Chemistry BS
Major: Chemistry
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 189.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 40.0501
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-2031
About the Program
The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry is certified by the American Chemical Society. The Chemistry BS program provides a complete introduction to the many subfields of chemistry, along with significant hands-on laboratory research experience. All students are required to complete at least 9.0 credits of undergraduate research experience prior to graduation.
The BS in Chemistry is well suited for students wishing to pursue graduate degrees in chemistry or a related discipline. The degree also assures that students are properly trained and prepared for rewarding careers as chemists in a range of industries, including pharmaceutical, biotech, environmental, manufacturing or other allied fields.
Most graduate courses in chemistry are open to qualified seniors. Prerequisites and descriptions of available graduate courses appear in the graduate catalog.
The BS degree also can be completed with a Biochemistry concentration. Bachelor of Science in Chemistry majors in this concentration gain an enhanced ability to engage in critical thinking and communicate scientific ideas across disciplines. Interested students can contact their academic advisors for more information.
Additional Information
For more information about the major in Chemistry, contact:
Daniel King, PhD
Undergraduate Affairs Committee Chair
Department of Chemistry
Drexel University
dk68@drexel.edu
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements | ||
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
UNIV S101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
UNIV S201 | Looking Forward: Academics and Careers | 1.0 |
Technical electives ** | 6.0 | |
Liberal Studies electives ** | 6.0 | |
Chemistry Requirements | ||
CHEM 121 | Majors Chemistry I | 5.0 |
CHEM 122 | Majors Chemistry II | 5.0 |
CHEM 123 | Majors Chemistry III | 5.5 |
CHEM 230 | Quantitative Analysis | 4.0 |
CHEM 231 [WI] | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 2.0 |
CHEM 246 | Organic Chemistry for Majors I | 6.5 |
CHEM 248 | Organic Chemistry for Majors II | 6.5 |
CHEM 249 | Organic Chemistry for Majors III | 7.0 |
CHEM 253 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 4.0 |
CHEM 270 | Software Skills for Chemists | 3.0 |
CHEM 346 | Qualitative Organic Chemistry | 5.5 |
CHEM 355 | Physical Chemistry IV | 3.0 |
CHEM 357 [WI] | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 2.5 |
CHEM 358 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory II | 2.5 |
CHEM 359 | Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy | 3.0 |
CHEM 367 | Chemical Information Retrieval | 3.0 |
CHEM 420 | Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory Applied Chemistry | 3.0 |
CHEM 421 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3.0 |
CHEM 422 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 3.0 |
CHEM 425 | Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 4.0 |
CHEM 430 | Analytical Chemistry I | 3.0 |
CHEM 431 [WI] | Analytical Chemistry II | 4.0 |
CHEM 493 | Senior Research Project | 9.0 |
Biology Requirements | ||
BIO 131 | Cells and Biomolecules | 4.0 |
BIO 134 | Cells and Biomolecules Lab | 1.0 |
BIO 214 | Principles of Cell Biology | 4.0 |
Biochemistry Requirements *** | ||
BIO 311 | Biochemistry | 3.0-4.0 |
or BIO 404 | Structure and Function of Biomolecules | |
or CHEM 371 | Chemistry of Biomolecules | |
BIO 306 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2.0 |
Computer/Mathematics Requirements | ||
MATH 121 | Calculus I | 4.0 |
MATH 122 | Calculus II | 4.0 |
MATH 123 | Calculus III | 4.0 |
MATH 200 | Multivariate Calculus | 4.0 |
MATH 201 | Linear Algebra | 4.0 |
or MATH 210 | Differential Equations | |
Physics Requirements | ||
PHYS 101 | Fundamentals of Physics I | 4.0 |
PHYS 102 | Fundamentals of Physics II | 4.0 |
PHYS 201 | Fundamentals of Physics III | 4.0 |
Free Electives | 21.0 | |
Total Credits | 189.0-190.0 |
- *
Students not participating in co-op will not take COOP 101; 1 credit of Free Elective will be added in place of COOP 101.
- **
Technical electives are defined as 200+ level courses from Science, Mathematics, Business, Engineering or Information Studies. Liberal studies electives are defined as courses (at any level) from all other areas.
- ***
The American Chemical Society requires ACS-certified students to take a specified number of biochemistry courses. To fulfill this requirement in the BS curriculum, students should take a combination of one lecture and one lab course from the choice of: BIO 311, BIO 306, BIO 404, or CHEM 371 to fulfill the biochemistry requirement. Students may also choose to take the two lecture courses (BIO 311, BIO 404, or CHEM 371) rather than a lecture/laboratory combination.
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
4 year, no co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 131 | 4.0 | CHEM 122 | 5.0 | CHEM 123 | 5.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 134 | 1.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 121 | 5.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | MATH 123 | 4.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | MATH 122 | 4.0 | PHYS 102 | 4.0 | ||
MATH 121 | 4.0 | PHYS 101 | 4.0 | ||||
UNIV S101 | 1.0 | ||||||
18 | 17 | 16.5 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 230 & CHEM 231 | 6.0 | CHEM 248 | 6.5 | BIO 214 | 4.0 | VACATION | |
CHEM 246 | 6.5 | MATH 200 | 4.0 | CHEM 249 | 7.0 | ||
PHYS 201 | 4.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | MATH 210 or 201 | 4.0 | ||
Technical Elective* | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
16.5 | 16.5 | 18 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 253 | 4.0 | CHEM 270 | 3.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | VACATION | |
CHEM 367 | 3.0 | CHEM 357 | 2.5 | Technical elective* | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 421 | 3.0 | CHEM 420 | 3.0 | Free electives | 9.0 | ||
CHEM 430 | 3.0 | CHEM 431 | 4.0 | ||||
UNIV S201 | 1.0 | ||||||
14 | 12.5 | 15 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
CHEM 346 | 5.5 | BIO 306 | 2.0 | CHEM 358 | 2.5 | ||
CHEM 355 | 3.0 | CHEM 359 | 3.0 | CHEM 422 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 493 | 3.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | CHEM 425 | 4.0 | ||
BIO 311 or 404** | 4.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | ||
Free elective | 4.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
15.5 | 15 | 15.5 | |||||
Total Credits 190 |
- *
Technical electives are defined as 200+ level courses from Science, Mathematics, Business, Engineering or Information Studies. Liberal studies electives are defined as courses (at any level) from all other areas.
- **
The American Chemical Society requires ACS-certified students to take a specified number of biochemistry courses. To fulfill this requirement in the BS curriculum, students should take a combination of one lecture and one lab course from the choice of: BIO 311, BIO 306, BIO 404 or CHEM 371 to fulfill the biochemistry requirement. Students may also choose to take the two lecture courses (BIO 311, BIO 404, or CHEM 371) rather than a lecture/laboratory combination.
NOTE: Students not participating in co-op will not take COOP 101; 1 credit of Free Elective will be added in place of COOP 101.
4 year, 1 co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 131 | 4.0 | CHEM 122 | 5.0 | CHEM 123 | 5.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 134 | 1.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 121 | 5.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | MATH 123 | 4.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | MATH 122 | 4.0 | PHYS 102 | 4.0 | ||
MATH 121 | 4.0 | PHYS 101 | 4.0 | ||||
UNIV S101 | 1.0 | ||||||
18 | 17 | 16.5 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 230 & CHEM 231 | 6.0 | CHEM 248 | 6.5 | BIO 214 | 4.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 |
CHEM 246 | 6.5 | MATH 200 | 4.0 | CHEM 249 | 7.0 | Technical elective* | 3.0 |
PHYS 201 | 4.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | COOP 101** | 1.0 | Free electives | 9.0 |
Technical Elective* | 3.0 | MATH 210 or 201 | 4.0 | ||||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
16.5 | 16.5 | 19 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 253 | 4.0 | CHEM 270 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 367 | 3.0 | CHEM 357 | 2.5 | ||||
CHEM 421 | 3.0 | CHEM 420 | 3.0 | ||||
CHEM 430 | 3.0 | CHEM 431 | 4.0 | ||||
UNIV S201 | 1.0 | ||||||
14 | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
BIO 311 or 404*** | 4.0 | BIO 306 | 2.0 | CHEM 358 | 2.5 | ||
CHEM 346 | 5.5 | CHEM 359 | 3.0 | CHEM 422 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 355 | 3.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | CHEM 425 | 4.0 | ||
CHEM 493 | 3.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | ||
Free elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
15.5 | 14 | 15.5 | |||||
Total Credits 190 |
- *
Technical electives are defined as 200+ level courses from Science, Mathematics, Business, Engineering or Information Studies. Liberal studies electives are defined as courses (at any level) from all other areas.
- **
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
- ***
The American Chemical Society requires ACS-certified students to take a specified number of biochemistry courses. To fulfill this requirement in the BS curriculum, students should take a combination of one lecture and one lab course from the choice of: BIO 311, BIO 306, BIO 404 or CHEM 371 to fulfill the biochemistry requirement. Students may also choose to take the two lecture courses (BIO 311, BIO 404, or CHEM 371) rather than a lecture/laboratory combination.
5 year, 3 co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 131 | 4.0 | CHEM 122 | 5.0 | CHEM 123 | 5.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 134 | 1.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | ||
CHEM 121 | 5.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | MATH 122 | 4.0 | MATH 123 | 4.0 | ||
MATH 121 | 4.0 | PHYS 101 | 4.0 | PHYS 102 | 4.0 | ||
UNIV S101 | 1.0 | ||||||
18 | 17 | 17.5 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 230 & CHEM 231 | 6.0 | CHEM 248 | 6.5 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 246 | 6.5 | MATH 200 | 4.0 | ||||
PHYS 201 | 4.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
16.5 | 13.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 214 | 4.0 | CHEM 270 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 249 | 7.0 | CHEM 357 | 2.5 | ||||
CHEM 253 | 4.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 | ||||
MATH 210 or 201 | 4.0 | Liberal Studies Elective | 3.0 | ||||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
19 | 14.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 355 | 3.0 | CHEM 359 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 367 | 3.0 | CHEM 420 | 3.0 | ||||
CHEM 421 | 3.0 | CHEM 431 | 4.0 | ||||
CHEM 430 | 3.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 | ||||
UNIV S201 | 1.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
13 | 16 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
BIO 311 or 404*** | 4.0 | BIO 306 | 2.0 | CHEM 422 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 346 | 5.5 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | CHEM 425 | 4.0 | ||
CHEM 358 | 2.5 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 493 | 3.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | ||
15 | 14 | 16 | |||||
Total Credits 190 |
- *
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
- **
Technical electives are defined as 200+ level courses from Science, Mathematics, Business, Engineering or Information Studies. Liberal studies electives are defined as courses (at any level) from all other areas.
- ***
Biochemistry Requirement: The American Chemical Society requires ACS-certified students to take a specified number of biochemistry courses. To fulfill this requirement in the BS curriculum, you should take a combination of one lecture and one lab course from the choice of: BIO 311, BIO 306, BIO 404 or CHEM 371 to fulfill the biochemistry requirement. Students may also choose to take the two lecture courses (BIO 404, BIO 311) or CHEM 371) rather than a lecture/laboratory combination.
Biochemistry Concentration Requirements
General Education Requirements | ||
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
UNIV S101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 1.0 |
UNIV S201 | Looking Forward: Academics and Careers | 1.0 |
Technical electives * | 6.0 | |
Liberal Studies electives * | 6.0 | |
Chemistry Requirements | ||
CHEM 121 | Majors Chemistry I | 5.0 |
CHEM 122 | Majors Chemistry II | 5.0 |
CHEM 123 | Majors Chemistry III | 5.5 |
CHEM 230 | Quantitative Analysis | 4.0 |
CHEM 231 [WI] | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 2.0 |
CHEM 246 | Organic Chemistry for Majors I | 6.5 |
CHEM 248 | Organic Chemistry for Majors II | 6.5 |
CHEM 249 | Organic Chemistry for Majors III | 7.0 |
CHEM 253 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 4.0 |
CHEM 270 | Software Skills for Chemists | 3.0 |
CHEM 346 | Qualitative Organic Chemistry | 5.5 |
CHEM 357 [WI] | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 2.5 |
CHEM 367 | Chemical Information Retrieval | 3.0 |
CHEM 420 | Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory Applied Chemistry | 3.0 |
CHEM 421 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3.0 |
CHEM 422 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 3.0 |
CHEM 425 | Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 4.0 |
CHEM 430 | Analytical Chemistry I | 3.0 |
CHEM 431 [WI] | Analytical Chemistry II | 4.0 |
CHEM 493 | Senior Research Project | 9.0 |
Biology Requirements | ||
BIO 131 | Cells and Biomolecules | 4.0 |
BIO 134 | Cells and Biomolecules Lab | 1.0 |
BIO 214 | Principles of Cell Biology | 4.0 |
Biochemistry Requirements | ||
CHEM 371 | Chemistry of Biomolecules | 3.0 |
BIO 311 | Biochemistry | 4.0 |
BIO 306 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2.0 |
BIO 404 | Structure and Function of Biomolecules | 4.0 |
Computer/Mathematics Requirements | ||
MATH 121 | Calculus I | 4.0 |
MATH 122 | Calculus II | 4.0 |
MATH 123 | Calculus III | 4.0 |
MATH 200 | Multivariate Calculus | 4.0 |
MATH 201 | Linear Algebra | 4.0 |
Physics Requirements | ||
PHYS 101 | Fundamentals of Physics I | 4.0 |
PHYS 102 | Fundamentals of Physics II | 4.0 |
PHYS 201 | Fundamentals of Physics III | 4.0 |
Free electives | ||
Free electives | 21.0 | |
Total Credits | 188.5 |
- *
Technical electives are defined as 200+ level courses from Science, Mathematics, Business, Engineering or Information Science. Liberal studies electives are defined as courses (at any level) from all other areas.
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Biochemistry Concentration Sample Plan of Study
4 year, no co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 131 & BIO 134 | 5.0 | CHEM 122 | 5.0 | CHEM 123 | 5.5 | VACATION | |
CHEM 121 | 5.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | MATH 123 | 4.0 | ||
MATH 121 | 4.0 | MATH 122 | 4.0 | PHYS 102 | 4.0 | ||
UNIV S101 | 1.0 | PHYS 101 | 4.0 | ||||
18 | 17 | 16.5 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 230 & CHEM 231 | 6.0 | CHEM 248 | 6.5 | BIO 214 | 4.0 | VACATION | |
CHEM 246 | 6.5 | MATH 200 | 4.0 | CHEM 249 | 7.0 | ||
PHYS 201 | 4.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | MATH 201 or 210 | 4.0 | ||
Free elective* | 4.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 | ||||
16.5 | 17.5 | 18 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 253 | 4.0 | CHEM 270 | 3.0 | BIO 311 | 4.0 | VACATION | |
CHEM 367 | 3.0 | CHEM 357 | 2.5 | CHEM 371 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 421 | 3.0 | CHEM 420 | 3.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 430 | 3.0 | CHEM 431 | 4.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | ||
UNIV S201 | 1.0 | ||||||
14 | 12.5 | 16 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
BIO 404 | 4.0 | BIO 306 | 2.0 | CHEM 422 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 346 | 5.5 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | CHEM 425 | 4.0 | ||
CHEM 493 | 3.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | ||
Free elective | 3.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||
15.5 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 188.5 |
- *
Students not participating in co-op will not take COOP 101; 1 credit of Free Elective will be added in place of COOP 101.
- **
Must be at a 200+ level. See Degree Requirements for more information on acceptable classes.
4 year, 1 co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 131 & BIO 134 | 5.0 | CHEM 122 | 5.0 | CHEM 123 | 5.5 | VACATION | |
CHEM 121 | 5.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | MATH 123 | 4.0 | ||
MATH 121 | 4.0 | MATH 122 | 4.0 | PHYS 102 | 4.0 | ||
UNIV S101 | 1.0 | PHYS 101 | 4.0 | ||||
18 | 17 | 16.5 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 230 & CHEM 231 | 6.0 | CHEM 248 | 6.5 | BIO 214 | 4.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 |
CHEM 246 | 6.5 | MATH 200 | 4.0 | CHEM 249 | 7.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 |
PHYS 201 | 4.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | Free electives | 9.0 |
Free elective | 3.0 | MATH 201 or 210 | 4.0 | ||||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
16.5 | 16.5 | 19 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 253 | 4.0 | CHEM 270 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 421 | 3.0 | CHEM 357 | 2.5 | ||||
CHEM 430 | 3.0 | CHEM 420 | 3.0 | ||||
CHEM 367 | 3.0 | CHEM 431 | 4.0 | ||||
UNIV S201 | 1.0 | ||||||
14 | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
CHEM 346 | 5.5 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | CHEM 371 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 493 | 3.0 | BIO 306 | 2.0 | CHEM 422 | 3.0 | ||
BIO 311 | 4.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | CHEM 425 | 4.0 | ||
BIO 404 | 4.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | ||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
16.5 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 188.5 |
- *
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
- **
Must be at a 200+ level. See Degree Requirements for more information on acceptable classes.
5 year, 3 co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 131 & BIO 134 | 5.0 | CHEM 122 | 5.0 | CHEM 123 | 5.5 | VACATION | |
CHEM 121 | 5.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 102 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
MATH 121 | 4.0 | MATH 122 | 4.0 | MATH 123 | 4.0 | ||
UNIV S101 | 1.0 | PHYS 101 | 4.0 | PHYS 102 | 4.0 | ||
18 | 17 | 17.5 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 230 & CHEM 231 | 6.0 | CHEM 248 | 6.5 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 246 | 6.5 | MATH 200 | 4.0 | ||||
PHYS 201 | 4.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
16.5 | 13.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 214 | 4.0 | CHEM 270 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 249 | 7.0 | CHEM 357 | 2.5 | ||||
CHEM 253 | 4.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 | ||||
MATH 201 or 210 | 4.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | ||||||
19 | 14.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
CHEM 367 | 3.0 | CHEM 420 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
CHEM 421 | 3.0 | CHEM 431 | 4.0 | ||||
CHEM 430 | 3.0 | Technical elective** | 3.0 | ||||
BIO 311 | 4.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
UNIV S201 | 1.0 | ||||||
14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
CHEM 346 | 5.5 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | CHEM 371 | 3.0 | ||
CHEM 493 | 3.0 | BIO 306 | 2.0 | CHEM 422 | 3.0 | ||
BIO 404 | 4.0 | Liberal Studies elective | 3.0 | CHEM 425 | 4.0 | ||
Free elective | 3.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | CHEM 493 | 3.0 | ||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
15.5 | 14 | 16 | |||||
Total Credits 188.5 |
- *
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
- **
Must be at a 200+ level. See Degree Requirements for more information on acceptable classes.
Co-op/Career Opportunities
Opportunities for Chemistry majors include working in research and development in corporate and government laboratories in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural (e.g., U.S. Department of Agriculture) sectors. There is a remarkably high concentration of chemical and pharmaceutical companies in the Philadelphia region. Other options include entering medical, dental, law, or other professional schools. The major in Chemistry is sufficiently flexible to allow students to prepare to teach at the secondary level. With proper selection of electives, students can meet teacher certification requirements.
Sample Co-op Opportunities
Five-year and four-year co-op degrees are offered. When students complete their co-op job(s), they are asked to write an overview of their experience(s). These brief quotes are taken from some recent student reports:
Assistant chemist, pharmaceuticals manufacturer: “My position involved the synthesis and characterization of target compounds in the endotheline project. Involved the development of synthetic roots to the prescribed target. This would include the investigation of reactions which were going to be used...the position was very independent...great working environment. ”
Co-op chemist, petroleum refiner: “Performed synthesis of ligands and metal complexes. Operated FT-IR spectrometer for sample analysis. Submitted samples for analysis by mass spectrometer and NMR...The position allowed me to develop the skills necessary for independent research in organic synthesis. ”
Assistant lab technician, pharmaceuticals manufacturer: “I was an assistant technician in a mass spectrometry lab...I was responsible for the development of SDS-gel electrophoresis techniques for gels and gel membranes...I developed the methods independently and my employer encouraged me to be an expert on the technique and explore any method I found that would benefit the lab. ”
Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.
Facilities
There are nine undergraduate teaching laboratories in the department: three Freshman Chemistry labs, three Organic Chemistry labs, a Physical Chemistry lab, an Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory, and a combined Analytical/Inorganic Chemistry lab.
Mass Spectrometry Facility
The department maintains a professionally supervised Mass Spectrometry Facility (located in Stratton 406) available to all members of the Drexel University community. Currently operating instrumentation consists of a Bruker Autoflex III matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (NSF CRIF-MU #0840273), a Bruker Ultraflex III MALDI TOF-TOF MS (NSF MRI #0820996 donated from the U PA Chemistry Department, located in Stratton 142), a Micromass Q-TOF Premier equipped with both electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources and a 2998 diode array detector (DAD), a Micromass Quattro Micro triple-quadrupole MS instrument equipped with an ESI source and a 2996 DAD, and a Waters ZQ single-quadrupole instrument with both ESI and APCI capability. The three Micromass instruments are each interfaced with a Waters Alliance model 2695 high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. The Facility also includes a Waters Xevo G2 Q-TOF equipped with both ESI) and APCI sources and a Waters Aquity UPLC system and a manufacturer refurbished Thermo-Electron, Inc. Q-Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer equipped with both ESI and APCI sources interfaced to a Vanquish Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) system. The laboratory also houses a Sciex PACE MDQ Plus capillary electrophoresis system. Samples for MS analysis may be submitted for analysis or users may be trained in operation of the instruments for use in long-term projects.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility
The professionally staffed Chemistry department NMR facility is equipped with a 400 MHz Varian Mercury Plus and a 500 MHz Unity INOVA. The 400 MHz NMR is actively shielded and equipped with an AutoSwitchable broadband probe (1H/19F/13C/31P,1H/19F/{15N-31P}) and the 500 MHz NMR is equipped with a triple resonance probe (1H/{13C/15N}). Both magnets are connected to a Cryomech helium recovery system.
Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory (AIL)
The professionally supervised Chemistry Department Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory is equipped with the usual array of open-access chemical analysis instrumentation, including: (in Disque 407) a Thermo Scientific Nanodrop One microvolume UV-visible spectrometer, a Shimadzu UV-1900 UV/visible absorption spectrometer, a Shimadzu UV-2600 UV/visible absorption spectrometer equipped with a Quantum Northwest temperature controller, a Shimadzu UV-3600 UV/visible/NIR absorption spectrometer with a 120mm diameter diffuse-reflectance integrating sphere, a Jasco J-1500 circular dichroism spectrometer, a Shimadzu Tracer-100 Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectrometer, a Shimadzu AIM-9000 FTIR Microscope system (including beamsplitters for near- mid- and far-IR capability), a Shimadzu RF-6000 fluorescence spectrophotometer, a Shimadzu SALD-7500 nano particle size analyzer, a Shimadzu Prominence-i LC-2030C 3D Plus HPLC (with both UV-visible diode array and refractive index detectors), a Shimadzu Nexera X2 Prominence modular ultraperformance liquid chromatograph (UPLC) equipped with a FRC-10A fraction collector, a SPD-M20A DAD and a Sedex 90 evaporative light scattering detector, a Shimadzu 8050 triple quadrupole LC-MS system including a Prominence binary HPLC pump and a SPD-M20A DAD, a Shimadzu Nexis GC-2030 capillary-column gas chromatograph (GC) equipped w/AOC-20i Plus Auto-injector/AOC-20s Plus Auto-sampler System, a Shimadzu GC-2010+ capillary-column GC Shimadzu GC-MS QP-2020 GC/MS system w/AOC-6000 Autosampler, and a Shimadzu AA7000 flame atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a GFA-7000A graphite-furnace accessory and a ASC-7000 auto-sampler capable of either macro or micro-sampling (between 5-90 uL of sample required).
Organic Instrumentation Laboratory
The Department Organic Instrumentation Laboratory (located in the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building 502) is equipped with two PE Clarus 500 capillary-column GCs (one with dual flame ionization detectors, FIDs), the other with one FID and a thermal conductivity detector (TCD), two PE Spectrum 2 FTIRs, each equipped with a diamond ATR, a PE model 343 polarimeter, a CEM model X microwave synthesis system, an Anasazi, Inc. EFT-90 90MHz NMR with both C-13 and H-1 capability, and an Advion Expression Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) with ESI and APCI capability.
Vibrational Spectroscopy Laboratory
The Department Vibrational Spectroscopy Laboratory (located in Disque 112) is equipped with a PE Spectrum One FTIR (also equipped with a universal diamond ATR and transmission sampling accessories), a Horiba LB500 Dynamic Light Scattering Spectrometer with Peltier Temperature Controller, and a Renishaw Invia Raman Microscope system (equipped with three laser wavelengths: 514.5nm, 632.8nm and 785nm).
Analytical/Inorganic Teaching Laboratory
The Analytical/Inorganic Teaching Laboratory (located in Disque 409) is equipped with a Perkin-Elmer (PE) Spectrum One FTIR (equipped with a universal diamond ATR and transmission sampling accessories), a PE LS55B Luminescence spectrometer, a PE Lambda-2 UV/visible spectrometer, a BAS Epsilon Eclipse system with a RDE-2 rotating disk electrode head, a UCT Inc., Positive Pressure Manifold (for performing solid phase extraction), and a Biotage Turbo-Vac LV Concentration workstation.
Microscopy Laboratory
The department Microscopy Laboratory (located in Stratton 416) is equipped with a Leica DM IRBE Inverted Fluorescence Microscope, a Zeiss EpiFluorescence III RS Microscope, and a Bruker (formerly Veeco Metrology, Inc.), Multimode NanoScope IIId SPM System which performs all major SPM imaging techniques including contact and non-contact atomic force, lateral force, TappingMode (air), magnetic force and electric force microscopy. Additional instrumentation located there include a PE Lambda-950 UV/visible/NIR spectrometer equipped with a Labsphere, Inc., 60mm diameter diffuse-reflectance integrating sphere, A Camag Reprostart 3 Gel Imaging System, a Thermo Scientific (formerly Nicolet) 6700 FT-IR/Raman spectrometer, an ISS Chronos DFD fluorescence lifetime spectrometer with three laser sources and an ISS T-format steady-state fluorescence polarization spectrometer.
Polymer Analysis Laboratory
The Department Polymer Analysis Laboratory (located in Disque 210) is equipped with a Brookfield DV-II+ Pro Viscometer with cone/plate capabilities, a Brookfield CAP 2000+ viscometer, a Mettler-Toledo Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer/Differential Scanning Calorimeter (TGA/DSC) Star system, a Mettler-Toledo Polymer DSC system, and a modular Gel Permeation Chromatography system composed of a Waters 515 HPLC pump, 2414 refractive index detector and 2487 dual wavelength absorbance detector.
Program Level Outcomes
- Communicate scientific ideas effectively using scientifically relevant language
- Be resourceful and engage in critical and analytical thinking to solve problems
- Be facile with chemical computations
- Have an understanding of how atomic-and molecular-scale structure governs macroscopic properties and reactivity
- Have developed an appropriate set of laboratory skills
- Practice ethical and professional behavior as described in the American Chemical Society Guidelines