Chemistry

Targeted programs with rigorous training.

Why Chemistry at Valpo?

Why does Valpo Chemistry beat the national medical school acceptance rate by 35%? Or place over 96% of its majors into employment within 6 months of graduating? Or place its graduates in Top 10 graduate schools? Maybe because we’re centrally located between the industrial markets in Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Detroit.

Or, perhaps it’s our state-of-the-art building, containing over $1 million in instrumentation our students start using as freshmen. Possibly, it’s our small class and lab sizes which are all taught by Ph.D. professors. Come be part of a caring community that will bring out your very best.

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About Our Chemistry Degrees

Our degree programs are all designed to meet the requirements for graduate study, professional schools, a teaching career in chemistry, or work in industrial or governmental positions. We offer several degree options to meet a range of needs and interests.

All majors in the College of Arts and Sciences complete at least 124 total credits to earn a bachelor’s degree.

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Chemistry Programs

44-credit bachelor of science

This degree, designed for students who plan to pursue graduate study or careers in chemistry, offers rigorous training and provides a solid background in all five major areas of chemistry. Approved by the American Chemical Society for the training of professional chemists, it does not require the student to have any minor or second major.

In addition to completing the required courses, Valpo encourages students to conduct undergraduate research. A wide selection of instruments is maintained for student use in instructional laboratory work and research.

All majors are also expected to attend the weekly chemistry colloquium, CHEM 499, every semester.

Foundations

B.S. students in chemistry at Valpo must complete the general-education requirements for the B.S. This University-wide core strengthens communication and critical thinking skills while introducing global cultures and traditions.

Major Requirements: Minimum 44 Credits
CHEM 190	Introduction to Chemical Research	1 Cr.
CHEM 221	Organic Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 222	Organic Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 230	Quantitative Analysis	4 Cr.
CHEM 315	Biochemistry	3 Cr.
CHEM 315L	Biochemistry I Lab	1 Cr.
CHEM 321	Physical Chemistry	4 Cr.
CHEM 322	Physical Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 421	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	3 Cr.
CHEM 422	Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory	2 Cr.
CHEM 496	Directed Research in Chemistry	0 Cr. (2 Credits)
CHEM 199	Chemistry Colloquium I	0 Cr.
CHEM 299	Chemistry Colloquium II	0 Cr.
CHEM 399	Chemistry Colloquium III	0 Cr.
CHEM 499	Chemistry Colloquium IV	0 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 131	General Chemistry I for Chemistry Career	4 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 132	General Chemistry II for Chemistry Career	4 Cr.
Three additional credits from 300 or 400 level Chemistry courses
Major Requirements: Minimum 44 Credits

Note:

PHYS 141 and PHYS 142 (with labs) and MATH 260 and MATH 270 are required for certification.
CHEM 496 may be taken instead as the Honors Work sequence, CHEM 497 and CHEM 498.

33-credit bachelor of science

This degree is designed to accommodate a minor in a second science or business or a second major outside the natural sciences. Students pursuing this degree must declare one of the following:

A second major in a nonscience discipline;
The 32-credit complementary major in environmental science;
A disciplinary science minor (qualifying disciplines include astronomy, biology, computer science, engineering, geography, geology, mathematics, meteorology, physics, and psychology); or
A minor in fundamentals of business, business administration, applied statistics, engineering, or geographic information systems.

All majors are also expected to attend the weekly chemistry colloquium every semester.

Foundations

B.S. students in chemistry at Valpo must complete the general-education requirements for the B.S. This University-wide core strengthens communication and critical thinking skills while introducing global cultures and traditions.

Major Requirements: Minimum 33 Credits
CHEM 221	Organic Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 222	Organic Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 230	Quantitative Analysis	4 Cr.
CHEM 199	Chemistry Colloquium I	0 Cr.
CHEM 299	Chemistry Colloquium II	0 Cr.
CHEM 399	Chemistry Colloquium III	0 Cr.
CHEM 499	Chemistry Colloquium IV	0 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 131	General Chemistry I for Chemistry Careers	4 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 132	General Chemistry II for Chemistry Careers	4 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 190	Introduction to Chemical Research	1 Cr.
CHEM 496	Directed Research in Chemistry	0 Cr. (1 Cr.)

One course from the following options:
CHEM 311	Elementary Physical Chemistry	4 Cr.
CHEM 321	Physical Chemistry I	4 Cr.
Seven additional credits from 300 or 400 level Chemistry courses.
Major Requirements: Minimum 33 Credits

27-credit bachelor of arts

This degree offers a broad background in basic chemistry to students pursuing a second major or minor in any discipline, including arts, humanities, and social sciences.

All majors are also expected to attend the weekly chemistry colloquium, CHEM 499, every semester.

Foundations

B.A. students in chemistry at Valpo must complete the general-education requirements for the B.A. This University-wide core strengthens communication and critical thinking skills while introducing global cultures and traditions.

Double Science Major Requirements: Minimum 27 Credits
CHEM 221	Organic Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 222	Organic Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 230	Quantitative Analysis	4 Cr.
CHEM 199	Chemistry Colloquium I	0 Cr.
CHEM 299	Chemistry Colloquium II	0 Cr.
CHEM 399	Chemistry Colloquium III	0 Cr.
CHEM 499	Chemistry Colloquium IV	0 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 131	General Chemistry I for Chemistry Careers	4 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 132	General Chemistry II for Chemistry Careers	4 Cr.

Four credits from the following options:
CHEM 311	Elementary Physical Chemistry	4 Cr.
CHEM 315	Biochemistry I	3 Cr.
CHEM315L	Biochemistry I Lab	1 Cr.
CHEM 321	Physical Chemistry I	4 Cr.

Three additional credits from 300 or 400 level Chemistry courses.
Must be combined with a minimum major in another science.
Double Science Major Requirements: Minimum 27 Credits

28-credit bachelor of science

This degree, designed for students who declare a double major in chemistry and another scientific discipline (qualifying disciplines include astronomy, biology, computer science, engineering, geography, geology, mathematics, meteorology, physics, and psychology), is a popular choice among students who plan to pursue careers in the health professions.

All majors are also expected to attend the weekly chemistry colloquium every semester.

Foundations

Double Science Major Requirements: Minimum 28 Credits
CHEM 221	Organic Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 222	Organic Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 230	Quantitative Analysis	4 Cr.
CHEM 199	Chemistry Colloquium I	0 Cr.
CHEM 299	Chemistry Colloquium II	0 Cr.
CHEM 399	Chemistry Colloquium III	0 Cr.
CHEM 499	Chemistry Colloquium IV	0 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I	4 Cr.
CHEM 131	General Chemistry I for Chemistry Careers	4 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II	4 Cr.
CHEM 132	General Chemistry II for Chemistry Careers	4 Cr.

One course from the following options:
CHEM 311	Elementary Physical Chemistry	4 Cr.
CHEM 321	Physical Chemistry I	4 Cr.

Three additional credits from 300 or 400 level Chemistry courses.
Must be combined with a minimum major in another science.
Double Science Major Requirements: Minimum 28 Credits

16-credit minor

Shining Brightly, Together

Voices from Valpo

Chemistry

“I can confidently say I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t attended Valpo. The small class sizes and small research groups provided me with 1:1 mentoring from professors and plenty of opportunities to gain valuable research experience... During my four years at Valpo, I gained much more confidence, motivation, and passion for my field than I ever anticipated, thanks to the inspiration and support of my classmates and professors.”

— Mara Paterson ‘19

Chemistry

Program Research

Science is a process for investigating the mysteries of the world. Valpo students learn this through the department’s many opportunities for research — classroom projects, student-faculty collaborations, and independent research. Chemistry majors develop the necessary skills to operate independently as scientists.

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