Harshavardhan Bapat, Keenan Dungey, Marc Klingshirn, Yashanad Mhaskar
Associated Faculty Wayne Gade
Emeritus Faculty William Bloemer, Gary Trammell
The chemistry curriculum is designed to prepare students for direct entry into the chemical profession or for further studies in graduate or professional programs. The department is accredited by the American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training. Students may elect to take a curriculum that leads to ACS certification in either chemistry or biochemistry.
Students wishing to major in chemistry should consult with an academic adviser upon admission to the university to make sure they are taking their required courses in the proper sequence.
Two options are available for the B.S. degree in chemistry -- chemistry and chemistry with a biochemistry concentration. The biochemistry concentration may be attractive to students seeking to attend medical school or to find careers in forensic science or biotechnology. Certification by the American Chemical Society is optional in both degrees. Students who choose to be certified must take CHE 422 Inorganic Chemistry as a program elective.
Major Requirements
Introductory Courses
CHE 141 Principles of Chemistry 4 Hrs.
CHE 241 Principles of Inorganic Chemistry 4 Hrs.
CHE 367 Fundamental Organic Reactions 3 Hrs.
CHE 368 Experimental Organic Chemistry 1 Hr.
CHE 369 Bio-organic Chemistry 4 Hrs.
Calculus (one year) (MAT 115, 116) 8 Hrs.
Physics (one year) (ASP 201, 202) 8 Hrs.
Transfer Students
General Chemistry I and II
Organic Chemistry (one year)
Calculus (one year)
Physics (one year)
Transfer students with deficiencies in the introductory courses may enter the program conditionally but will be required to make up the deficiencies during their first year of study. This extra work may mean that some students will require more than four years to complete the B.S. degree.
Intermediate and Advanced Courses
CHE 301 General Seminar 3 Hrs.
CHE 321 Chemical Analysis 3 Hrs.
CHE 322 Laboratory Techniques 1 Hr.
CHE 400 Undergraduate Research 4 Hrs.
CHE 401, 402 Physical Chemistry 6 Hrs.
CHE 415 Biochemistry I 4 Hrs.
CHE 421 Instrumental Analysis 4 Hrs.
CHE 441 Integrated Chemistry Laboratory I 1 Hr.
CHE 442 Integrated Chemistry Laboratory II 1 Hr.
Chemistry Electives 3-9 Hrs.
Total Core 30-36 Hrs.
ACS Certification
Certification by the American Chemical Society is optional. Students who choose to be certified must take CHE 422 Inorganic Chemistry as one of their program electives.
Biochemistry Concentration
Students who choose the biochemistry concentration must take 8 credit hours of courses for their electives: 1) CHE 416 Biochemistry II with lab (4 hr. option) or an advanced course approved by the Chemistry Department and 2) one advanced biology course from BIO 311 Cell Biology, BIO 345 and 346 General Microbiology with laboratory (both count as one advanced course), or BIO 381 Genetics. The biochemistry concentration is approved by the American Chemical Society.
Students should consult with a chemistry adviser for specific guidance regarding completion of general education requirements.
Honors in Chemistry
Chemistry majors may elect to participate in the honors program in chemistry. To graduate with honors in chemistry, a student must complete all degree requirements, have a minimum GPA of 3.00 for all UIS chemistry courses and 3.50 for UIS courses overall, complete CHE 422 Inorganic Chemistry, and make a public presentation of the results of undergraduate research (CHE 400 or similar experiential learning project). Students must apply for honors designation to the chair of the Chemistry Department prior to their final semester at UIS.
To earn a minor in chemistry, students must complete a minimum of 16 semester hours from the following courses. A minimum of eight hours of upper-division course work must be taken at UIS.
Core courses
General chemistry (one year)
Organic chemistry (transfer course or CHE 367)
Laboratory techniques course (CHE 322, 1 Hr.)
Total 12-13 Hrs.
Electives
CHE 400 Undergraduate Research 1-4 Hrs.
CHE 480 Special Topics 1-4 Hrs.
Analytical chemistry
CHE 321 Chemical Analysis 3 Hrs.
CHE 421 Instrumental Analysis 4 Hrs.
CHE 431 Environmental Chemistry 4 Hrs.
Organic and Biochemistry
CHE 369 Bio-Organic Chemistry 4 Hrs.
CHE 415 Biochemistry I 4 Hrs.
CHE 416 Biochemistry II 4 Hrs.
CHE 418 Biomolecular Laboratory Methods 3 Hrs.
CHE 433 Physiological Chemistry 4 Hrs.
Physical and Inorganic Chemistry
CHE 401 Physical Chemistry I 3 Hrs.
CHE 402 Physical Chemistry II 3 Hrs.
CHE 441 Integrated Laboratory 1 Hr.
CHE 422 Inorganic Chemistry 3 Hrs.