Applied Chemistry, Bachelor of Science College of Letters & Science

The Major Programs

Chemistry studies the composition of matter, its structure, and the means by which it is converted from one form to another.

The Program

The Department of Chemistry offers two Bachelor of Science degree emphases under the heading of Applied Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry. The B.S. emphasis in Applied Chemistry fall outside of the classical chemistry degree and instead draw on significant course material from areas relevant to their particular fields. The Environmental Chemistry program provides students with tools to understand the processes governing chemical transformations in soil, air, and water, analyze for key substances in the environment, and make meaningful predictions about the fates of these chemicals. The Forensic Chemistry program involves the identification and quantitation of scientific evidence both in the natural environment and in urban settings, including substances sometimes available in only trace amounts.

Career Alternatives

Environmental chemistry graduates with the bachelor's degree will be able to pursue advanced degrees in areas such as atmospheric chemistry, geochemistry, toxicology, and environmental science. They will also have access to a range of scientific careers including regulatory agencies, environmental consulting firms, and industries concerned with the environmental impacts and fates of their products. Forensic chemistry graduates will be able to pursue careers in private forensic labs as well as law enforcement and regulatory agencies at many levels, including police and sheriff’s departments, district attorney crime labs, and laboratories of federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, FDA, and many others.

Major Advisor

To contact a major advisor in the Department of Chemistry, see Academic Advising.

Honors & Honors Program

The student must take CHE 194HA, CHE 194HB, & CHE 194HC, and complete a capstone research project (typically a written honors thesis). For more information, see Undergraduate Research on the department's website.

Graduate Study

The Department of Chemistry offers programs of study and research leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry. Detailed information regarding graduate study may be obtained by contacting the Graduate Advisor, Department of Chemistry. See also Graduate Studies.

Environmental Chemistry Emphasis

Preparatory Subject Matter
Chemistry
Choose a series:15
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
and General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
and General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
Physics
Choose a series:12-15
General Physics
and General Physics
and General Physics
Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
Mathematics
Choose a series:9-12
Short Calculus
and Short Calculus
and Short Calculus
Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
Calculus
and Calculus
and Calculus
Biological Science5
Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth
Statistics
Choose one:4
Elementary Statistics
Elementary Statistics
Gateway to Statistical Data Science
Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal45-51
Depth Subject Matter
Chemistry32-39
Environmental Water Chemistry
Analytical & Physical Chemical Methods
Instrumental Analysis
Inorganic Chemistry: Fundamentals
Choose a series:
Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
and Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
Physical Chemistry: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
and Physical Chemistry: Properties of Atoms & Molecules
and Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics, Equilibria & Kinetics
Choose 118 series or 128 series, & CHE 129A & CHE 129B:
Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences
and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences
and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences
OR
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry
AND
Organic Chemistry Laboratory
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Environmental Science & Policy4
Principles of Environmental Science
Environmental Toxicology4
Principles of Environmental Toxicology
Choose at least three:7-15
Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry
Global Environmental Interactions
Limnology
Choose one:
Environmental Fate of Toxicants
Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Toxicants
Perspectives in Aquatic Toxicology
Environmental Toxicology of Air Pollutants
Health Risk Assessment of Toxicants
Exposure & Dose Assessment
Choose one:
Structure & Properties of Fibers
Textile Chemical Analysis Laboratory
Choose one:
Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry & Cosmochemistry
Stable Isotopes & Geochemical Tracers
Physical & Chemical Oceanography
Aqueous Geochemistry
Choose one:
Environmental Soil Chemistry
Soil Microbiology
At least three additional upper division units in Chemistry (CHE) 13
Depth Subject Matter Subtotal50-65
Total Units95-116
1

CHE 199 strongly encouraged.

Forensic Chemistry Emphasis

Preparatory Subject Matter
Chemistry
Choose a series:15
General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
and General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
and General Chemistry for the Physical Sciences & Engineering
Physics
Choose a series:12-15
General Physics
and General Physics
and General Physics
Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
Mathematics
Choose a series:9-12
Short Calculus
and Short Calculus
and Short Calculus
Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
and Calculus for Biology & Medicine
Calculus
and Calculus
and Calculus
Biological Science5
Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth
Environmental Toxicology3
Introduction to Forensic Science
Statistics
Choose one:4
Elementary Statistics
Elementary Statistics
Gateway to Statistical Data Science
Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences
Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal48-54
Depth Subject Matter
Chemistry29-36
Forensic Applications of Analytical Chemistry
Analytical & Physical Chemical Methods
Instrumental Analysis
Choose a series:
Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
and Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
Physical Chemistry: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
and Physical Chemistry: Properties of Atoms & Molecules
and Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics, Equilibria & Kinetics
Choose 118 series or 128 series, & CHE 129A & CHE 129B:
Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences
and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences
and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences
OR
Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry
AND
Organic Chemistry Laboratory
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Environmental Toxicology13
Principles of Environmental Toxicology
Environmental Fate of Toxicants
Quantitative Analysis of Environmental Toxicants
Choose at least two:6-9
Choose one:
Principles of Environmental Science
Environmental Law
Choose one:
Genes & Gene Expression
Biological Effects of Toxicants
Biological Effects of Toxicants: Experimental Approaches
Introduction to Mass Spectrometry
Health Risk Assessment of Toxicants
Legal Aspects of Environmental Toxicology
Applied Statistical Methods: Regression Analysis
Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course
At least three additional upper division units in Chemistry (CHE) 13
Depth Subject Matter Subtotal51-61
Total Units99-115
1

CHE 199 strongly encouraged.