Chemistry: Chemistry Teaching, BSLAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Chemistry, Chemistry Teaching Concentration
The Chemistry: Chemistry Teaching, BSLAS program is no longer accepting applications as of Spring 2025.
This concentration fulfills state certification requirements to teach high school (grades 9-12) chemistry through the AP/honors level and biology, earth and space science, environmental science and physics up to but not including the AP/honors level.
Students in this concentration must complete the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching (39 hours). See the College of Education section for requirements of the minor.
Time to degree completion varies. Minimum time to completion is 8 semesters. Some students require 10 semesters. Transfer students may need 10 total semesters combined to complete the program. Please see the LAS section in the transfer handbook for more information.
To remain in good standing in this program and be recommended for certification, candidates are required to maintain UIUC, cumulative, content area, and professional education, grade-point averages of 2.5 (A= 4.0). Candidates should consult their advisor or the Council on Teacher Education for the list of courses used to compute these grade-point averages.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences Major in Chemistry, Chemistry Teaching Concentration
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. Students in the Chemistry Teaching Concentration may submit their final teaching portfolio for evaluation in lieu of taking CHEM 499 and submitting a senior thesis. 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 | ||
Chemistry Teaching Option Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| The following courses must be completed or in progress when students apply to the Secondary Education minor. | ||
| Select one group of courses (Accelerated or General Chemistry): | 10-12 | |
| Accelerated Chemistry I and Accelerated Chemistry Lab I and Accelerated Chemistry II and Accelerated Chemistry Lab II | ||
| or | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I and General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II and Quantitative Analysis Lecture and Quantitative Analysis Lab | ||
| Select one of the following Organic Chemistry course groups: | 5-6 | |
| Fundamental Organic Chem I and Structure and Synthesis | ||
| or | ||
| Elementary Organic Chemistry I and Elementary Organic Chem Lab I | ||
| MATH 220 | Calculus | 4-5 |
| or MATH 221 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| Additional Required Coursework | ||
| Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching | 39 | |
| CHEM 495 | Teaching Secondary Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 150 | First Semester Success in Chemistry 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 440 | Physical Chemistry Principles | 4 |
| or CHEM 442 | Physical Chemistry I | |
| At least four additional hours of 300- or 400-level chemistry and/or biochemistry course work. | 4 | |
| ASTR 100 | Introduction to Astronomy | 3 |
| GEOL 107 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| IB 100 | Biology in Today's World | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| PHYS 214 | Univ Physics: Quantum Physics | 2 |
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On- and off-campus transfer students in the BSLAS curriculum may substitute CHEM 152 for CHEM 150. Alternatively, transfer students may elect to take an additional 1 hour of 200 level or higher Chemistry, including CHEM 297, 397, 496, 497, or 499 as long as no more than 10 total hours of the total 22-26 required Chemistry hours come from CHEM 297, CHEM 397, CHEM 496, CHEM 497, CHEM 499.
Requirements for the Teacher Education in Secondary School Teaching Minor
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Education Required Courses | ||
| EDUC 201 | Identity and Difference in Education 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 202 | Social Justice, School and Society 1 | 3 |
| CI 401 | Introductory Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| CI 403 | Teaching a Diverse High School Student Population | 3 |
| CI 404 | Teaching and Assessing Secondary School Students | 3 |
| CI 473 | Disciplinary Literacy | 3 |
| EPSY 201 | Educational Psychology 1, 2 | 3 |
| EPSY 485 | Assessing Student Performance | 3 |
| SPED 405 | General Educator's Role in Special Education | 3 |
| EDPR 442 | Educational Practice in Secondary Education | 12 |
| Total Hours | 39-40 | |
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EDUC 201, EDUC 202 and EPSY 201 can be completed at any time during the degree and are not pre-requisites to apply for the minor.
- 2
PSYC 100 is a pre-requisite for EPSY 201.
Undergraduate Degree Programs in Chemistry
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Major in Computer Science & Chemistry, BSLAS
- Major in Chemistry (Sciences and Letters)
- Major in Chemistry (Sciences and Letters), Chemistry Teaching Concentration
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 Teaching Concentration
Chemistry
Chemistry website
Chemistry faculty
SCS Academic Advising
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Liberal Arts & Sciences College & Admissions requirements
LAS website