Apr 18, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2020-2021 Undergraduate 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 major advisor, Dr. Marta K. Maroń (marta.maron@ucdenver.edu). The Advisor can help you select the track that best fits your future goals. A complete description of the chemistry major programs may be obtained in the Department of Chemistry office (Science 3071) or Department website.

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 graders, learning assistants, and/or teaching assistants. Contact the chemistry major advisor for more information and/or questions.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Certified Degree.

The ACS Certified degree requires a more thorough background than the minimum requirements for a Chemistry BS degree. Students planning on going into industry upon completing their Bachelor of Science are at an advantage completing the ACS Certified degree option.

  • 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 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. Students must complete a minimum of 67 credit hours, including a minimum of 45 CHEM credit hours and a minimum of 22 credit hours in ancillary coursework.
  2. Students must complete a minimum of 16 upper-division level (3000-level and above) CHEM credit hours.
  3. Students must earn a minimum grade of C-(1.7) in all major courses taken at CU Denver and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.0. All graded attempts in required and elective courses are calculated in the major GPA. Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as pass/fail.
  4. Students must complete a minimum of 14 CHEM credit hours with CU Denver faculty, including CHEM 4128, 4518 or 4538.

Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations

  1. 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 Chemistry/Biochemistry advisor. No more than 3 additional hours of such pre-approved transfer credits will be allowed.
  2. All courses applied to the Chemistry major need to be taken within ten years of the graduation date.
  3. Intro Experimental Physics labs I and II (PHYS 2321 and PHYS 2341) are specifically designed for students in non-Physics majors and can be paired with either College Physics (PHYS 2010 and PHYS 2020) or General Physics (PHYS 2311 and PHYS 2331) lectures. Students pursuing a second major in Physics should complete General Physics lectures (PHYS 2311 and PHYS 2331)  and Applied Physics Labs (PHYS 2351 and PHYS 2361).

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