Chemistry (BA)
Chemistry is a diverse and growing field that is full of academic and career opportunities for undergraduate students. Our two degree programs offer flexibility in choosing the appropriate academic path to fulfill your interest and career goals.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Chemistry is built around the core sub-disciplines of chemistry with the addition of elective coursework in a chosen field. This program is designed to train you for a career outside of traditional laboratory work.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry program is certified by the American Chemical Society and trains you for entry in the chemical workforce or graduate school in the chemical sciences.
The Chemistry Honors Program offers students a challenging program of advanced study where they can develop independence, collaborative skills and a deeper understanding of chemistry required for careers in both industry and graduate school.
Outside of the classroom, students in Chemistry actively share their passion for chemistry with others, including the next generation of scientists. Opportunities in this area are possible through participation in our student groups:
- Alpha Chi Sigma – professional co-ed chemistry fraternity; benefits students not only by helping with their studies but also by providing projects and activities that teach the roles of leadership and management
- American Chemical Society – the student chapter of the ACS takes part in activities including tours of local research facilities, trips to national and regional conferences, and presentations by guest speakers
- Cosmetic Chemistry Club - open to all students interested in learning about cosmetics and the industry behind them; connects students to the cosmetic industry through guest speakers, company visits, and other activities
Undergraduate research can be one of the most rewarding aspects of your academic experience at NC State. Research offers opportunities to make pioneering discoveries at the forefront of science, using instrumentation and techniques far more sophisticated than those you would encounter in standard laboratory courses. Students often co-author publications in peer-reviewed journals and present their research at conferences. For more information on getting involved, please contact our Undergraduate Research Coordinator.
For more information about this program, visit our website.
Contact
Undergraduate Programs in Chemistry
chemistry-dup@ncsu.edu
Dr. Kirsten Kramer
Co-Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.515.6322
kdaykin@ncsu.edu
Dr. Marion Martin
Co-Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.515.3836
mmarti24@ncsu.edu
Ms. Robin Tanner
Undergraduate Programs Coordinator
919.515.2561
robin_tanner@ncsu.edu
Dr. Tatyana Smirnova
Undergraduate Research Coordinator
tismirno@ncsu.edu
Dr. Ana Ison
Chemistry Honors Program Director
aison@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| COS 100 | Science of Change 2 | 2 | |
| Writing and Speaking | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| Advanced Writing | 3 | ||
| Communications | |||
| Communications Requirement 3 | 3 | ||
| Basic Math & Sciences 1 | |||
| Select one of the following Physics I courses: | 4 | ||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | |||
| College Physics I | |||
| Select one of the following Physics II courses: | 4 | ||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | |||
| College Physics II | |||
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3-4 | |
| or MA 141 | Calculus I | ||
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3-4 | |
| or MA 241 | Calculus II | ||
| Statistics 5 | 3 | ||
| Chemistry Core Courses 1 | |||
| CH 103 | General Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences | 3 | |
| CH 104 | General Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences | 1 | |
| CH 203 | General Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences | 3 | |
| CH 204 | General Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences | 1 | |
| CH 225 | Organic Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences | 3 | |
| CH 226 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences | 1 | |
| CH 227 | Organic Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences | 3 | |
| CH 228 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences | 1 | |
| CH 315 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 | |
| CH 316 | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 1 | |
| CH 331 | Introductory Physical Chemistry | 4 | |
| CH 401 | Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 | |
| Chemistry Advanced Elective 9 | 6 | ||
| Advised Electives | |||
| Advised Electives 4 | 24 | ||
Advised Electives are designed to allow students to concentrate in areas related to their professional goals. Advised Electives will be planned by the student in consultation with their academic advisor. At least 15 credit hours must be at the 300 level or higher with remaining credit hours being fulfilled by courses at the 200 level or above (exceptions to the 200 level course restriction include BIO 181, BIO 183, and FL* 1** courses that are not in your language of proficiency). Courses used to meet GEP requirements cannot also be used to meet Advised Electives requirements. | |||
| GEP Courses | |||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 6 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
Chemistry Advanced Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH 335 | Principles of Green Chemistry | 4 | |
| CH 403 | Systematic Inorganic Chemistry II | 3 | |
| CH 415 | Analytical Chemistry II | 3 | |
| CH 435 | Introduction to Quantum Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 441 | Forensic Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 495 | Special Topics in Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 572 | Proteomics | 3 | |
| CH 701 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding | 3 | |
| CH 703 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry II: Applications of Group Theory to Bonding and Spectroscopy | 3 | |
| CH 705 | Organometallic and Inorganic Reaction Mechanism | 3 | |
| CH 721 | Advanced Organic Chemistry I | 3 | |
| CH 723 | Advanced Organic Chemistry II | 3 | |
| CH 725 | Physical Methods in Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 727 | Biological Mass Spectrometry | 3 | |
| CH 730 | Advanced Physical Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 732 | Advanced Physical Chemistry in Biological Applications | 3 | |
| CH 734 | Spectroscopic Methods in Chemical Biology | 3 | |
| CH 735 | Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 737 | Quantum Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 743 | Electrochemistry | 3 | |
| CH 745 | Chemical Separation | 3 | |
| CH 755 | Organic Reaction Mechanisms | 3 | |
| CH 765 | Chemistry of Materials | 3 | |
| CH 770 | Bioinorganic Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 772 | Solid State Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 795 | Special Topics in Chemistry | 3 |
Advanced Writing
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 214 | Introduction to Editing | 3 | |
| ENG 281 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 3 | |
| ENG 287 | Explorations in Creative Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 288 | Fiction Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 289 | Poetry Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 316 | Introduction to News and Article Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 323 | Writing in Rhetorical Traditions | 3 | |
| ENG 331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 | |
| ENG 332 | Communication for Business and Management | 3 | |
| ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 | |
| ENG 425 | Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 |
Statistics
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| ST/BUS 350 | Economics and Business Statistics | 3 | |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
Communications
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |
| COM 201 | Introduction to Persuasion Theory | 3 | |
| COM 202 | Small Group Communication | 3 | |
| COM 211 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 3 | |
| COM 289 | Science Communication and Public Engagement | 3 |
- 1
No grades below a C- are permitted.
- 2
For students that did not enroll in COS 100 during their first semester, a GEP-Interdisciplinary Perspectives course may substitute for COS 100.
- 3
Communications requirement must be selected from COM 110, 112, 201, 202, 211, 289. The Communications requirement may not be used to satisfy the GEP requirements; it is taken in addition to the GEP.
- 4
Advised Electives are designed to allow students to concentrate in areas related to their professional goals. Advised Electives will be planned by the student in consultation with their academic advisor. At least 15 credit hours must be at the 300 level or higher with remaining credit hours being fulfilled by courses at the 200 level or above (exceptions to the 200 level course restriction include BIO 181, BIO 183, and WL* 1** courses that are not in your language of proficiency). Courses used to meet GEP requirements cannot also be used to meet Cross Discipline Electives requirements.
- 5
Statistics requirement must be selected from ST 311, 350 (or BUS 350), 370.
- 6
Free Elective courses can NOT be CH 100, C 111, MA 100, MA 101, MA 103, MA 107, MA 108, MA 111, MA 121, MA 131, MA 231, PY 131, PY 211, PY 212, ENG 100. 100-level World Language Courses (WL*) can be used if not satisfying the language proficiency requirement.
- 7
The two course sequence: CH 431 plus CH 433 can substitute for CH 331.
- 8
Advanced Writing course must be selected from ENG 214, 281, 287, 288, 289, 316, 323, 331, 332, 333, 425. The Advanced Writing course may not be used to satisfy the GEP requirements; it is taken in addition to the GEP.
- 9
Choose from among the following: CH 335/PSE 335, CH 403, CH 415, CH 435, CH 441, CH 495, CH 5xx or CH 7xx.
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 103 | General Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 3 |
| CH 104 | General Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 1 |
| MA 131 or MA 141 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 1 or Calculus I | 3-4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| COS 100 | Science of Change | 2 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 203 | General Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 3 |
| CH 204 | General Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 1 |
| MA 231 or MA 241 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 1 or Calculus II | 3-4 |
| Communications Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CH 225 | Organic Chemistry I for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 3 |
| CH 226 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 1 |
| PY 205 & PY 206 or PY 211 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 or College Physics I | 4 |
| Statistics 1,5 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 227 | Organic Chemistry II for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 3 |
| CH 228 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II for Students in Chemical Sciences 1 | 1 |
| CH 315 | Quantitative Analysis 1 | 3 |
| CH 316 | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| PY 208 & PY 209 or PY 212 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 1 or College Physics II | 4 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CH 331 | Introductory Physical Chemistry 1,7 | 4 |
| Advanced Writing 8 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 6 | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 401 | Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I 1 | 3 |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 6 | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Chemistry Advanced Elective 1,9 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 6 | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Chemistry Advanced Elective 1,9 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 6 | 3 | |
| Free Elective 6 | 2 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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