your freshman year, you can expect to take:
– 19 credits.
Winter term of freshman year, students pursuing the BS in Forensic Chemistry take:
– 19 credits.
For the spring term, freshmen will take:
– 19 credits.
In the fall of sophomore year, students pursuing the BS in Forensic Chemistry can expect to take
– 12 credits.
Winter term in your second year you will likely take the following courses:
– 14 credits.
In spring term of their second year, students will generally take:
– 16 credits.
In the fall of junior year, Forensic Chemistry students can expect to take:
– 16 credits.
In winter term, juniors take:
– 18 credits.
In the spring term, students may expect to take:
– 15 credits.
In the fall of their senior year, Forensic Chemistry BS students can expect to take:
– 16 credits.
In winter term, seniors generally take:
– 15 credits.
Spring term of year 4, Forensic Chemistry BS students complete their undergraduate education with the following courses:
– 14 credits.
Chemistry BA, Four Year Plan
In the fall of your freshman year, you can expect to take:
– 14 credits.
Winter term of freshman year, students pursuing a BA in Chemistry take:
– 14 credits.
For the spring term, freshmen will take:
– 14 credits.
In the fall of sophomore year, students pursuing a BA in Chemistry can expect to take
– 16 credits.
Winter term in your second year you will likely take the following courses:
– 17 credits.
In spring term of their second year, students will generally take:
– 16 credits.
In the fall of junior year, Chemistry BA students can expect to take:
– 15 credits.
In winter term, juniors take:
– 12-13 credits.
In the spring term, students may expect to take:
– 14-15 credits.
In the fall of their senior year, Chemistry BA students can expect to take:
– 15 credits.
In winter term, seniors generally take:
– 16 credits.
Spring term of year 4, Chemistry BA students complete their undergraduate education with the following courses:
– 13 credits.
All chemistry majors are required to complete a capstone project. Depending on whether students are pursuing a BA or BS, capstone projects may be either lab-based or literature-based. BS Chemistry students base their capstone on original, lab-based research with a faculty advisor. BA Chemistry students capstone projects are comprised of a literature review of a chemistry-related topic of interest.
By the third year, all chemistry majors enroll in a course sequence of chemical communications in preparation to conduct their capstone research project. Throughout the course sequence, students learn how to retrieve, organize, and cite chemical information. Students ultimately prepare a review paper, research proposal, and oral presentation relating to their capstone research project.
Capstone topics with faculty research advisors include:
Antioxidant and Antitumor Compound
Natural Product Isolation from Oregon Grape
Extreme Concentration Electrolyte Solutions
Novel Materials for Batteries
Movement of Molecules in Liquids
Aluminum (Al 3+ ) in Antiperspirants and for Water Treatment
Aluminum Oxyhydroxide Cluster Synthesis
NMR Analysis of Aqueous Polyoxometalate (POM) Solutions
Persistent Organic pollutants in environmental systems
Post Fire Microbial Activity Analysis
Heavy Metal Analysis and Sequestration
Liquid Crystal Organic Semiconductors
Organic Synthesis of Potential Drug Candidate Synthesis
Natural Product Synthesis
This program is designed for students preparing to enter careers in chemical research, industry, medicine, or any field that requires strong analytical skills, math skills, and scientific literacy. Students preparing for advanced study at the master’s or doctoral level are advised to pursue a Bachelor of Science certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS) which offers the most thorough preparation in all areas of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics.
Students establish a core foundation by completing our general chemistry sequence with corresponding labs. Students will then deepen their understanding of chemistry by enrolling in organic chemistry and physics. By their third year, chemistry majors begin taking advanced courses in the remaining disciplines of chemistry: analytical, physical, inorganic, and biochemistry. Further courses provide advanced training in specific areas of instrumentation, computation and scientific communication.
Capstone projects in chemistry are meant to provide a comprehensive, lab-based experience in which students draw upon and apply their education. In essence, students and professors work together during capstone to discover new knowledge. It can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the Chemistry degree. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students learn to independently design their own experiments, analyze their data, and interpret their results when the outcome is not already known. Skills and techniques are developed by extensive hands-on use of research-quality instrumentation. At regular intervals throughout capstone, students present their progress to their peers. Capstone culminates with a final presentation to the chemistry department.
Contact: Anna Oliveri – 541.552.6405 – oliveria@sou.edu
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Credit for Prior Learning – Learn More
SOU Chemistry Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6405
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