Chemistry

College of Natural Science and Mathematics
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
907-474-5510
www.uaf.edu/chem/

B.A., B.S., M.A., M.S. Degrees; Minor

Minimum Requirements for Degrees: 130 credits

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 meets the American Chemical Society standards of introducing the basics of general, organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry, and biochemistry. Undergraduate research leading to publications is strongly encouraged and many of the laboratory-based courses have a research component built into them. There are also options for an ACS-accredited degree which provides students additional exposure to environmental chemistry, biochemistry or forensic chemistry. Limited teaching assistantships are often available for upper division students, which strengthens leadership and communication skills.

The Bachelors degree in Environmental Chemistry prepares students for public and private sector jobs related to Environmental Science and Technology, or for graduate programs in Environmental Chemistry and related disciplines. The degree program is designed to provide students with core training in the chemical sciences, while providing exposure to a broad range of related disciplines. Students work with a faculty advisor to select required elective courses that best meets their interests and academic goals.

Students are also required to enroll in research credits with a focus on an Environmental Chemistry topic. This provides an opportunity for students to gain first hand experience working on advanced topics that are generally outside of the scope of an undergraduate curriculum. For a description of the field of Environmental Chemistry, see the Environmental Chemistry graduate program.

The chemistry and biochemistry department is housed in the Natural Sciences Facility, which is equipped with research-grade instrumentation, including a high field nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, FT infrared spectrometers, atomic absorption spectrometer, UV-VIS diode array spectrometers, two gas chromatographs interfaced with mass spectrometers, a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector, high performance liquid chromatograph, capillary electrophoresis and a modern glove box for handling air sensitive chemicals. Equipment for specialized X-ray diffractometry, electron microscopy, liquid scintillation counting, atomic force-field microscopy, dynamic light scattering analyses, etc. is available in cooperation with other UAF departments and institutes. Two computer laboratories equipped with modern chemical software (HyperChem, ACD Labs, ChemDraw, Chem Sketch, Mestrec) and other software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Endnote are available for all students enrolled in F200-level or above courses.

Major — B.A. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F200X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements. (As part of the B.A. degree requirements, complete: MATH F201X.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    CHEM F105X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F106X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F202—Basic Inorganic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis—4 credits
    CHEM F321—Organic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F322—Organic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F324W—Organic Laboratory—4 credits
    CHEM F331—Physical Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F332—Physical Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F412—Instrumental Analytical Methods—3 credits
    CHEM F413W—Analytical Instrumental Laboratory—3 credits
    CHEM F434W—Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F481—Seminar—1 credit
    CHEM F482O—Seminar—2 credits
  4. Complete the following:
    MATH F202X—Calculus—4 credits
  5. Minimum credits required—130 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

Major — B.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F200X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH F201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
  3. Complete the program (major) requirements as listed under Chemistry — B.A. Degree.
  4. Complete the following:*
    CHEM F402—Inorganic Chemistry**—3 credits
    CHEM F450—General Biochemistry Macromolecules (3)
         or CHEM F451—General Biochemistry Metabolism—3 credits
    CHEM F488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research**—4 credits
  5. Minimum credits required—130 credits

* 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 bachelor's 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, Forensic Chemistry

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F200X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete: MATH F201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    BIOL F115X—Fundamentals of Biology I—4 credits
    BIOL F116X—Fundamentals of Biology II—4 credits
    BIOL F342—Microbiology (4)
         or BIOL F362—Principles of Genetics (4)
    CHEM F105X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F106X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis—4 credits
    CHEM F321—Organic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F322—Organic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F324W—Organic Laboratory—4 credits
    CHEM F331—Physical Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F332—Physical Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F413W—Analytical Instrumental Laboratory** (3)
         or CHEM F434W—Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry (3)—3 credits
    CHEM F450—General Biochemistry Macromolecules (3)
         or CHEM F451—General Biochemistry Metabolism—3 credits
    CHEM F481—Seminar—1 credit
    CHEM F482O—Seminar—2 credits
    CHEM F488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (3)—3 credits
    Major elective (approved by department head)***—6 credits
  4. Complete the following:
    MATH F202X—Calculus—4 credits
  5. Minimum credits required—130 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

** Requires CHEM F412 as prerequisite.

*** CHEM F202, F402 required for ACS-accredited degree.

Environmental Chemistry

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F200X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH F201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
  3. Complete the following:*
    CHEM F105X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F106X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F202—Basic Inorganic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis—4 credits
    CHEM F321, F322—Organic Chemistry—6 credits
    CHEM F324W—Organic Laboratory—4 credits
    CHEM F331, F332—Physical Chemistry—8 credits
    CHEM F412—Instrumental Analytical Methods—3 credits
    CHEM F413W—Analytical Instrumental Laboratory—3 credits
    CHEM F434W—Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F450—General Biochemistry Macromolecules (3)
         or CHEM F451—General Biochemistry Metabolism—3 credits
    CHEM F481—Seminar—1 credit
    CHEM F482O—Seminar—2 credits
    CHEM F488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (Environmental Topic)—2 credits
  4. Complete the following:
    MATH F202X—Calculus III—4 credits
    STAT F300—Statistics—3 credits
  5. Complete two of the following courses:*
    BIOL F115X—Fundamentals of Biology I—4 credits
    BIOL F116X—Fundamentals of Biology II—4 credits
    GEOS F101X—The Dynamic Earth—4 credits
    GEOS F125X—Humans, Earth, and the Environment—4 credits
    ATM F101X—Weather and Climate of Alaska—4 credits
  6. Complete one of the following advanced courses:*
    BIOL F271—Principles of Ecology—4 credits
    BIOL F342—Microbiology—4 credits
    BIOL F443W—Microbial Ecology—3 credits
    BIOL F483—Stream Ecology—3 credits
    ENVE F458—Energy and the Environment—3 credits
    NRM F380W—Soils and the Environment—3 credits
    ATM F401—Introduction to Atmospheric Science—3 credits
    CHEM F402—Advanced Inorganic Chemistry—3 credits
  7. Complete one of the following advanced courses:*
    BIOL F442W,O/2—Advanced Microbiology—4 credits
    CHEM F406—Atmospheric Chemistry—3 credits
    CE F441—Environmental Engineering—4 credits
    GEOS F417—Introduction to Geochemistry—3 credits
  8. Minimum credits required—130 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

Forensic Chemistry

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH F200X; PHYS F103X and PHYS F104X, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree, complete: MATH F201X. Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement.)
  3. Complete the program (major) requirements as listed under Chemistry — B.A. degree.
  4. Complete the following chemistry requirements:*
    CHEM F402—Inorganic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F450—General Biochemistry Macromolecules (3)
         or CHEM F451—General Biochemistry Metabolism—3 credits
    CHEM F488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (Environmental Topic)—2 credits
  5. Complete the following justice requirements:*
    JUST F110—Introduction to Justice—3 credits
    JUST F222—Research Methods—3 credits
    JUST F251—Criminology—3 credits
    JUST F300X—Ethics and Justice**—3 credits
    JUST F354—Procedural Law—3 credits
    JUST F454W—Advanced Problems in Procedural Law—3 credits
  6. Minimum credits required—130 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.

** JUST F300X may not be used to fulfill core ethics requirement.

Requirements for Chemistry Teachers (grades 7 – 12)

  1. Complete all the requirements of the chemistry B.A. or B.S. degree you wish to seek.
  2. All prospective chemistry teachers must complete the following:
    CHEM F450—General Biochemistry Macromolecules (3)
         or CHEM F451—General Biochemistry Metabolism—3 credits
    CHEM F488—Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research—4 credits
  3. All prospective science teachers must complete the following:
    PHIL F481—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

  1. Complete the following:
    CHEM F105X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F106X—General Chemistry—4 credits
  2. Complete the following approved electives:
    CHEM F212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis*—4 credits
    CHEM F321 & CHEM F322—Organic Chemistry—6 credits
    CHEM F331 & CHEM F332—Physical Chemistry—8 credits
  3. Complete one of the following additional chemistry lab courses:
    CHEM F202—Basic Inorganic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F324W—Organic Chemistry Lab—4 credits
  4. Minimum credits required—29 – 30 credits

Biochemistry

  1. Complete the following foundation courses:
    CHEM F105X—General Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F106X—General Chemistry—4 credits
  2. Complete the following:
    CHEM F321—Organic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F322—Organic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F331—Physical Chemistry—4 credits
    CHEM F451—General Biochemistry — Metabolism—3 credits
  3. Complete two of the following chemistry lab courses:
    CHEM F202—Basic Inorganic Chemistry—3 credits
    CHEM F212—Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis—4 credits
    CHEM F324—Organic Chemistry Lab—4 credits
  4. Minimum credits required—28 – 29 credits