Chemistry Major

The Bachelor of Science degree program is rigorous; its certification by the American Chemical Society enhances the stature and usefulness of this degree. Students planning to continue into graduate work are encouraged to take the program.

The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs are described below. Detailed curricula are available from the department chair.

Chemistry Major - Bachelor of Science Degree

Students who choose to major in chemistry must meet the following requirements in addition to the special requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree:

50 credit hours of Chemistry courses of which at least 36 hours must be at the advanced (3000 or 4000) level.

At least 15 credit hours must be hands-on laboratory experiences, that include a minimum of 450 contact hours in physical (i.e., not virtual or computer-based) laboratories.

Requirements
CoursesHours
Physics: PHYS 1321, 1121, 1322, and 1122 8
Mathematics: MATH 1431, 1432, 2433, and 3321
15
Chemistry: CHEM 1111, 1112, 1331, 1332, 2133, 2233, 3119, 3221,3222, 3331, 3332, 3369, 4115, 4229, 4270, 4272, 4336, 4365, 4369, 4370, and 4372 47
Approved advanced chemistry elective 3

Chemistry Major - Bachelor of Arts Degree

Students who choose to major in chemistry must meet the following requirements in addition to the special requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree:

32 hours of chemistry courses of which 21 hours must be advanced hours.

At least 8 credit hours must be hands-on laboratory experiences, that include a minimum of 250 contact hours in physical (i.e., not virtual or computer-based) laboratories.

Requirements
CoursesHours
Physics: PHYS 1321, 1121, 1322, and 1122 8
Mathematics: MATH 1431, 1432, 2433, and 3321 15
Chemistry: CHEM 1111, 1112, 1331, 1332, 3119, 3221, 3222, 3331, 3332, and 3369 22
CHEM 4370 or 4372 3
Approved advanced chemistry electives (which must include at least one lab course) 7

Suggested Program - Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

First Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1303. First Year Writing I 3
CHEM 1331 and 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
MATH 1431. Calculus I 4
Social Sciences Core Course 3
HIST 1377. The United States to 1877 or equivalent 3
Total 17
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1304. First Year Writing II 3
CHEM 1332 and 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
MATH 1432. Calculus II 4
HIST 1378. The United States Since 1877 or equivalent 3
Total 14

Second Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 3331 and 3221. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory 5
CHEM 2233 and CHEM 2133. Inorganic Chemistry I and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory 3
MATH 2433. Calculus III 4
PHYS 1321. University Physics I 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 3369 and 3119. Analytical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory 4
CHEM 3332 and 3222. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry II and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 5
PHYS 1322 and PHYS 1121. University Physics II and Physics Laboratory I 4
MATH 3321. Engineering Math 3
Total 16

Third Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 4370 or 4372. Physical Chemistry I or Physical Chemistry II 3
POLS 1336. U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics or equivalent 3
PHYS 1122. Physics Laboratory II 1
Foreign Language (2000-level) 3
Visual/Performing Arts Core Course 3
Total 13
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 3369 and 3119. Analytical Chemistry and Laboratory
 4
NSM Capstone, Minor or Elective Courses 3
Foreign Language (2000-level) 3
Humanities Core Course 3
POLS 1337. U.S. Government: Congress, President and Courts or equivalent 3
Total 16

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 4369. Instrumental Methods of Analysis 3
CHEM 4229. Instrumental Methods of Analysis Laboratory 2
Natural Sciences Approved Course 3
NSM Capstone, Minor, or Electives 7
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 4365. Inorganic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 4115. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II 1
Either CHEM 3336. Organic Chemistry of Biological Molecules or CHEM 4336. Fundamental Biochemistry 3
Chemistry Elective 3
NSM Capstone, Minor, or Electives 4
Total 14

All students are responsible for the completion of 36 advanced semester hours required for a University of Houston degree.

Suggested Program -Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

First Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1303. Freshman Composition I 3
CHEM 1331 and 1111. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
MATH 1431. Calculus I 4
HIST 1377. The United States to 1877 or equivalent 3
Social Sciences Core Course 3
Total 17
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
ENGL 1304. Freshman Composition II 3
CHEM 1332 and 1112. Fundamentals of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory 4
MATH 1432. Calculus II 4
HIST 1378. The United States Since 1877 or equivalent 3
Total 14

Second Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 3331 and 3221. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory 5
MATH 2433. Calculus III 4
PHYS 1321. University Physics I 3
Writing in the Discipline Core Course 3
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 3332 and 3222. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory 5
MATH 3321. Engineering Math 3
PHYS 1322. University Physics II 3
PHYS 1121. Physics Laboratory I 1
Elective 3
Total 15

Third Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 4370 or 4373. Physical Chemistry I or Survey of Physical Chemistry 3
PHYS 1122. Physics Laboratory II 1
POLS 1336. U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics or equivalent 3
Foreign Language (2000-level) 3
Visual/Performing Arts Core Course 3
Total 13
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
CHEM 3369 or 3119. Analytical Chemistry and Laboratory 4
NSM Capstone, Minor or Elective Courses 3
Foreign Language (2000-level) 3
Humanities Core Course 3
POLS 1337. U.S. Government: Congress, President and Courts or equivalent 3
Total 16

Fourth Year

Fall Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Chemistry Electives 4
NSM Capstone, Minor or Elective Courses 11
Total 15
Spring Semester Suggested Program
Courses Hours
Chemistry Electives 3
NSM Capstone, Minor or Elective Courses 12
Total 15

All students are responsible for the completion of 36 advanced semester hours required for a University of Houston degree.

Credit by Examination for Chemistry

Course Course No. Test Program Test Subject Minimum Score Credit Hours
CHEM 1331 AP or Chemistry 4 3
Departmental Exam Chemistry 75 percent 3
CHEM 1111 Lab Departmental Assessment Chemistry See Note Below 1
CHEM 1332 AP and Chemistry 5 3
Departmental Exam Chemistry 75 percent
CHEM 1112 Lab Departmental Assessment Chemistry See Note Below 1
CHEM 1372 AP or Chemistry 4 3
Departmental Exam Chemistry 75 percent 3
CHEM 1117 Lab Departmental Assessment Chemistry

See Note Below

1

Note: The Lab Departmental Assessment involves a review of the student's Advanced Placement Lab Book.

For additional information regarding Credit by Examination, please go to the University of Houston's University Testing Services (UTS) website.

Catalog Publish Date: August 22, 2012
This Page Last Updated: July 20, 2012