Program: Chemistry, BS (CHEM-BS) - Wright State University
Wright State University
2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Apr 24, 2026
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2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Chemistry, BS (CHEM-BS)
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CIP Code: 400501
Program Description
The Department of Chemistry offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Science degrees in chemistry. The department also offers a Bachelor of Science program, certified by the American Chemical Society, and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry education. While the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science curricula are designed to prepare undergraduate students for entrance into medical, dental, or other professional schools, the Bachelor of Science curricula are strongly suggested for students who wish to pursue a career as a professional chemist or graduate work in chemistry. All undergraduate degree programs are flexible and permit the option of a heavy concentration in chemistry courses or a combination of a chemistry major with extensive course work in allied (other sciences) or non-allied (business, arts) areas. To develop their academic programs to meet specific needs and individual interests, students should consult their academic advisors.
The Bachelor of Science candidate is required to complete the chemistry, mathematics, and physics course sequences in the following program outline with one exception:
CHM 4990 - Special Problems in Chemistry
is not required. However, it is expected that the serious chemistry major will complete at least four credit hours of this research course during the senior year.
The Bachelor of Science program includes broad coverage of the primary disciplines within the chemical field with course work in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. In addition to the Wright State Core, the degree program includes foundation studies in mathematics and physics. For the latter, the requirements may be met by either the
PHY 1110
PHY 1120
PHY 1110L
and
PHY 1120L
sequence or the
PHY 2400
PHY 2410
PHY 2400L
and
PHY 2410L
sequence.
Because the order in which science courses are taken is so important, students are advised to begin the mathematics, chemistry, and physics sequences as soon as possible.
Bachelor of Science Degree (ACS certified)
The ACS certified Bachelor of Science program is recommended particularly for those students who anticipate pursuing a career in chemistry. The program provides an in-depth coverage of the primary disciplines within the chemical field and adds further breadth to the course work required for the non-ACS Bachelor of Science program by the addition of courses in spectroscopy (
CHM 4170
), inorganic chemistry (
CHM 4210
CHM 4210L
) and biochemistry (
BMB 4210
). In addition, the physics requirement can be met only with the
PHY 2400
PHY 2410
PHY 2400L
and
PHY 2410L
sequence.
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry Education Degree
The Adolescence to Young Adult Chemistry Licensure Program is based on an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. The Bachelor of Science candidate is required to complete the chemistry, mathematics, and physics course sequences in the following program outline, which includes the majority of the courses expected for the other B.S. programs, with the addition of overview courses in biology and earth and environmental studies and several courses in education.
Because the order in which science courses are taken is so important, students are advised to begin the mathematics, chemistry, and physics sequences as soon as possible.
Chemistry Education
Students who wish to teach chemistry in Ohio public high schools can pursue the Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Upon completion of this undergraduate degree program in the College of Science and Mathematics, students then must complete the Professional Educators Program (PEP) Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree through Wright State’s College of Health, Education, and Human Services. Graduates of the B.S. in chemistry and the M.Ed. Professional Educators Program are eligible to seek licensure from the Ohio Department of Education in either chemistry or chemistry in combination with another science field, depending on the content of the undergraduate curriculum.
Program Learning Objectives
Students enrolled in this program will learn to:
Program Learning Outcomes
As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:
Honors Program
The honors program in chemistry is designed to provide recognition to the intellectually gifted student who pursues a program of independent study under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The program is open to any chemistry major in the B.S. program having at least junior standing and a 3.25 or better overall GPA, including a 3.60 or better average in the four most recent chemistry lecture courses. The normal time for application for admission is at the end of the sophomore year and no later than the end of the junior year. Students apply for admission by contacting the chair of the undergraduate studies committee, who will examine the student’s record to determine eligibility. Eligible students are asked to submit a letter of intent (no longer than one typed page) indicating:
Why they wish to pursue departmental honors
The faculty member who has agreed to work with them
A description of the proposed project (with a timeline).
Upon acceptance into the program, the student should complete at least 9 credits of “A” research work, of which at least 6 credits will be
CHM 4990
. An additional 2 credit hours of “A” research work may be completed as collaborative research as specified in the letter of intent. The student also must pass with a minimum of a “B” grade two elective 4000-level lecture chemistry courses and present the research results at a local or national ACS meeting or other specialized conference and as an oral presentation as part of the
CHM 8000
seminar series. Full details are available on the chemistry department website.
For More Information
Chemistry, BS
Department of Chemistry
College of Science and Math
ematics
Program Requirements
I. Wright State Core: 37 Credit Hours
As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.
Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the
Wright State Core Program Requirements
First-Year Seminar: 1 Credit Hour
All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year.  Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one additional credit hour in the Additional Core Courses category.
UVC 1010 - First Year Seminar
Credit Hour(s):
1 to 3
Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours
First-Year Writing Course
(3 credit hours)
All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on
Writing Placement
level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100).
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading
Credit Hour(s):
Second-Year Writing Course
(3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation
Credit Hour(s):
Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 4 Credit Hours
Based on
Math Placement Level
, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the required course below.
Required:
MTH 2300 - Calculus I
Credit Hour(s):
Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours
Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved
Wright State Core Program Requirements
.  One course must fulfill the History requirement.
History Requirement
(3 credit hours)
Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500
Credit Hour(s):
3 (GI) (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500
Credit Hour(s):
3 (GI) (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture
Credit Hour(s):
3 (GI) (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course
(3 credit hours)
Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved
Wright State Core Program Requirements.
Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours
Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved
Wright State Core Program Requirements
Students following the Chemistry Education concentration must take the following:
ED 2600 - Introduction to Education
Credit Hour(s):
3 (IE) (IW)
Element E - Natural Sciences: 10 Credit Hours
Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved
Wright State Core Program Requirements
.  At least one course must contain a laboratory.
Required:
CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 1210R - General Chemistry Lab I Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 1220R - General Chemistry Lab II Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
Additional Core Courses: 4 Credit Hours
Students will select up to 4 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved
Wright State Core Program Requirements
to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core.  Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student.  When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.
MTH 2310 - Calculus II
Credit Hour(s):
Additional Core Requirements
Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:
One Global Inquiry (GI) course
Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses
One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses.  To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major.  Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.
Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.
II. Major Core Requirements: 35 Credit Hours
Students in all three concentrations will complete the following classes:
CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Lab I
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 3120 - Quantitative Analysis
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 3120L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 3510 - Thermodynamics and Kinetics
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 3510L - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I
Credit Hour(s):
2 (IW) (IW)
CHM 3510R - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
0 (IW) (IW)
CHM 3520 - Quantum Chemistry and Statistical Thermodynamics
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 3520L - Physical Chemistry Laboratory II
Credit Hour(s):
2 (IW)
CHM 3520R - Physical Chemistry II Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
0 (IW) (IW)
CHM 4350 - Instrumental Analysis
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4350L - Instrumental Analysis Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
MTH 2320 - Calculus III
Credit Hour(s):
III. Major Concentration Requirements: 22-43 Credit Hours
All students will choose one of the three concentrations.
General Chemistry Concentration: 22 Credit Hours
CHM 3190 - Chemical Literature and Composition
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4200 - Inorganic Chemistry I
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 1110R - Principles of Physics I Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
AND
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 1120R - Principles of Physics II Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
OR
PHY 2400 - General Physics I
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2400R - General Physics I Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
AND
PHY 2410 - General Physics II
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2410R - General Physics II Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
Choose seven credit hours from the following list:
CHM 4020 - Environmental Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4020L - Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4170 - Applied Chemical Spectroscopy
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4210 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4210L - Advanced Inorganic Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4210R - Advanced Inorganic Synthesis and Characterization Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4370 - Electroanalytical Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4370L - Electroanalytical Chemistry Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4610 - Synthetic Polymer Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4650 - Physical Polymer Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4650L - Physical Polymer Chemistry Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4680 - Experimental Nanomaterials and Nanoscience
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4720 - Chemical Crystallography
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4900 - Critical Literature Analysis
Credit Hour(s):
No more than 3 credit hours (combined total) of the following:
CHM 4880 - Independent Reading in Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
1 to 4
CHM 4990 - Special Problems in Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
1 to 5
BMB 4210 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
Credit Hour(s):
BMB 4230 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II
Credit Hour(s):
ACS Certified Concentration: 25 Credit Hours
BMB 4210 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 3190 - Chemical Literature and Composition
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4170 - Applied Chemical Spectroscopy
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4200 - Inorganic Chemistry I
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4210 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4210L - Advanced Inorganic Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2400 - General Physics I
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2400R - General Physics I Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2410 - General Physics II
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2410R - General Physics II Recitation
Credit Hour(s):
Chemistry Education Concentration: 43 Credit Hours
BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes
Credit Hour(s):
BIO 1120L - Cells & Genes Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems
Credit Hour(s):
BIO 1150L - Organisms & Ecosystems Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
ED 2600 - Introduction to Education
Credit Hour(s):
3 (IW) (IE)
ED 2650 - Early Field Experience I: Introduction to the Education Profession
Credit Hour(s):
ED 2700 - Introduction to Educational Psychology
Credit Hour(s):
3 (IW) (IE)
ED 2750 - Early Field Experience II: Introduction to Educational Psychology
Credit Hour(s):
EDS 2900 - Individuals with Exceptionalities
Credit Hour(s):
3 (IE)
EES 2510 - Earth Systems
Credit Hour(s):
EES 2550 - Earth History
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2400 - General Physics I
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2410 - General Physics II
Credit Hour(s):
PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
Students will choose 6 credit hours of Chemistry electives from the following:
CHM 4610 - Synthetic Polymer Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4650 - Physical Polymer Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4650L - Physical Polymer Chemistry Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4680 - Experimental Nanomaterials and Nanoscience
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4720 - Chemical Crystallography
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4020L - Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4170 - Applied Chemical Spectroscopy
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4200 - Inorganic Chemistry I
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4210 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4210L - Advanced Inorganic Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4370 - Electroanalytical Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4370L - Electroanalytical Chemistry Laboratory
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4020 - Environmental Chemistry
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 3190 - Chemical Literature and Composition
Credit Hour(s):
CHM 4900 - Critical Literature Analysis
Credit Hour(s):
1 (cannot be repeated for additional elective credits)
BMB 4210 - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
Credit Hour(s):
IV. General Electives: 5-26 Credit Hours
Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree.  If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours.  Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.
Students are encouraged to consider adding a
minor, certificate, or microcredential
The number of General Electives by concentration is as follows:
General Chemistry concentration: 26 credit hours
CHM 4990: 4 credit hours recommended
Chemistry ACS Certified concentration: 23 credit hours
Chemistry Education concentration: 5 credit hours
Total: 120 Credit Hours
Graduation Planning Strategy
A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.
These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.
Chemistry, BS (GPS)
Chemistry, ACS Certified, BS (GPS)
Chemistry: Chemistry Education (GPS)
Chemistry, Dual Major, BS (GPS)
Chemistry, BA (3 yr) (GPS)
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