Chemistry
College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
(907) 474-7525
Degrees: B.A., B.S., M.A. M.S., Ph.D.
Minimum Requirements for Degrees: B.A., B.S.: 130 credits; M.A., M.S.: 30 additional credits; Ph.D.: open
Graduates in chemistry qualify for employment in many fields 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. The rapid introduction of chemical techniques in all branches of commerce and the creation of the many synthetic products has caused substantial growth in the profession. In addition to the traditional employment opportunities in chemistry, well-qualified graduates find positions in the fields of environmental sciences, oceanography, and related interdisciplinary fields.
The curriculum in chemistry 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 by courses in biology, education, engineering, geophysics, geology, and advanced courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics according to the interest of the individual student.
The department offers the student well-equipped laboratories housing instrumentation for nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, infrared, ultraviolet/visible, laser Raman, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and amino acid analysis and HPLC. Additional equipment such as gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, x-ray diffractometer, electron microscope, and liquid scintillating counters are available in cooperation with other departments and institutes at UAF.
A graduate student seeking a master's degree with a major in chemistry must develop a program in one of the general divisions of chemistry: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic or physical. A student entering without preparation to take these courses may require additional time to earn the degree.
Alaska is a magnificent natural laboratory with unparalleled opportunities for study in many fields. The UAF program of study in environmental chemistry offers relevant courses and mentored individual research projects in several areas, including: Global warming and greenhouse gases; Arctic haze and industrial pollution in the Arctic; Oil spills and the fate of hydrocarbons in the marine environment.
The chemistry department's curricula are accredited by the American Chemical Society.
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Chemistry -- B.A. Degree
- Complete the general university requirements and B.A. degree requirements.
- Complete the following program (major) requirements:
CHEM 105X-106X -- General Chemistry (8 credits)
CHEM 202 -- Basic Inorganic (3 credits)
CHEM 212 -- Chemical Equilibrium & Analysis (3 credits)
CHEM 213 -- Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1 credit)
CHEM 321-322 -- Organic Chemistry (6 credits)
CHEM 324 -- Organic Laboratory (3 credits)
CHEM 331-332 -- Physical Chemistry (6 credits)
CHEM 412 -- Instrumental Analytical Methods (3 credits)
CHEM 413 -- Analytical Instrumental Lab (3 credits)
CHEM 434 -- Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 481 -- Seminar (1 credit)
CHEM 482 -- Seminar (2 credits)
MATH 200X-201X-202X -- Calculus (12 credits)
PHYS 103-104 or 211-212 -- General Physics (8 credits) - Total Credits Required (130 credits)
Chemistry -- B.S. Degree
- Complete the general university requirements and B.S. degree requirements.
- Complete the following program (major) requirements:
Complete the courses required for a B.A. degree with a major in Chemistry as listed above. Complete the following additional Chemistry courses:
*CHEM 402 -- Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits)
*CHEM 488 -- Research (4 credits)
*One additional 400 or 600 level chemistry course (3 credits) - Total Credits Required (130 credits)
Upon completing the recommended curriculum and fulfilling all general university requirements, the student will receive a baccalaureate degree certified by the American Chemical Society.
The electives must include at least 6 credits at the upper division level (to satisfy the UAF general degree requirements for 39 upper division credits).
Chemistry foundation courses may be used toward partial fulfillment of the natural science requirement for the B.S. degree with a major in Chemistry.
* 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.
Chemistry -- B.S. Degree with Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Option
- Complete the general university requirements and B.S. degree requirements.
- Complete the following program (major) requirements:
BIOL 105X-106X -- Fundamentals of Biology (8 credits)
BIOL 342 -- Microbiology
or BIOL 461 -- Cell Biology
or BIOL 418 -- Developmental Biology
or BIOL 362 -- Principles of Genetics (4 credits)
CHEM 105X-106X -- General Chemistry (8 credits)
CHEM 212 -- Chemical Equilibrium & Analysis (3 credits)
CHEM 213 -- Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1 credit)
CHEM 321-322 -- Organic Chemistry (6 credits)
CHEM 324 -- Organic Laboratory (3 credits)
CHEM 331-332 -- Physical Chemistry (6 credits)
CHEM 413 -- Analytical Instrumental Laboratory**
or CHEM 434 -- Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 451 -- General Biochemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 452 -- Biochemistry Laboratory
or CHEM 488 -- Research (3 credits)
CHEM 481 -- Seminar (1 credit)
CHEM 482 -- Seminar (2 credits)
MATH 200X-201X-202X -- Calculus (12 credits)
PHYS 103X-104X or 211X-212X -- General Physics (8 credits)
Major elective (approved by department head)*** (6 credits) - Total Credits Required (130 credits)
** Requires CHEM 412 as prerequisite.
*** CHEM 202 and 402 required for ACS accredited degree.
Chemistry -- B.S. Degree with Environmental Chemistry Option
- Complete the general university requirements and B.S. degree requirements.
- Complete the following program requirements
GEOS 101X -- Dynamic Earth (3 credits)
BIOL 105X -- Fundamentals of Biology (4 credits)
CHEM 105X-106X -- General Chemistry (8 credits)
CHEM 212 -- Chemical Equilibrium & Analysis (3 credits)
CHEM 213 -- Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (1 credit)
CHEM 321-322 -- Organic Chemistry (6 credits)
CHEM 324 -- Organic Laboratory (3 credits)
CHEM 331-332 -- Physical Chemistry (6 credits)
CHEM 202 -- Basic Inorganic Chemistry (3) or
CHEM 420 -- Inorganic Chemistry (3) (3 credits)
CHEM 406 -- Atmospheric Chemistry (3) or
CHEM 408 -- Global Chemical Cycles (3) (3 credits)
CHEM 412 -- Analytical Chemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 413 -- Analytical Instrumental Laboratory (3 credits)
CHEM 481 -- Seminar (1 credit)
CHEM 482 -- Seminar (2 credits)
CHEM 488 -- Research (Environmental Topic) (2 credits)
MATH 200X-201X-202X -- Calculus (12 credits)
STAT 300 -- Statistics (3 credits)
PHYS 103X-104X or 211X-212X -- General Physics (8 credits) - Select One Environmental Chemistry Course:
MSL 111X -- Oceans (4)
BIOL 271 -- Ecology (4)
GEOS 125X -- Humans, the Earth and the Environment (4)
CHEM 434 -- Instrumental Methods in Physical Chemistry (3)
CHEM 451 -- Biochemistry (3) 3-4 - Select One Environmental Studies Course:
EQS 201 -- Environmental Management (3)
NRM 303X -- Environmental Ethics (3)
NRM 407 -- Environmental Law (3)
PS 420 -- Environmental Politics (3) (3 credits) - Total Credits Required (130 credits)
MINOR in Chemistry
A minor in chemistry requires 12 credits above the foundation courses (CHEM 105-106) approved by the head of the Chemistry Department.
MINOR in Biochemistry
A minor in biochemistry requires the following 15 credits above the foundation courses (CHEM 105-106):
CHEM 321 -- Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 322 -- Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 331 -- Physical Chemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 451 -- Biochemistry (3 credits)
CHEM Lab Elective (200+ level) (3 credits)
Graduate Degree Requirements
Chemistry -- M.A. Degree
This is a non-thesis degree program. Complete the same requirements as for the M.S. in Chemistry (see below), substituting research project (Chem 698) for thesis. Comply with UAF degree requirements.
Chemistry -- M.S. Degree
Degree Requirements
- Complete UAF degree requirements.
- Write a research-based thesis and pass an oral defense of the thesis.
- Two credits of seminar are required.
- At least one semester of assisting in an undergraduate chemistry laboratory is required.
Course Requirements (30 credits):
Complete a minimum of 30 credits of approved courses. At least 24 credits, including thesis and/or research, must be at the 600 level.
Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry Program -- M.S. Degree
- Complete UAF degree requirements.
- Complete 30 credits of approved courses including Chem 606 -- Atmospheric Chemistry, Chem 608 -- Global Chemical Cycles, Chem 660 -- Chemical Oceanography and Chem 692 -- Chemistry Seminar.
- Pass a written and oral comprehensive examination.
- Write a research-based thesis and successfully defend it orally.
Environmental and Atmospheric Chemistry Program -- Ph.D. Degree
- Complete UAF degree requirements.
- Complete: Chem 606 -- Atmospheric Chemistry, Chem 608 -- Global Chemical Cycles, Chem 660 -- Chemical Oceanography and Chem 692 -- Chemistry Seminar.
- Complete at least three semesters in residence at UAF.
- Pass a written and oral comprehensive examination.
- Complete and successfully defend an original research-based dissertation.