Chemistry Major
A student who is majoring in chemistry at Saint Joseph’s University is introduced to all of the major sub-disciplines: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. An important objective of the program is to develop in students the ability to solve problems by employing the techniques of the various sub-disciplines of chemistry.
Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on chemistry as a laboratory science. Consequently, a student majoring in chemistry learns not only the basic theories of chemistry, but also how to use experimental techniques to solve chemical problems.
Students hone their experimental skills through hands-on experience on modern research-grade instrumentation in our laboratory courses taught by faculty. In addition, chemistry majors are able to engage in faculty-directed independent research projects in the traditional sub-disciplines of chemistry and environmental chemistry during the academic year and/or in the summer. Students often have the opportunity to present the results of their research at local, regional, and national scientific meetings as well as co-author publications with graduate students and faculty. The curriculum for the chemistry major is designed to prepare students for continuing their educations in graduate and professional schools such as medicine, law, or business as well as employment in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and government laboratories.
Goal 1: Students will know how to apply scientific reasoning and inquiry to investigate and analyze ideas, phenomena, or experimental data within the field of chemistry.
Outcome 1.1: Students will be able to generate a testable hypothesis about an observed phenomenon or idea presented within the field of chemistry.
Outcome 1.2: Students will be able to test hypothesis through reason, models, and experimentation by the manipulation of variables and making measurements to support or refute the hypothesis.
Goal 2: Students will demonstrate how to effectively obtain and provide chemical knowledge through reading, writing, and oral presentation.
Outcome 2.1: Students will be able to define, describe, and explain the key concepts of chemistry.
Outcome 2.2: Students will be able to present results from chemical investigations and the chemical literature in writing and/or orally.
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | 3 | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Recommended CCC Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Intensive | ||
| Physical Chemistry Lab I | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Course Requirements | ||
| PHY 105 & 105L | University Physics I and University Physics Lab I | 4 |
| PHY 106 & 106L | University Physics II and University Physics Lab II | 4 |
| MAT 161 | Calculus I (will count for CCC: Mathematics) | 4 |
| MAT 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CHM 118 | Chemical Sciences Orientation | 1 |
| CHM 120 & 120L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I (will count for CCC: Natural Science) | 4 |
| CHM 125 & 125L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II | 4 |
| CHM 204 | Literature of Chemistry | 1 |
| CHM 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | 4 |
| CHM 215 & 215L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | 4 |
| CHM 230 | Basic Inorganic Chemsitry | 3 |
| CHM 300 | Discussions in Chemistry | 1 |
| CHM 310 & 310L | Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry Lab I | 5 |
| CHM 315 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 330 & 330L | Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Lab | 5 |
| CHM 340 & 340L | Biochemistry and Biochemistry Lab | 5 |
| CHM 361 & 361L | Analytical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Laborator | 4 |
| CHM 401 | Seminar in Chemistry I | 1 |
| CHM 402 | Seminar in Chemistry II | 1 |
| In-Depth Course Requirements | ||
| CHM 480 | Inorganic Biochemistry | 3 |
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
| Metabolic Biochemistry | ||
| Biochemistry Lab | ||
| Nanochemistry | ||
| Biophysical Chemistry | ||
| Medicinal Chemistry | ||
| Structure-Activity Relatnshps | ||
| Atmospheric Environmental Chem | ||
| Mechanisms in Organic Chem | ||
| Organometallic Chemistry | ||
| Computer Aided Drug Design | ||
| Polymer Chemistry | ||
| Water Chemistry | ||
| Chemistry Internship I | ||
| Chemistry Internship II | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Total Hours | 71 | |
Free Electives
Any eleven courses. Graduation requires 120 credits. Any credits necessary to reach that number outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CHM 118 | Chemical Sciences Orientation | 1 |
| CHM 120 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 120L | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| MAT 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 125 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 125L | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| MAT 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| World History | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHM 204 | Literature of Chemistry | 1 |
| CHM 210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 210L | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| PHY 105 | University Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105L | University Physics Lab I | 1 |
| Non-Native Language | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 215 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 215L | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| CHM 230 | Basic Inorganic Chemsitry | 3 |
| PHY 106 | University Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 106L | University Physics Lab II | 1 |
| Diversity | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHM 300 | Discussions in Chemistry | 1 |
| CHM 310 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 340 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHM 340L | Biochemistry Lab | 2 |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHM 361 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHM 361L | Analytical Chemistry Laborator | 1 |
| Theology | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHM 401 | Seminar in Chemistry I | 1 |
| CHM 310L | Physical Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
| CHM 480 | Inorganic Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHM 4xx Chem/Biochem In-Depth | 3 | |
| CHM 495 | Undergraduate Research (or Free Elective) | 3 |
| Fine & Performing Arts, Design, & Creativity | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 402 | Seminar in Chemistry II | 1 |
| CHM 330 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHM 330L | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 2 |
| CHM 4xx Chem/Biochem In-Depth | 3 | |
| CHM 495 | Undergraduate Research (or Free Elective) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 121 | |
Students majoring in Chemistry who are interested in teaching grades 7-12 can dual major in Chemistry/Secondary Education (7-12). Upon successful completion of the dual major, SJU degree requirements, and required certification exams, teacher candidates may apply to obtain an Instructional I Secondary Education (7-12) Teaching Certificate from the State of Pennsylvania. Students must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to obtain teacher certification upon graduation.
In addition to their Chemistry advisor, Chemistry/Secondary Education(7-12) dual majors will also be assigned an advisor from the Education Department who will guide them through their required Education courses. The Education advisor will also assist students seeking teacher certification in formally applying for the SJU Educator Preparation Program, usually in the spring semester of their sophomore year. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher to enroll in EDU 491 Secondary Student Teaching in their senior year.
Pennsylvania’s Secondary Education (referred to as "secondary" or "7-12") preparation program guidelines require a professional core of courses, early and varied field experiences, and student teaching. In addition to the subject-specific content requirements for secondary programs that are met by the student’s major, candidates for the 7-12 teaching certificate in Pennsylvania must complete a prescribed sequence of coursework, which includes the specific requirements for Accommodations and Adaptations for Diverse Learners in Inclusive Settings and Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners under §49.13(4)(i)).
See the Secondary Education (7-12) major for specific requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MAT 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHY 101 | General Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 101L | General Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| PHY 102 | General Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 102L | General Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHM 118 | Chemical Sciences Orientation | 1 |
| or CHM 204 | Literature of Chemistry | |
| or CHM 300 | Discussions in Chemistry | |
| CHM 125 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 125L | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| CHM 210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 210L | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHM 215 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 215L | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| CHM 318 | Essentials of Physical Chem | 4 |
| CHM 330 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHM 330L | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 2 |
| CHM 340 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHM 350 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHM 420 | Atmospheric Environmental Chem | 3 |
| ENV 106 | Exploring the Earth | 4 |
| ENV 106L | Exploring the Earth Laboratory | 0 |
| BIO 165 | Exploring the Living World | 4 |
| BIO 165L | Exp. Living World Lab | 0 |
| CHM 401 | Seminar in Chemistry I | 1 |
| CHM 402 | Seminar in Chemistry II | 1 |
| Total Hours | 53 | |