Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements
General education requires a minimum of 36 hours of credit and includes completion of five experience requirements. Experience requirements may be satisfied through approved coursework or experiences outside of the classroom. General education courses in the area of physical science are satisfied by required courses in the curriculum. University general education requirements are outlined in the general education section of the undergraduate academic catalog and included in the sample curriculum outline.
Major Requirements in all Degrees
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 121A, 121B
- CHEM 125A, 125B
- CHEM 241A, 241B
- CHEM 245
- CHEM 300
- CHEM 331, 335
Mathematics Requirements
- MATH 150*
*Either MATH 145 or MATH 150 is required for the biochemistry, bioprocess, and pharmaceutical chemistry specializations.
Computer Science or Statistics Requirements
Choose one of the following:
- CS 140
- STAT 107
- STAT 244*
- STAT 380*
- STAT 480A, 480B
*Either STAT 244 or 380 is required for biochemistry, forensics chemistry, and bioprocess chemistry specializations.
Complete all requirements noted within a specialization. Students not planning to complete a specialization should complete requirements noted within the general chemistry requirements section.
General Chemistry Requirements
Bachelor of Science
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 361A, 361B
- CHEM 365A, 365B
- CHEM 411
- CHEM 499
An additional six semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 410, 419, 431, 432, 439, 444, 445, 446, 449
- CHEM 451A, 451B, 451C
- CHEM 459
- CHEM 461A, 461B
- CHEM 469, 471, 479
An additional three semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 345, 396, 415, 435, 455, 465, 496
Mathematics Requirements
- MATH 152
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L
Bachelor of Arts
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 361A, 365A
- CHEM 499
An additional nine semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 361B
- CHEM 410, 411, 419, 431, 432, 439, 444, 445, 446, 449
- CHEM 451A, 451B, 451C
- CHEM 461A, 461B
- CHEM 469, 471, 479
An additional three semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 345, 365B, 396, 415, 435, 455, 465, 496
Mathematics Requirements
- MATH 152
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L or PHYS 131, 131L, 132, 132L
Approved Supporting Courses or Minor* (12-21 hours)
One year of the same foreign language
* Students may take a minor or a group of courses from one or more departments that will support their major educational and career objectives. If they choose the second alternative, the curriculum must include at least four supporting courses that total at least 12 hours of credit; the physics and mathematics courses required for the Bachelor of Arts do not count as supporting courses.
American Chemical Society (ACS) Certified Biochemistry Specialization (BS)
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 361A, 361B
- CHEM 365A, 365B
- CHEM 396, 411, 415, 431, 435
- CHEM 451A, 451B, 451C
- CHEM 455, 496, 499
Biology Requirements
- BIOL 150, 151, 220, 319
Mathematics Requirements
- MATH 152
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L
American Chemical Society (ACS) Certified Chemistry Specialization (BS)
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 361A, 361B
- CHEM 365A, 365B
- CHEM 411, 415, 431, 435
- CHEM 451A
- CHEM 499
An additional three semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 410, 419, 431, 432, 439, 444, 445, 446, 449, 451A, 451B, 451C, 459, 461A, 461B, 469, 471, 479
An additional two semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 345, 396, 455, 465, 496
Mathematics Requirements
- MATH 152
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L
Biochemistry Specialization (BS)
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 410, 431, 435
- CHEM 451A, 451B, 451C
- CHEM 455
- CHEM 461A, 461B
- CHEM 465
- CHEM 499
An additional four semester hours from the following
- CHEM 396, 432, 446, 449, 459, 471, 479, 496
- BIOL 456
Biology Requirements
- BIOL 150, 151, 220, 319
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L or PHYS 131, 131L, 132, 132L
Bioprocess Chemistry Specialization (BS)
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 431, 435
- CHEM 451A, 451B
- CHEM 461A, 461B
- CHEM 465
- CHEM 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485
- CHEM 499
Biology Requirements
- BIOL 150, 151, 220, 350
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L or PHYS 131, 131L, 132, 132L
Forensics Specialization (BS)
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 361A, 361B
- CHEM 365A, 365B
- CHEM 451A
- CHEM 431, 432, 435, 446, 471, 499
Biology Requirements
- BIOL 150, 151, 220, 319, 423
An additional three semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 410, 411, 439, 451B
Mathematics Requirements
- MATH 152
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L
Pharmaceutical Chemistry (BS)
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 499 or PHEP 795
School of Pharmacy Requirements*
- PHEP 719A
- PHEP 719B
- PHPS 700
- PHPS 701
- PHPS 702
- PHPS 703
- PHPS 704
- PHPS 705N
- PHPS 707N
- PHPS 712
- PHPS 720N
- PHPT 730A
- PHPT 730B
- PHPT 730C
- PHPT 730D
- PHAS 716
* Admission to the School of Pharmacy required for these courses. See Additional Bachelor in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science Specialization Requirements listed below.
Medical Science Specialization (BA)
Chemistry Requirements
- CHEM 361A, 365A
- CHEM 451A, 451B
- CHEM 499
An additional three semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 361B, 410, 411, 419, 431, 432, 439, 444, 445, 446, 449, 451A, 451B, 451C, 459, 461A, 461B, 469, 471, 479
An additional three semester hours from the following:
- CHEM 345, 365B, 396, 415, 435, 455, 496
Biology Requirements
- BIOL 150
Additional six semester hours from the following:
- BIOL 151, 220, 319, 335, 340
Mathematics Requirements
- MATH 152
Physics Requirements
- PHYS 151, 151L, 152, 152L or PHYS 131, 131L, 132, 132L
Additional chemistry and biology recommended
Bachelor of Science/Master of Science Curriculum
Undergraduates with exceptional academic credentials may be able to earn both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree in chemistry in five years (3 + 2) of study. Admission to this program is based on departmental recommendation to and approval by the Graduate School. Students who are interested in this program option should seek advice from their faculty advisors early in their junior year.
Additional Bachelor in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science Specialization Requirements
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry specialization requires separate admission to the SIUE School of Pharmacy PharmD program. Students who do not gain admission at the start of their third year are encouraged to continue in the Bachelor of Science in chemistry, biochemistry specialization while they continue to seek admission. Students who are currently in the School of Pharmacy and who have a strong background in chemistry are encouraged to discuss the BS in chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry specialization option with their advisor. Students can receive the Bachelor of Science once the course requirements outlined above have been met, prior to their completion of the PharmD program.
Academic Standards/Retention
Students should show satisfactory academic progress to be retained in a degree program.
Students may be dropped from the program for any of the following circumstances:
- GPA of 1.0 or below in any term
- Cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 in the major at any time
- Withdrawal, incomplete, and a combination of failing grades in 50% or more of the courses for which the student is registered during two successive terms
- Any combination of three withdrawal, incomplete, or failing grades in any single required course in the major discipline
For readmission, students must meet the same admission requirements as students entering the program for the first time.
Grades of C or above in CHEM 121A and CHEM 121B are required of all students before proceeding into any chemistry courses numbered above 199.
Transfer students, upper-division students and others who have not earned a grade of C or above in CHEM 121 will be required to do so as a condition of acceptance as a major in chemistry.
