Degree Requirements
Requirements for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors
The department offers three options for degrees in Chemistry & Biochemistry: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs in Chemistry and in Biochemistry that provide a rigorous course of study in preparation for professional careers, graduate work in chemistry/biochemistry or related fields, or professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacology, veterinary); and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) program in Chemistry for students intending to pursue fields such as dentistry, medicine, secondary school teaching or other areas requiring a strong chemistry background. Earning a B.A. degree does not preclude a professional scientific career, although an additional year of undergraduate study may be required for admission to some graduate programs. The department also offers a minor in Chemistry.
Our program requires courses at the introductory (100), intermediate (200 and 300), and advanced (400) levels. We expect that majors will complete at least two of the required 300-level courses by the end of their junior year. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry recommends strongly that students earn a C or better in each of the core courses, CHEM 131 - Atoms and Molecules: Structure and Dynamics, CHEM 132 - Organic Structure and Reactivity, CHEM 251 - Intermediate Organic Chemistry and CHEM 258 - Intermediate Biochemistry, before proceeding to 300-level courses. 400-level courses, to be counted toward the major, need to be taken after the prerequisites. Any request to waive this requirement must come prior to taking the course. In order to successfully complete the required courses for a B.S. in Chemistry or in Biochemistry, students are strongly encouraged to start CHEM 131 in the first semester of their first year. Additionally, we recommend that all majors have an academic advisor within the department.
Students pursuing any of the three majors are required to complete the following eight common courses plus the additional courses listed for each program:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Two introductory courses in the principles of chemistry: | |
CHEM 131 | Atoms and Molecules: Structure and Dynamics |
CHEM 132 | Organic Structure and Reactivity |
| Three required intermediate courses: | |
CHEM 251 | Intermediate Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 258 | Intermediate Biochemistry |
CHEM 343 | Intermediate Physical Chemistry |
| The following three additional science division courses: | |
BIOL 210 | Molecular Biology and Unicellular Life |
MATH 135 | Single Variable Calculus 1 |
PHYS 121 | General Physics I |
All Chemistry and Biochemistry majors must also satisfactorily complete two zero-credit courses used for program assessment, CHEM 300 - Chemistry & Biochemistry Assessment I and CHEM 400 - Chemistry & Biochemistry Assessment II.
1Note: Students who based on high school coursework and placement scores receive a zero-credit waiver for MATH 135 are required to take MATH 145 (or equivalent) to satisfy this requirement.
BA in Chemistry
A student may graduate with a B.A. degree in Chemistry on fulfillment of G.E. requirements and the successful completion of the following 11 courses:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| The eight common courses listed above | |
| One additional four-credit 300-level CHEM course | |
| One additional four-credit 300- or 400-level CHEM course 1 | |
| One additional four-credit 400-level CHEM course 1 | |
1Note: CHEM 451 or 452 will not satisfy this requirement
BS in Chemistry
A student may graduate with a B.S. degree in Chemistry on fulfillment of G.E. requirements and the successful completion of the following 16 courses:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| The eight common courses listed above | |
| CHEM 317 | Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry |
| CHEM 331 | Intermediate Analytical Chemistry |
| One additional four-credit 300- or 400-level CHEM course | |
| Three additional four-credit 400-level CHEM courses | |
| PHYS 122 | General Physics II |
| One additional calculus-based MATH course (MATH 145, 213 or higher) or CS 105 or CS 145. 1 | |
1Example two-course sequence in MATH / CS. One of the following combinations: MATH 135 and MATH 145, or MATH 135 and CS 105 or CS 145; If zero-credit waiver for MATH 135 received: MATH 145 and MATH 213, or MATH 145 and CS 105 or CS 145.
BS in Biochemistry
A student may graduate with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry on fulfillment of G.E. requirements and the successful completion of the following 16 courses:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| The eight common courses listed above | |
| CHEM 331 | Intermediate Analytical Chemistry |
| One four-credit 300-level or 400-level CHEM course | |
| One advanced Biochemistry course (CHEM 44X) | |
| BIOL 220 | Multicellular Life |
| One four-credit 300-level BIOL course 1 | |
| One additional 300-level BIOL course or 400-level CHEM course 1 | |
| PHYS 122 | General Physics II |
| One additional MATH course (MATH 120, MATH 145 or higher) or CS 105 or CS 145. 2 | |
1Note: Some 300-level Biology courses have a prerequisite of BIOL 230, which the Biochemistry major does not require. Students can either take BIOL 230 or must obtain permission from the instructor before registering for those courses.
2Example two-course sequence in MATH / CS. One of the following combinations: MATH 135 and MATH 120, or MATH 135 and MATH 145, or MATH 135 and CS 105 or CS 145; If zero-credit waiver for MATH 135 received: MATH 145 and MATH 120, or MATH 145 and MATH 213, or MATH 145 and CS 105 or CS 145.
Minor in Chemistry
A student may graduate with a minor in chemistry on successful completion of the following six courses:
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Two introductory courses in the principles of chemistry: | |
CHEM 131 | Atoms and Molecules: Structure and Dynamics |
CHEM 132 | Organic Structure and Reactivity |
| Two required intermediate courses | |
CHEM 251 | Intermediate Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 258 | Intermediate Biochemistry |
| One additional four-credit 300-level CHEM course | |
| One additional four-credit 300- or 400-level CHEM course | |
Research and ACS Certification
For students pursuing the B.S. degree in either Chemistry or Biochemistry, two semesters of Senior Research (or a summer research experience at Denison followed by one semester of Senior Research in the same laboratory, with prior approval from research advisor and department chair) may be counted as one 400-level elective.
The B.S. Chemistry major who takes CHEM 325 - Polymer Chemistry as part of the degree requirements will earn a degree certified to the American Chemical Society. The B.S. Biochemistry major who completes CHEM 317 - Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM 325 - Polymer Chemistry as part of the degree requirements will earn a degree certified to the American Chemical Society.
Majors are encouraged to participate in one or more of the numerous on-going research projects in the department. A wide variety of research opportunities are available in the department during the academic year as well as in the summer.
Additional Points of Interest
Students interested in teaching should consult with faculty in the Department of Education. Faculty and staff in the Department of Education assist students in creating individually designed plans for obtaining licensure through a range of programs after graduation. Students interested in pursuing a B.A. degree in Chemistry before pursuing a teaching career are encouraged to take at least three of the 300-level chemistry course offerings.
The required chemistry courses at the intermediate or advanced level must all be taken at Denison, with the one exception. Because the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry recognizes the valuable contribution that off-campus study can provide to a broad liberal arts education, one course in the major or minor at the 300-level or higher may be taken at another institution, providing that prior approval is received from the chair of the department. Students considering study off-campus are strongly encouraged to discuss these plans with an academic advisor in the department well in advance of their planned off-campus study. The department understands that transfer students, students who adopt a chemistry or biochemistry major after the first year, and students who study off-campus may have unique needs; we encourage them to contact us so that we can work together to help them achieve their academic objectives.
