Major in Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry Concentration

Environmental chemistry is the application of chemical principles to the study of the natural environment, including air, water, land, and the biosphere. This concentration is recommended for students who wish to pursue a career in environmental management, or in the fundamental study of environmental systems. This concentration is also suitable for students planning to attend law or professional school or pursue graduate studies in environmental chemistry.

Chemistry majors in the environmental track are encouraged to participate in undergraduate research. Ample opportunities exist for undergraduate students to become involved in ground-breaking research in the laboratories of individual faculty members. Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment in faculty laboratories and the Analytical Resources Core facility, including NMR, FTIR, UV/Vis, fluorescence, mass spectrometers, vacuum lines, x-ray diffractometers, and many more. Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged for any student considering a career in chemistry, and many students complete supervised research for academic credit.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Articulate the interconnected chemical processes, both naturally occurring and human caused, that shape the environment.
2. Develop and apply analytical skills to measure environmental chemical species and quantify their role in environmental chemistry.
3. Effectively communicate the results of the collection and analysis of data used in policy decisions for questions involving the air, food, soil, and water.
4. Apply interdisciplinary knowledge from biology, microbiology, statistics, and engineering to answer environmental questions.

Effective Spring 2024

Chemistry majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.000) in all the listed courses required for the major in chemistry.

In-depth Chemistry Courses

At least 3 credits must come from laboratory course or lab components of lecture/laboratory courses: CHEM 431, CHEM 433, CHEM 440, CHEM 462, CHEM 477, or CHEM 498. 

Advanced Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ATS 350	Introduction to Weather and Climate	2
ATS 351	Introduction to Weather and Climate Lab	1
ERHS 320	Environmental Health--Water Quality	3
ERHS 332	Principles of Epidemiology	3
ERHS 400	Radiation Safety	3
ERHS 410	Environmental Health-Air and Waste Management	3
ERHS 430	Human Disease and the Environment	3
ERHS 446	Environmental Toxicology	3
ERHS 448	Environmental Contaminants	3
ERHS 450	Introduction to Radiation Biology	3
GES 441	Analysis of Sustainable Energy Solutions	3
Upper-Division regular courses (300-379; 400-479) from the following subject codes:
AA
AB
ANEQ
BC
BIOM
BMS
BSPM
BZ
CBE
CHEM
CS
CT
ESS
FTEC
FW
HES
HORT
LIFE
MATH
MIP
NR
NSCI
PH
PSY
SOCR
STAT

¹

Students who complete General Chemistry in Freshman year (CHEM 111 or CHEM 107, CHEM 112 or CHEM 108, CHEM 113, CHEM 114) do not have to take CHEM 120 and CHEM 121.

²

Students may complete the organic chemistry requirement by taking CHEM 341, CHEM 343, and CHEM 344. Students who take CHEM 245/CHEM 246 may complete the organic chemistry requirement by taking CHEM 343/CHEM 344. For both sets of these students, CHEM 343/CHEM 344 together count as an in-depth chemistry course.

³

CHEM 301 is recommended.

⁴

CHEM 499 by department approval. Students fulfilling the AUCC 4C requirement with CHEM 499 must write a thesis and present it to the department. 

⁵

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER:   The curriculum for the new American Chemical Society Certified Chemistry major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus. Entering students who are not prepared to take calculus will need to fulfill pre‐calculus requirements in the first semester. CHEM 111 and CHEM 120 require Algebra II as a prerequisite (this prerequisite is met by having Algebra II by test credit, transfer credit, or placement out of MATH 117 and MATH 118 on Math Placement Exam). Earned grades of C (2.000) or better are required in all listed courses for the major in chemistry. Students with credit for CHEM 111, CHEM 112, CHEM 113, CHEM 114 do not need to take CHEM 120, CHEM 121.  Students with credit for CHEM 341, CHEM 343, CHEM 344 do not need to take CHEM 241, CHEM 242.