Chemistry
College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
(907) 474-5510
www.uaf.edu/chem/
B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S. Degrees
B.A., B.S. Degrees
Minimum Requirements for Degrees: 130 credits
Downloadable PDF (130K)
Professional opportunities in chemistry have grown substantially
with the creation of many synthetic products and the rapid introduction
of chemical techniques in all branches of commerce. Graduates qualify
for employment as teachers of chemistry; supervisors in industry; technical
sales personnel; research chemists in federal, state, municipal, academic,
or industrial laboratories; in pre-medicine; and as laboratory technicians.
Graduates also find positions in the environmental sciences, oceanography
and related interdisciplinary fields. Many chemistry graduates elect
to pursue advanced M.S., Ph.D., pharmacology or M.D. degrees.
The chemistry curriculum offers an opportunity for broad scientific study. All students specializing in chemistry will meet basic requirements in general inorganic, analytical, organic and physical chemistry, as well as mathematics and physics. These may be supplemented, according to the interest of the student, by courses in biology, education, engineering, geophysics, geology and advanced courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics.
Chemistry laboratories house instrumentation for nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, infrared, ultraviolet/visible, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography and HPLC. Equipment for specialized gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, x-ray diffractometry, electron microscopy and liquid scintillating counting is available in cooperation with other UAF departments and institutes.
The American Chemical Society accredits the chemistry department’s curricula.
- Complete the general university requirements (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH 200X; PHYS 103X and PHYS 104X, or PHYS 211X and PHYS 212X.)
- Complete the B.A. degree requirements (As part of the B.A. degree requirements, complete: MATH 201X.)
- Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
CHEM 105X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 106X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 202—Basic Inorganic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 3 credits
CHEM 313—Chemical Analysis of Dynamic Systems 2
CHEM 321—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 322—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 324—Organic Laboratory 4 credits
CHEM 331—Physical Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 332—Physical Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 412—Instrumental Analytical Methods 3 credits
CHEM 413W—Analytical Instrumental Laboratory 3 credits
CHEM 434W—Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 481—Seminar 1 credit
CHEM 482O—Seminar 2 credits
- Complete the following:
MATH 202X—Calculus 4 credits
- Minimum credits required 130
* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
- Complete the general university requirements (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH 200X; PHYS 103X and PHYS 104X, or PHYS 211X and PHYS 212X.)
- Complete the B.S. degree requirements (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH 201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
- Complete the program (major) requirements as listed under Chemistry—B.A. Degree.
- Complete the following:*
CHEM 402—Inorganic Chemistry** 3 credits
CHEM 451—General Biochemistry 3 credits
CHEM 488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research** 4 credits
- Minimum credits required 130
* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** Advanced courses in the physical or biological sciences or mathematics may
be substituted with permission of the head of the chemistry and biochemistry
department. However, the student will not receive an ACS-certified degree.
Note: Upon completing the recommended curriculum and fulfilling all general
university requirements, the student will receive a baccalaureate degree certified
by the American Chemical Society.
Note: The electives must include at least 6 credits at the upper division level
(to satisfy the UAF general degree requirements for 39 upper division.
Concentrations: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Juristic Chemistry
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
- Complete the general university requirements (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH 200X; PHYS 103X and PHYS 104X, or PHYS 211X and PHYS 212X.)
- Complete the B.S. degree requirements (As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete: MATH 201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
- Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
BIOL 105X—Fundamentals of Biology I 4 credits
BIOL 106X—Fundamentals of Biology II 4 credits
BIOL 342—Microbiology (4)
or BIOL 362—Principles of Genetics (4)
or BIOL 418W—Developmental Biology (4)
or BIOL 461—Cell Biology (4) 4 credits
CHEM 105X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 106X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 3 credits
CHEM 313—Chemical Analysis of Dynamic Systems 2 credits
CHEM 321—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 322—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 324—Organic Laboratory 4 credits
CHEM 331—Physical Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 332—Physical Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 413W—Analytical Instrumental Laboratory** (3)
or CHEM 434W—Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry (3) 3 credits
CHEM 451—General Biochemistry 3 credits
CHEM 452W—Biochemistry Laboratory (3)
or CHEM 488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (3) 3 credits
CHEM 456—Advanced Biochemistry 3 credits
CHEM 481—Seminar 1 credit
CHEM 482O—Seminar 2 credits
Major elective (approved by department head)*** 6 credits
- Complete the following:
MATH 202X—Calculus 4 credits
- Minimum credits required 130
* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** Requires CHEM 412 as prerequisite.
*** CHEM 202, 402 required for ACS-accredited degree.
Environmental Chemistry
- Complete the general university requirements (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH 200X; PHYS 103X and PHYS 104X, or PHYS 211X and PHYS 212X.)
- Complete the B.S. degree requirements (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH 201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
- Complete the following:*
CHEM 105X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 106X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 202—Basic Inorganic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 3 credits
CHEM 313—Chemical Analysis of Dynamic Systems 2 credits
CHEM 321, 322—Organic Chemistry 6 credits
CHEM 324—Organic Laboratory 4 credits
CHEM 331, 332—Physical Chemistry 6 credits
CHEM 412—Instrumental Analytical Methods 3 credits
CHEM 413W—Analytical Instrumental Laboratory 3 credits
CHEM 434W—Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 451—General Biochemistry 3 credits
CHEM 481—Seminar 1 credit
CHEM 482O—Seminar 2 credits
CHEM 488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (Environmental Topic) 2 credits
- Complete the following:
MATH 202X—Calculus 4 credits
STAT 300—Statistics 3 credits
- Complete 2 of the following courses:*
BIOL 105X—Fundamentals of Biology I 4 credits
BIOL 106X—Fundamentals of Biology II 4 credits
GEOS 101X—The Dynamic Earth 4 credits
GEOS 125X—Humans, Earth, and the Environment 4 credits
ATM 101X—Weather and Climate of Alaska 4 credits
- Complete 1 of the following advanced courses:*
BIOL 271—Principles of Ecology 4 credits
BIOL 342—Microbiology 4 credits
BIOL 443—Microbial Ecology 3 credits
BIOL 480—Water Pollution Ecology 3 credits
BIOL 483—Stream Ecology 3 credits
ENVE 458—Energy and the Environment 3 credits
NRM 380W—Soils and the Environment 3 credits
ATM 401—Fundamentals of Atmospheric Science 3 credits
CHEM 402—Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 credits
- Complete 1 of the following advanced courses:*
BIOL 442W,O/2—Advanced Microbiology 4 credits
CHEM 406—Atmospheric Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 408—Global Chemical Cycles 3 credits
CHEM 456—Advanced Biochemistry 3 credits
CE 441—Environmental Engineering 4 credits
GEOS 417—Introduction to Geochemistry 3 credits - Minimum credits required 130
* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
Juristic Chemistry
- Complete the general university requirements (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH 200X; PHYS 103X and PHYS 104X, or PHYS 211X and PHYS 212X.)
- Complete the B.S. degree requirements (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH 201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
- Complete the program (major) requirements as listed under Chemistry—B.A. degree.
- Complete the following chemistry requirements:*
CHEM 402—Inorganic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 451—General Biochemistry 3 credits
CHEM 488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (Environmental Topic) 2 credits
- Complete the following justice requirements:*
JUST 110—Introduction to Justice 3 credits
JUST 222—Research Methods 3 credits
JUST 251—Criminology 3 credits
JUST 300X—Ethics and Justice** 3 credits
JUST 354—Procedural Law 3 credits
JUST 454W—Advanced Problems in Procedural Law 3 credits
- Minimum credits required 130
* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** JUST 300X may not be used to fulfill core ethics requirement.
Requirements for Chemistry Teachers (grades 7–12)
- Complete all the requirements of the chemistry B.A. or B.S. degree you wish to seek.
- All prospective chemistry teachers must complete the following:
CHEM 451—General Biochemistry 3 credits
CHEM 488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research 4 credits
- All prospective science teachers must complete one of the following:
PHIL 380—Conceptual Foundations of Science (3)
or PHIL 382—Science and Technological Limits (3)
or PHIL 481—Philosophy of Science (3) 3 credits
Note: We strongly recommend that prospective secondary science teachers seek advising from the UAF School of Education early in your undergraduate degree program so that you can be appropriately advised of the state of Alaska requirements for teacher licensure. You will apply for admission to the UAF School of Education’s post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program, a one-year intensive program, during your senior year. Above requirements apply to all candidates who apply to the UAF School of Education Spring 2006 or later for licensure in Chemistry.
Minor
Chemistry
- Complete the following foundation courses:
CHEM 105X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 106X—General Chemistry 4 credits
- Complete the following approved electives
CHEM 202—Basic Inorganic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis* 3 credits
CHEM 313—Chemical Analysis of Dynamic Systems* 2 credits
CHEM 321—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 322—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
- Minimum credits required 21-22
* CHEM 324 may be substituted for both of these courses.
Biochemistry
- Complete the following foundation courses:
CHEM 105X—General Chemistry 4 credits
CHEM 106X—General Chemistry 4 credits
- Complete the following:
CHEM 321—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 322—Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 331—Physical Chemistry 3 credits
CHEM 451—General Biochemistry 3 credits
CHEM lab elective 200-level or above 3 credits
- Minimum credits required 23