Chemistry (BS)
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Chemistry
Program Code: 3470
About This Major . . .
Chemistry students gain a unique perspective on the composition, properties, and reactivity of the substances surrounding them. These students gain problem-solving skills that can be applied in chemistry labs, in other classes, and in day-to-day life. By having chemistry faculty with a diverse range of specialties (analytical, inorganic, physical, organic, and biochemistry), chemistry majors have the opportunity to learn about each of these fields, and they are provided with a wide variety of research opportunities. Students are trained to independently use modern instrumentation, including a 300 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer liquid chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, and an ICP atomic emission spectrophotometer. The programs culminate in two courses designed to bridge students’ coursework with their entry into the workforce or graduate school. In Advanced Laboratory, students synthesize knowledge from various chemical disciplines and apply it to solving chemical problems in a practical manner. Our Communicating in the World of Chemistry course couples with our Advanced Laboratory course to help students express themselves in a professional manner while applying for and entering their new positions.
Colorado Mesa graduates have jobs in the chemical industry and secondary education, and have gone to graduate, pharmacy, and medical schools. Our graduates have completed Ph.D. programs at the University of Denver, Arizona State University, University of Utah and University of Wyoming in chemistry, biomedical engineering and environmental engineering.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit Career Services’ What to Do with a Major? resource.
All CMU baccalaureate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Demonstrate fluency in the concepts from the major fields of chemistry (inorganic, organic, physical, and analytical). (Specialized Knowledge)
- Utilize mathematics to solve chemical problems. (Quantitative Fluency)
- Employ proper experimental techniques. (Applied Learning)
- Interpret chemical information from peer-reviewed publications. (Critical Thinking)
- Communicate chemical topics effectively, both verbally and in writing. (Communication Fluency)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU baccalaureate degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 120 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
- 40 upper-division credits (an alternative credit limit applies to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree).
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Essential Learning Requirements
(31 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English 1 | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| Mathematics 1 | ||
| MATH 151 | Calculus I-GT-MA1 2 | 3 |
| History | ||
| Select one History course | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select one Humanities course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course | 3 | |
| Select one Social and Behavioral Sciences course | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | ||
| Select one Fine Arts course | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select one Natural Sciences course with a lab | 4 | |
| Select one Natural Sciences course | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 31 | |
- 1
Must receive a grade of "C" or better and must be complete by the time the student has 60 semester hours.
- 2
This is a 5 credit course. 3 credits apply to the Essential Learning requirements and 2 credits apply to foundation.
Other Lower Division Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Requirement | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one Activity course | 1 | |
| Essential Learning Capstone 1 | ||
| ESSL 290 | Maverick Milestone | 3 |
| ESSL 200 | Essential Speech | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 6 | |
- 1
Essential Learning Capstone must be taken after completion of the Essential Learning English and Mathematics requirements, and when a student has earned between 45 and 75 hours.
Foundation Courses
(17 semester hours, must pass all courses with a grade of “C” or higher)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 151 | Calculus I-GT-MA1 | 2 |
| MATH 152 | Calculus II | 5 |
| Select one of the following sets of courses: | 5 | |
| Fundamental Mechanics-GTSC1 and Fundamental Mechanics Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| General Physics I-GTSC1 and General Physics I Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| Select one of the following sets of courses: | 5 | |
| Electromagnetism and Optics-GTSC1 and Electromagnetism and Optics Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| General Physics II-GTSC1 and General Physics II Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(51 semester hours, must pass all courses with a grade of “C” or higher)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| CHEM 131 | General Chemistry I-GTSC1 | 4 |
| CHEM 131L | General Chemistry Laboratory I-GTSC1 | 1 |
| CHEM 132 | General Chemistry II-GTSC1 | 4 |
| CHEM 132L | General Chemistry Laboratory II-GTSC1 | 1 |
| CHEM 301 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 301L | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 311 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 311L | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 312 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 312L | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 341 | Advanced Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 442 | Communicating in the World of Chemistry | 1 |
| Additional Chemistry Courses | ||
| CHEM 321 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 351 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 431 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 431L | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 44 | |
- 1
Must pass all courses with a grade of “C” or higher
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 7 semester hours from the following list: 1 | 7 | |
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| Biochemistry II | ||
| Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry II | ||
| Topics | ||
| Structured Research | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Formal Research | ||
| Seminar | ||
| Topics | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 7 | |
General Electives
All college level courses appearing on your final transcript, not listed above that will bring your total semester hours to 120 hours, including 40 hours of upper division hours. 15 semester hours; 3 hours of upper division may be needed.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 15 hours of electives | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| CHEM 131 & 131L | General Chemistry I-GTSC1 and General Chemistry Laboratory I-GTSC1 | 5 |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I-GT-MA1 | 5 |
| Essential Learning - Natural Science | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 132 & 132L | General Chemistry II-GTSC1 and General Chemistry Laboratory II-GTSC1 | 5 |
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II-GTCO2 | 3 |
| MATH 152 | Calculus II | 5 |
| Essential Learning - Natural Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MATH 253 | Calculus III | 4 |
| CHEM 311 & 311L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 5 | |
| Fundamental Mechanics-GTSC1 and Fundamental Mechanics Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| General Physics I-GTSC1 and General Physics I Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 312 & 312L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 5 | |
| Electromagnetism and Optics-GTSC1 and Electromagnetism and Optics Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| General Physics II-GTSC1 and General Physics II Laboratory-GTSC1 | ||
| CHEM 301 & 301L | Analytical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 321 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| ESSL 290 | Maverick Milestone | 3 |
| ESSL 200 | Essential Speech | 1 |
| Essential Learning - History | 3 | |
| Essential Learning - Fine Arts | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 351 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Essential Learning - Humanities | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 431 & 431L | Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| Essential Learning - Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| KINA Activity | 1 | |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 341 | Advanced Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 442 | Communicating in the World of Chemistry | 1 |
| Restricted Electives | 4 | |
| General Electives (2 courses) | 6 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.
If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.