Chemistry, BSLAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Chemistry
Undergraduate Degree Programs in Chemistry
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry will supply, upon request, a brochure showing recommended semester-by-semester programs for the completion of the curriculum.
Departmental distinction: Students qualify for graduation with distinction by exhibiting superior performance in both course work and in senior thesis research. To be eligible, a student must have a UIUC coursework major grade point average of 3.25, must take CHEM 499 (normally for two semesters) and submit a senior thesis for evaluation, and must have their undergraduate research advisor submit to the department Head a letter of support attesting to the effort invested by the student. The minimum major GPAs for Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction are 3.25, 3.5, and 3.75 respectively. Final decisions on awarding Distinction honors will be made by the Head or designee.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation and Professional Development | ||
| LAS 101 | Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
OR | ||
| LAS 100 & LAS 101 | Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | 3 |
OR | ||
| LAS 102 | Transfer Advantage | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 or 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core Requirements | ||
| Chemistry and biochemistry courses | 30 | |
Chemistry and biochemistry courses are any courses in CHEM or BIOC. | ||
| First Semester Success in Chemistry (Transfer students may substitute 1 hour of 200 level or higher Chemistry, including CHEM 297, CHEM 397, CHEM 497, or CHEM 499, for the 1 hour of CHEM 150.) | ||
General chemistry courses | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I and General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II | ||
| Accelerated Chemistry I and Accelerated Chemistry Lab I and Accelerated Chemistry II and Accelerated Chemistry Lab II | ||
Organic chemistry courses | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Elementary Organic Chemistry I and Elementary Organic Chem Lab I | ||
| Fundamental Organic Chem I and Structure and Synthesis | ||
Physical chemistry course | ||
| Physical Chemistry Principles | ||
or CHEM 442 | Physical Chemistry I | |
| Mathematics courses | ||
| MATH 220 | Calculus | 4-5 |
| or MATH 221 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| Physics courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 8-10 | |
| College Physics: Mech & Heat and College Physics: E&M & Modern | ||
| University Physics: Mechanics and University Physics: Elec & Mag | ||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Chemistry
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free elective course | 1 | CHEM/BIOC course | 3 |
| CHEM 150 | 1 | CHEM/BIOC course | 1 |
| CHEM/BIOC course | 3 | MATH 231 | 3 |
| CHEM/BIOC course | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| MATH 241 | 4 | CHEM/BIOC course | 3 |
| CHEM/BIOC course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| CHEM/BIOC course | 3 | Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 2 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CHEM 300- or 400- level course | 4 | CHEM 300- or 400- level course | 4 |
| PHYS 101 or 211 | 5 | PHYS 102 or 212 | 5 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 4 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CHEM 440 or 442 | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 2 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Chemistry
Students graduating with the BSLAS in Chemistry (Sciences & Letters) will have:
- A thorough knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure, chemical dynamics and the chemical and physical properties of substances.
- An exposure to the subfields of chemistry, such as analytical, organic, physical, materials, inorganic, as well as chemical biology.
- The ability to read, evaluate, interpret, and present (via oral and written communication) numerical, chemical and general scientific data, information and literature.
- The ability to carry out experiments, use appropriate experimental apparatus effectively, and demonstrate proper laboratory safety skills.
Undergraduate Degree Programs in Chemistry
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry website
Chemistry Faculty
SCS Academic Advising
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Liberal Arts & Sciences College & Admissions requirements
LAS website