School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Chemistry (BA, BS)
The Chemistry major builds on a base of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science to provide the student the opportunity to develop essential theoretical and practical skills in the subdisciplines of organic, physical, inorganic, analytical, and macromolecular chemistry. Typically, the practice of chemistry in industry deals with the synthesis, analysis, and control of the many materials used in our technological society.
The Chemistry program at UT Dallas is designed to instruct the student in how chemical experiments are performed, how results are interpreted, and through its integrated laboratory sequence, to emphasize the importance of one subdiscipline in solving problems inherent to another. Meeting these goals, the Chemistry program provides the student with the flexibility to enter industry, go on to graduate school, or pursue medical, dental, and other degrees in the health sciences.
Degrees
The Chemistry major may choose a program leading either to the BA or BS degree. The latter degree sequence has been approved by the American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training.
BA Program
The BA program offers the minimum fundamental knowledge required for adequate professional function in a career in chemistry. It is possible that students choosing this option may, through suitable use of unspecified semester credit hours, prepare for careers in areas as varied as chemistry-related businesses, government, medicine and dentistry, secondary school teaching, and even law or politics.
BS Program
The BS program provides more intensive training in chemistry for the student who intends either to obtain employment at the bachelor's level in the chemical industry or to pursue graduate study.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
Faculty
Distinguished Chair in Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics: Bruce M. Novak
Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Chair in Systems Biology; Professor of Chemistry: A. Dean Sherry
Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry; Professor of Chemistry: Ray H. Baughman
Professors: Kenneth J. Balkus Jr., Julia Chan, Rockford K. Draper, John P. Ferraris, Bruce E. Gnade, Inga H. Musselman
Associate Professors: Jung-Mo Ahn, Michael C. Biewer, Gregg R. Dieckmann, Warren J. Goux, Steven O. Nielsen, Paul Pantano, John W. Sibert IV, Mihaela C. Stefan, Jie Zheng
Assistant Professors: Jeremiah J. Gassensmith, Jiyong Lee, Ronald A. Smaldone
Research Professor: Duck Joo (D. J.) Yang
Senior Lecturers: Sergio Cortes, Sandhya R. Gavva, Jason L. McAfee, Yanping Qin, Amandeep Sra, Claudia Taenzler
Professor Emeritus: Richard A. Caldwell
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
or MATH 2413 Differential Calculus3, 4
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I3
or CHEM 1315 Honors Freshman Chemistry I3
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II3
or CHEM 1316 Honors Freshman Chemistry II3
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History core courses (see advisor)
Government / Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences core courses (see advisor)
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
or MATH 2413 Differential Calculus3, 4
or MATH 2414 Integral Calculus3, 4
PHYS 2125 Physics Laboratory I3, 5
II. Major Requirements: BS 61-62 semester credit hours; BA 60-61 semester credit hours
Major Preparatory Courses: 28-29 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I
or CHEM 1115 Honors Freshman Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II
or CHEM 1116 Honors Freshman Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I3
or CHEM 1315 Honors Freshman Chemistry I3
CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II3
or CHEM 1316 Honors Freshman Chemistry II3
CHEM 2123 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory I6
CHEM 2125 Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory II6
CHEM 2323 Introductory Organic Chemistry I6
CHEM 2325 Introductory Organic Chemistry II6
CHEM 2401 Introductory Quantitative Methods in Chemistry
MATH Sequence - Students may choose one of the following sequences:
I. MATH 2413 Differential Calculus3, 4
and MATH 2414 Integral Calculus3, 4
and MATH 2415 Calculus of Several Variables
and MATH 2418 Linear Algebra
or STAT 2332 Introductory Statistics for Life Sciences
OR
and MATH 2451 Multivariable Calculus with Applications
and MATH 2418 Linear Algebra
or STAT 2332 Introductory Statistics for Life Sciences
PHYS 2125 Physics Laboratory I3, 5
PHYS 2126 Physics Laboratory II
PHYS 2325 Mechanics
PHYS 2326 Electromagnetism and Waves
Major Core Courses: 11 semester credit hours
CHEM 3321 Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 3471 Advanced Chemical Synthesis Laboratory
CHEM 3472 Instrumental Analysis
Major Related Courses: BS 22 semester credit hours; BA 21 semester credit hours
Bachelor of Arts: 21 semester credit hours
BIOL 3361 or CHEM 3361 Biochemistry I
or CHEM 4335 Polymer Chemistry
CHEM 3341 Inorganic Chemistry I
or CHEM 3322 Physical Chemistry II
Guided Electives: 12 semester credit hours
May be used in (partial) fulfillment of a Second Major, Minor or Teaching Certificate
Advanced Writing
NATS 4310 Advanced Writing in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Bachelor of Science: 22 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
CHEM 3322 Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 3341 Inorganic Chemistry I
BIOL 3361 or CHEM 3361 Biochemistry I
CHEM 4473 Physical Measurements Laboratory
CHEM 4390 Research and Advanced Writing in Chemistry7
or CHEM 4399 Research and Advanced Writing in Chemistry for Honors Students7
CHEM 4V91 (3 semester credit hours) Research in Chemistry7
BIOL 3362 or CHEM 3362 Biochemistry II
or CHEM 4335 Polymer Chemistry
or CHEM 4355 Computational Modeling
III. Elective Requirements: BS 16-17 semester credit hours; BA 17-18 semester credit hours
6 semester credit hours must be outside the major and be upper-division and/or have prerequisites.
For BS: 17 semester credit hours needed if enroll in STAT 2332 in Math Sequence (II. Major Requirements); 16 semester credit hours needed if enroll in MATH 2418 in Math Sequence.
For BA: 18 semester credit hours needed if enroll in STAT 2332 in Math Sequence (II. Major Requirements); 17 semester credit hours needed if enroll in MATH 2418 in Math Sequence.
The plan must include sufficient upper-division courses to total 51 upper-division semester credit hours.
UTeach Option
The UTeach option may be added to either the BA or the BS degree in Chemistry. UTeach Dallas Option degree plans are streamlined to allow students to complete both a rigorous Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree and all coursework for middle or high school teacher certification in four years. Teaching Option degrees require deep content knowledge combined with courses grounded in the latest research on math and science education. While most graduates go on to classroom teaching, UTeach alums are also prepared to enter graduate school and to work in discipline related industry.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
Undergraduate students at UT Dallas with strong academic records who intend to pursue the MS in Chemistry at UT Dallas may apply for a Fast Track plan of study which involves taking selected graduate courses as an upper-level student. After Fast Track admission to the graduate program, 15 semester credit hours of graduate courses with an earned grade of B or better can be used toward completion of the baccalaureate degree and to satisfy requirements for the master's degree. Interested students should contact the undergraduate advisor well in advance of the junior year to prepare a sequence permitting maximal advantage to be taken of the catalog's regulations (see catalog.utdallas.edu/2015/undergraduate/policies/ graduate-courses) regarding Undergraduate Registration for Graduate Courses.
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
3. A required Major course that also fulfills Core Curriculum requirements. If semester credit hours are counted in the Core Curriculum, students must complete additional coursework to meet the minimum requirement for graduation. Course selection assistance is available from the undergraduate advisor.
4. Three semester credit hours of Calculus are counted to fulfill the Mathematics Core Requirement with the remaining five semester credit hours to be counted under Component Area Option Core.
5. Six semester credit hours of Chemistry are counted under Science core, and one semester of Physics (PHYS 2125) are counted under Component Area Option core.
6. Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes.
7. Research in Chemistry (CHEM 4V91), Research and Advanced Writing in Chemistry (CHEM 4390), and Research and Advanced Writing in Chemistry for Honors Students (CHEM 4399) are better defined as a project than a course and constitute an important part of the BS degree. The student conducts original research under the supervision of a faculty member, and then must submit a research report which is defended orally. Normally this project will span two or more semesters. A complete set of guidelines is available from the undergraduate advisor.