Chemistry - Major (B.S and B.A.)/Minor

For information, contact Professor Marianne Staretz, mestaret@cedarcrest.edu, 610-606-4666, ext. 3608.

Program Description

The chemistry major is one of science’s most versatile degrees and is important in today’s global environment. The chemistry program prepares students for entry into a variety of chemistry related industries, graduate study, education, or the medical professions by encouraging critical thinking and leadership skills. It also provides a background for those entering the allied health, biological, environmental, and forensic science fields, in which chemical knowledge and laboratory skills are required. The department offers both a B.S. and a B.A. in chemistry. The B.S. in Chemistry provides more emphasis on the laboratory experience; the B.A. in Chemistry provides a solid foundation in Chemistry but allows flexibility to combine chemistry with other areas of interest such as secondary education, business, or pre-law. Students with an interest in Business can choose the 4+1 Chemistry/MBA program which is a five year program that allows students to combine a B.A. in Chemistry with a Masters of Business Administration. Students interested in forensic science can choose to double major in chemistry (B.S.) and forensic science. As a capstone experience, students in the program have the have the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on a research project which is summarized in a seminar presentation.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences is to develop the theoretical, analytical, and technical skills to allow departmental majors to be leaders in their scientific professions and/or productively pursue graduate or professional studies in science. The Department will also provide a foundational knowledge in the area of chemistry for majors and non-majors that will contribute to the development of scientifically responsible citizens who can have a better understanding of the world and the role of science and scientific thinking in the global community.

Within the guiding mission of the Department of Chemical and Physical sciences, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Chemistry major will provide students with a strong foundation in chemistry with both fundamental and advanced coursework. The Department offers hands-on experience in experimental chemistry and with chemical instrumentation to prepare students for careers utilizing technical skills and scientific reasoning. A B.S. in Chemistry is an extremely versatile degree, applicable in such fields as medicine, chemical/pharmaceutical synthesis, energy production, and forensic science.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). Chemistry will provide students with a basic foundation in chemical principles with less emphasis on laboratory methods than the B.S. in Chemistry allowing students the flexibility to combine the B.A. in Chemistry with other areas of study such as pre-law, pre-health, business or secondary education. The mission of the B.A. in Chemistry is to prepare graduates for careers in fields where knowledge of chemistry and the scientific method are major assets. Such fields include environmental science, regulatory affairs, patent law, secondary education, and scientific writing. Graduates can also pursue professional areas of study such as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.

Program Requirements

An overall grade-point average of at least 2.000 in chemistry and cognate courses is required for the B.S. and B.A. and minor in chemistry. A grade of C or better is required for all chemistry courses at the 100 and 200 level that fulfill major or minor requirements. Students must attain a grade of C or better in 100 and 200 level courses before proceeding to 300 level courses. No grades of D and only two grades of C- will be allowed for required courses at the 300 level that fulfill major requirements. A student must have at least a 2.000 average in chemistry courses to declare a chemistry major. A grade of C- or better is required for all cognate courses that satisfy major or minor requirements. Courses that satisfy a major requirement may not be repeated more than once. At least 24 of the credits in chemistry required for the chemistry major or at least 12 of the credits in chemistry required for the chemistry minor must be completed on the Cedar Crest campus. Students are required to complete a comprehensive examination encompassing all the relevant sub-disciplines which is administered as part of the Chemistry seminar (CHE 352)

B.S. in Chemistry

Course Requirements for the B.S. in Chemistry

CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits
CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 206 Organic Chemistry II 4 credits
CHE 230 Analytical Chemistry 4 credits
CHE 300 Technical Information 3 credits
CHE 302 Instrumental Analysis 4 credits
CHE 306 Advanced Organic Chemistry 3 credits
CHE 307 Biochemistry I 4 credits
CHE 331 Inorganic Chemistry 4 credits
CHE 335 Physical Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 336 Physical Chemistry II 3 credits
CHE 352 Seminar 1 credit
CHE 391 Advanced Laboratory and Research 6 credits in the junior/senior year OR CHE 393 Internship

Plus choose two courses from the following:
CHE 308 Biochemistry II 3 or 4 credits
CHE 314 Toxicology 2 credits
CHE 320 Environmental Chemistry 3 or 4 credits
CHE 341 Polymer Chemistry 3 credits
CHE 344 Heterocyclic Compounds 3 credits
CHE 347 Trace Evidence and Microscopy 4 credits

Plus the following cognate courses:
BIO 248 Biostatistics 3 credits OR
MAT 210 Mathematical Statistics and Probability 3 credits
MAT 141 Calculus I 3 credits
MAT 142 Calculus II 3 credits
PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I 4 credits
PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II 4 credits

Total number of credits required: 75-77
The B.S. degree in Chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society which means that graduates will be certified by the American Chemical Society.

Fulfillment of LAC Requirements

Students fulfill Technology, Oral Presentation, and Information Literacy requirements through the successful completion of the following major requirements: CHE 300, CHE 302, CHE 335, CHE 307, CHE 352, CHE 391. Students also fulfill the Natural Sciences (CHE 111 and 112), Mathematics and Logic (MAT 141 and 142) and Writing 2 (CHE 300) requirements upon successful completion of the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the fundamentals of analytical, organic, inorganic, physical and biological chemistry.
• Students will be able to apply problems-solving skills in both a qualitative and quantitative manner using fundamental chemical principles.
• Students will demonstrate laboratory skills and an understanding of theory and techniques to effectively to carry out an experiment in a safe and systematic fashion.
• Students will learn to make detailed observations, record data objectively, and maintain an accurate laboratory notebook in a legal and ethical manner.
• Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to communicate chemical information with clarity and coherence through writing and speaking and will be able to retrieve, understand and properly cite specific chemical information from the scientific literature.
• Students will demonstrate proficiency in applying and interpreting statistical methods for data evaluation.

B.A. in Chemistry

Course Requirements for the B.A. in Chemistry

CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits
CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 206 Organic Chemistry II 4 credits
CHE 300 Technical Information 3 credits
CHE 307 Biochemistry I 4 credits
CHE 331 Inorganic Chemistry 3 credits
CHE 335 Physical Chemistry I 3 credits
CHE 352 Chemistry Seminar 1 credit

Plus choose one of the following:
CHE 230 Analytical Chemistry 4 credits
CHE 320 Environmental Chemistry 4 credits

Plus the following cognate courses:
MAT 141 Calculus I 3 credits
MAT 142 Calculus II 3 credits
PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I 4 credits
PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II 4 credits
Total number of credits required: 47

Fulfillment of LAC Requirements

Students fulfill Technology, Oral Presentation, and Information Literacy requirements through the successful completion of the following major requirements: CHE 300, CHE 335, CHE 307, CHE 352. Students also fulfill the Natural Sciences (CHE 111 and 112), Mathematics and Logic (MAT 141 and 142) and Writing 2 (CHE 300) requirements upon successful completion of the major.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the fundamentals of analytical, organic, inorganic, physical and biological chemistry.
• Students will be able to apply problems-solving skills in both a qualitative and quantitative manner using fundamental chemical principles.
• Students will demonstrate laboratory skills and an understanding of theory and techniques to effectively carry out an experiment in a safe and systematic fashion.
• Students will learn to make detailed observations, record data objectively, and maintain an accurate laboratory notebook in a legal and ethical manner.
• Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to communicate chemical information with clarity and coherence through writing and speaking and will be able to retrieve, understand and properly cite specific chemical information from the scientific literature.

B.A. Chemistry/MBA (five year program)

Chemistry Course Requirements:

CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits
CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 206 Organic Chemistry II 4 credits
CHE 300 Technical Information 3 credits
CHE 307 Biochemistry I 4 credits
CHE 331 Inorganic Chemistry 3 credits
CHE 335 Physical Chemistry I 3 credits
CHE 352 Chemistry Seminar 1 credit

Plus choose one of the following:
CHE 230 Analytical Chemistry 4 credits
CHE 320 Environmental Chemistry 4 credits

Plus the following cognate courses:
MAT 141 Calculus I 3 credits
MAT 142 Calculus II 3 credits
PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I 4 credits
PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II 4 credits

Business Course Requirements
Students must complete coursework for a minor in Business Administration before the end of their junior year. The required courses are listed below:
ACC 101 Financial Accounting 3 credits
BUA 204 Business Communications 3 credits
MRK 230 Principles of Marketing 3 credits
ECO 101 Principles of Economics: Macro or ECO 102 Principles of Economics: Micro 3 credits
Plus two of the following:
ACC 102 Managerial Accounting 3 credits
BUA 220 Human Resource Management 3 credits
BUA 250 Principles of Finance 3 credits
BUA 329 Organizational Behavior 3 credits
BUA 350 Leadership 3 credits
300 Level Marketing Course
Students should also take MAT 110 to fulfill the statistics and probability requirement for the MBA.

Additional Requirements

Students should apply for acceptance into the MBA program before the end of the first semester of their junior year. Students need to take the GMAT or GRE in their junior year. A minimum score of 525 on the GMAT is required for admission into MBA. Minimum scores of 150 (Verbal Reasoning), 512 (Quantitative reasoning, and 3.50 (Analytical Writing) on the GRE are required for admission. If below these scores, a student will be provisionally accepted and must get a 3.0 GPA in the first 9 credits of the MBA program to be fully accepted. Students will take 6 credits of MBA classes in their senior year and will begin the full time MBA program in the summer term.

Chemistry Minor

Course Requirements for the Chemistry Minor

CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits
CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 206 Organic Chemistry II 4 credits
CHE 331 Inorganic Chemistry 3 or 4 credits OR CHE 335 Physical Chemistry 3 or 4 credits

Plus at least one additional course in Chemistry at the 300-level

Plus the following cognate courses:
MAT 141 Calculus I 3 credits
MAT 142 Calculus II 3 credits
PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I 4 credits
PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II 4 credits

Total number of credits required: 37-39