Apr 26, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemistry BS

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Introduction

Please click here  to see Chemistry department information.

A Chemistry degree can prepare you for a meaningful career in:

  • Developing renewable energy solutions for climate change
  • Ensuring safe and pure air and drinking water
  • Discovering materials for new devices using nanotechnology
  • Analyzing medical samples to detect rare and dangerous diseases
  • Contributing to Colorado’s and America’s mining and petroleum industries
  • Contributing to Colorado’s emerging natural products and pharmaceuticals industries

A BS in Chemistry also stands out as a premiere accomplishment in applications for professional degree programs, including pharmacy, medicine, nursing, dentistry, medical technology, and many others. Previous BS Chemistry graduates from CU-Denver have gone on to medical, dental, and pharmacy schools; to Ph.D. programs in chemistry and biomedical sciences; and to productive careers in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical technology industries.

The chemistry department offers two options for a chemistry degree: A BS Chemistry or a BS Chemistry ACS Certified. Students interested in the chemistry major should consult regularly with the chemistry majors advisor, Dr. Vanessa Fishback.

Qualified majors are strongly urged to participate in directed research with a research faculty member and in the departmental honors program. We also strongly encourage chemistry majors to participate in the department by serving as learning assistants or teaching assistants.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Certified Degree.

The ACS certified degree requires a more thorough background than the minimum requirements for a Chemistry BS or Biochemistry BS. Students planning on going into industry post BS are at an advantage taking the ACS certification. The ACS certified degree is open to all Chemistry majors regardless of future plans.

Chemistry and Biochemistry double majors earn an ACS certified degree in Chemistry automatically. For more information see the major advisor.

See below in the General Requirements section for additional course work. See the ACS certified degree program page  for additional coursework.

These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.

Program Delivery

  • This is an on-campus program.

Declaring This Major

  • Click here  to go to information about declaring a major

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

  1. The Chemistry major requires 45 semester hours minimum in chemistry.
  2. Students must take at least 14 upper-division chemistry hours, including CHEM 4128, 4518 or 4538, in residency at CU Denver.
  3. The minimum grade in Chemistry courses and ancillary courses is C- (1.7).
  4. A minimum chemistry GPA of 2.0 is required in chemistry and ancillary required courses.
  5. A student who has declared a chemistry major at CU Denver may not take additional chemistry courses outside of the department for the purpose of applying those credits toward meeting the requirements of the major without prior written approval of the undergraduate advisor. No more than 3 additional hours of such pre-approved transfer credits will be allowed.
  6. All courses applied to the chemistry major need to be taken within ten years of the graduation date.

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