Professor: L. Isom (PhD), M. Kelley (PhD), R. Mauldin (PhD), W. Taylor (PhD), R. Tarkka (PhD)
Associate Professor: N. Carter (PhD), K. Dooley (PhD), T. Dunlap (PhD), L. Yang (PhD)
Assistant Professor: K. Barnett (PhD), M. Long (PhD), M. Massey (PhD), G. Naumiec (PhD), A. Qamar (PhD)
Lecturer II: F. Yarberry (PhD)
[1] Purposes
The Department of Chemistry curriculum provides a broad range of instruction in chemistry. It includes a general education course and lower-division courses in general chemistry and organic chemistry for students with a wide variety of career goals such as a major in one of the natural sciences, pre-healing arts (nursing, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine), engineering, or secondary school teaching.
Students majoring in chemistry receive instruction in the fundamental areas of chemistry subsequently supplemented by more advanced courses in appropriate areas. Laboratory instruction is emphasized at all levels, and students are encouraged to participate in collaborative laboratory research with faculty members. Students completing a chemistry major program of study are prepared for careers as professional chemists as well as for graduate study in chemistry or other postgraduate professional schools.
The chemistry department curriculum is approved by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society.
[2] Honors in Chemistry
[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]
Junior or senior students with an overall GPA of 3.25, a chemistry GPA of 3.4 or better, and the consent of the department chair may be allowed to participate in a program which, when successfully completed, will allow them to graduate with Honors in Chemistry. This program consists of not less than two semesters of laboratory research on a chemistry problem and the writing of an acceptable report on the research completed.
[3] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Science
The degree of Bachelor of Science, with a major described below, requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using major, minor, or elective courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) degree requirements; and (3) major and minor requirements in chemistry listed below.
[3.1] Major in Chemistry (ACS-certified)
[3.1.1] Standard Track (48 hours)
Required Chemistry Courses
CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 3411 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3211 Organic Spectroscopy
CHEM 3520 Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 4320 Biochemistry I (BIOL 1440 is a prerequisite for this course.)
CHEM 4380 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 3150 Advanced Inorganic Laboratory
CHEM 4450 Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 4451 Advanced Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 4460 Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 4112 Seminar [UD UCA Core: Z]
A minimum of two credit hours of research
One course from the following:
CHEM 3360 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry or
CHEM 4335 Biochemistry II or
CHEM 4351 Environmental Chemistry or
CHEM 4385 Topics in Advanced Chemistry
CHEM 4301 Laboratory Management is excluded from the ACS-certified major.
Other Required Courses
MATH 1497 Calculus II
MATH 2471 Calculus III
MATH 3331 Ordinary Differential Equations I
PHYS 1441 University Physics 1
PHYS 1442 University Physics 2
No minor required.
[3.1.2] Biochemistry Track (44 hours)
Required Chemistry Courses
CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 3411 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3211 Organic Spectroscopy
CHEM 3520 Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 4320 Biochemistry I
CHEM 4335 Biochemistry II
CHEM 4121 Biochemistry Laboratory
CHEM 4450 Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 4460 Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 3360 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry or CHEM 4380 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
A minimum of two credit hours of research
CHEM 4112 Seminar [UD UCA Core: Z]
CHEM 4301, Laboratory Management, is excluded from the ACS-certified major.
Other Required Courses
MATH 1497 Calculus II
MATH 2471 Calculus III
PHYS 1441 University Physics 1
PHYS 1442 University Physics 2
BIOL 1440 Principles of Biology I
BIOL 1441 Principles of Biology II
BIOL 2490 Genetics
BIOL 3420 General Microbiology
No minor required.
[3.2] Major in Chemistry (non-ACS certified) (38 hours)
Required Chemistry Courses
CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 3411 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3211 Organic Spectroscopy
CHEM 4320 Biochemistry I
CHEM 3360 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry or CHEM 4380 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 3520 Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 4450 Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 4460 Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 4112 Seminar [UD UCA Core: Z]
Two credit hours of chemical research recommended
CHEM 4301, Laboratory Management, is excluded.
Other Required Courses
MATH 1497 Calculus II
MATH 2471 Calculus III
PHYS 1441 University Physics 1 [Note 1]
PHYS 1442 University Physics 2 [Note 1]
Minor required.
Note 1
[3.3] Minor in Chemistry (24 hours)
CHEM 1451 College Chemistry II
CHEM 2401 Organic Chemistry I
Chemistry electives at the 3000-level or above (CHEM 4301 excluded) for a total of at least 24 hours
[3.4] Major in Environmental Science
See Environmental Science – Chemistry Track page (Interdisciplinary Programs).
[3.5] Major in General Science
See the General Science page (Interdisciplinary Programs).
[3.6] Minor in Physical Science
See Department of Physics and Astronomy.
[4] Teacher Licensure
Note: UCA STEMteach is now the path to licensure in science education at the undergraduate level. Alternatively, students may complete a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) graduate degree after completion of a BS in Chemistry. Contact UCA’s Department of Teaching and Learning for more information.
[5] Courses in Chemistry (CHEM)
Follow this link for CHEM course descriptions: course link.