DEPARTMENT OF                       

Chemistry                                              Michael A. Janusa, CHAIR
Chemistry 104B
(936) 468-3606
Fax: (936) 468-7634
janusama@sfasu.edu
www.sfasu.edu/chemistry

 

Faculty

 

Regents Professor

John T. Moore

 

Professors

Wayne C. Boring, Anthony J. Duben, Michele R. Harris, Michael A. Janusa,

Richard H. Langley

 

Associate Professors

Alyx S. Frantzen,

 

Assistant Professors

Russell J. Franks, Arlen L. Jeffery, Odutayo O. Odunuga, Kefa K. Onchoke

 

Areas of Study & Degrees

B.S. Biochemistry

Pre-Professional Programs:

                        Dentistry

                        Medicine

                        Optometry

                        Pharmacy

                        Veterinary Medicine

B.S. Chemistry

            Degree Tracks:

                        Biochemical/Pre-medical

                        Biotechnology

                        Computer Science

                        Environmental Chemistry

                        Forensic

                        General Chemist

                        Mathematics

                        Physics

                        Professional Chemist

                        Secondary Education

                        Statistics

 

Minor:

            Chemistry

Objectives

The objectives of the Department of Chemistry are: (1) to prepare students for graduate and/or professional schools (i.e. medical); (2) to prepare students for positions in industry, government service, and teaching; (3) to allow science students with non-chemistry majors to relate chemistry to their major science; and (4) to acquaint non-science students with the methods, concepts, and achievements of the science of chemistry. The chemistry curriculum has the approval of the American Chemical Society for training professional chemists. The chemistry program is designed to be flexible which allows students to choose electives best suited for their future career goals. Students completing the Bachelor of Science for professional chemists (American Chemical Society certified degree) can pursue opportunities in various industrial labs across the country, or can continue their education in graduate school.  Students interested in professional schools, chemistry associated industries, secondary education or other options may pursue the Bachelor of Science non-certified degree. This degree is designed to prepare students interested in careers combining the knowledge of chemistry with other areas.

 

Student Organization

Chemistry Club

 

Definition of Major and Minor

A minimum of 120 semester hours of course work is required for a B.S. degree in biochemistry or chemistry. Of these hours, 33 core chemistry hours are required which include: CHE 133, 134, 231, 331, 332, 337, 443, 452/452L and 470. Each degree has additional hours of required courses; these hours are classified as Major or Minor under Suggested Curriculum Sequence section. General education courses, PHY 241 and 242, and mathematics courses through MTH 234 are also required. A maximum of 4 hours of CHE 475/476 may be counted towards the major.

A minor in chemistry consists of a minimum of 18 hours of chemistry course work. The hours for a minor must include: CHE 133, 134, 231, 331 and two advanced hours in chemistry. A maximum of 2 semester hours of CHE 475/476 can be counted for a minor.

CHE 111, 112, 125, 302, 320, and 330 cannot be counted as hours of chemistry for a major or minor in chemistry.

 

                    American Chemical Society Certified B.S. Degree

            An American Chemical Society certified B.S. degree in chemistry consists of completing one of the chemistry tracks and completion of a satisfactory supervised research project (CHE 475 or 476).  Biochemistry degree and secondary education track require one or two additional courses beyond their curriculum for a certified degree. 

Certification for Physical Science (Chemistry-Physics) Teaching

(Grades 8-12)

            Students who wish to qualify for teaching certificates should consult the Teacher Certification section of this Bulletin.

 

Graduate Study in Chemistry

The Overlap Graduate Degree Program permits qualified undergraduates to pursue a limited amount of graduate study (usually 12 credit hours or less) concurrently with undergraduate study.  The Department of Chemistry offers a thesis and non-thesis master’s degree (thesis option highly recommended).  Thesis master’s degree requires a minimum 21 of the required 30 semester hours in chemistry (including CHE 589 and 590).  The non-thesis master’s degree requires a minimum 27 of the required 36 semester hours in chemistry.  Both options require a minimum of one graduate course in each area of chemistry.  For more information and eligibility requirements, consult the Graduate Bulletin or the Overlap Program in the Academic Program & Policies section of this bulletin. 

 

Curriculum for Biochemistry/Chemistry Majors Bachelor of Science Degree

(Suggested Sequence)

The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry or chemistry.  All students must complete a major and a minor (or second major), take the appropriate core curriculum requirements, and have the required semester hours for graduation. 

The biochemistry degree combines the fundamentals of the B.S. degree in chemistry with the advanced courses in biochemistry and the life sciences.  The biochemistry degree is designed for students interested in biochemistry related careers or life/health sciences (i.e. medical). Biochemistry majors are required to minor in biology (24 hours).

Chemistry majors may design an interdisciplinary educational experience by selecting one of the suggested areas of interest or design their own with the approval of an advisor:  biochemistry/premedical, biotechnology, chemical education, computer science, environmental chemistry, forensic, general chemist, mathematics, physics, professional chemist, secondary education, statistics.  Note that courses listed in suggested areas are recommended and may be substituted with advisor approval.  The chemistry degree is designed to be flexible allowing you to design a degree program that is appropriate for your career goals.  The chemistry degree has 23 hours of electives which gives you the opportunity to select the courses best suited for your career. 

Each interdisciplinary experience has minor/electives in any area of interest leading to a minor (or second major) of which 11 hours must be approved advanced hours (6 advanced hours in minor is required). 

 

Degree Tracks

 

Biochemical/Pre-medical           CHE 453, 454

                                                Biology minor required courses (suggested electives:

BIO 241, 309, 327, 341)

Biotechnology                           CHE 453, 454, Bioinformatics I

                                                Biology minor required courses (suggested electives: BIO

309, 341, 402, 410)

Computer Science                    CHE 400 level electives (five)

Computer Science minor required courses

Environmental Chemistry           CHE 420, 400 level chemistry electives (1)

                                                Environmental Science or Geology minor required courses

Forensic                                   CHE 453, BIO 341

                                                Criminal Justice minor required courses

General Chemist                       advanced electives (five)

                                                Minor required courses

Mathematics                             CHE 400 level electives (five)

Mathematics minor required courses                                        

Physics                                     CHE 400 level electives (five)

                                                Physics minor required courses

Professional Chemist                 CHE 400 level electives (five)

                                                Minor required courses  

Secondary Education                EPS 380, SED 370, 371, 372, 442 (six), 443, 450/450L, 460

Statistics                                   CHE 400 level electives (five)

                                                Applied Statistics minor required courses

 

Freshman Year

CHE 133/133L                          4          CHE 134/134L                          4

CSC 101 or 201                         3          Core elective *                          3

ENG 131 or 133                        3          ENG 132                                  3

HIS 133 or 134                          3          HIS 133 or 134                          3

Minor***                                  3          Minor***                                  3

TOTALS          16                                                         16         32

 

Sophomore Year

Major***                                  4          CHE 231                                  4

CHE 331/331L                          4          CHE 332/332L                          4

ENG 273                                  3          Eng. Literature                          3

MTH 233**                              4          MTH 234                                  4

TOTALS          15                                                         15         30

 

Junior Year

CHE 337/337L                          4          Major***                                  4

CHE 452/452L                          4          Core elective *                          6

PHY 241/241L                          4          PHY 242/242L                          4

Minor***                                  3          Minor***                                  3

TOTALS          15                                                         17         32

 

Senior Year

Advanced Minor***                  3          Advanced Minor***                  3

PSC 141                                   3          PSC 142                                   3

CHE 443/443L                          4          CHE 470                                  1

Major***                                  3          Major***                                  6

                                                13                                                         13         26

 

***Biochemistry –   Major: BIO electives (6), CHE 453, 454, 275 or 475, advanced CHE electives (4)

                              Minor: BIO minor (18)

Chemistry –      Major: CHE 241, 338, 441/442L, degree track advanced electives (5)

Minor: degree track minor (18) (note: chemistry secondary education requires CHE 241, 275 or 475 (1), 321, 481, required education courses, and EPS 380 as the Social/Behavioral Science core elective)  

**MTH 233 is the entry-level course for this major.  All prerequisites for MTH 233 must be met. 

*Core Requirements

Communication Skills - three semester hours from:

BCM 247; COM 111, 170; FRE 131, 132; ILA 111, 112; SPA 131, 132; SPH 172, 272; LAT 131, 132

Visual and Performing Arts – three semester hours from:

                                    ART 280, 282, 282; MUS 140; THR 161, 370; DAN 140, 341