Chemistry Minor
A chemistry minor is earned by taking CHEM 105 General Chemistry I, CHEM 106 General Chemistry II, CHEM 234/235 Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 334/335 Organic Chemistry II, and CHEM 311 Analytical Chemistry I (total 22 credits) or CHEM 303 Biochemistry and CHEM 320 Introduction to Instrumental Analysis (total 24 credits).
Chemistry Major
Chemistry majors are prepared to work in industrial or government labs, attend graduate school in science, or enter professional schools of pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, or law.
Chemistry majors may choose from the following emphases:
Professional Chemistry
This curriculum, which is approved by the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Professional Training, is recognized nationally for breadth and depth in the chemistry discipline.
A Biochemistry option is available with the Professional Chemistry emphasis.
Biomolecular Science
This interdisciplinary curriculum includes a significant number of courses from the Biology Department. Students may choose from a variety of courses, allowing them to tailor the program to their personal interests.
Secondary Education
The secondary education emphasis, in collaboration with the College of Education and Human Services, prepares students to teach high school chemistry.
Major Requirements
*****
Professional Chemistry
Required Courses
Chemistry courses (42 cr.) |
CHEM 105/106 – General Chemistry I & II (10 cr.) CHEM 234/235 – Organic Chemistry I (lab, lecture, 4 cr.) CHEM 334/335 – Organic Chemistry II (lab, lecture, 4 cr.) CHEM 303 – Biochemistry (3 cr.) CHEM 311 – Analytical Chemistry I (4 cr.) CHEM 312 – Analytical Chemistry II (3 cr.) CHEM 370/371 – Physical Chemistry I & II (8 cr.) CHEM 470 – Inorganic Chemistry (4 cr.) CHEM 490/491 – Seminar I & II (2 cr.) or 474 – Honors Thesis (3 cr.) |
Choice of Chemistry elective (3 cr.) |
CHEM 323 – Analytical Separations CHEM 360 – Special Topics CHEM 435 – Interpretive Spectroscopy CHEM 446 – Independent Study CHEM 495 – Chemistry Research Internship |
Physics and Math (22 cr.) |
MATH 171,172,273 – Calculus I, II & III (12 cr.) PHYS 191/192 – General Physics (10 cr.) |
Possible Course Sequences
Many courses build on each other, so they need to be taken in order. For example,
- Calculus I is a co-requisite for Physics I.
- Physics II is a prerequisite for Physical Chemistry I, while Modern Analytical Chemistry and Calculus III are co-requisites.
Course offerings change from year to year, so these exact models may not be available. You must meet your chemistry department academic adviser each semester to create your personal plan.
Option 1
Fall | Spring | |
Year 1 | CHEM 105 – General I MATH 108 – Precalculus Quest I pairing |
CHEM 106 – General II Math 171 – Calculus I Quest II pairing |
Year 2 | CHEM 234/235 – Organic I MATH 172 – Calculus II PHYS 191 – General I |
CHEM 334/335 – Organic II MATH 273 – Calculus III PHYS 192 – General II Quest III |
Year 3 | CHEM 311 – Analytical I CHEM 370 – Physical I Connect |
CHEM 312 – Analytical II CHEM 371 – Physical II |
Year 4 | CHEM 303 – Biochem CHEM 470 – Adv. Inorganic CHEM 490 – Seminar I |
Chemistry elective CHEM 491 – Seminar II |
Option 2
Fall | Spring | |
Year 1 | CHEM 105 – General I MATH 104 – College Algebra Quest I pairing |
CHEM 106 – General II MATH 106 – Trigonometry Quest II pairing |
Year 2 | MATH 171 – Calc II PHYS 191 – General I Quest III |
CHEM 234/235 – Organic I MATH 172 – Calc II PHYS 192 – General II Connect |
Year 3 | CHEM 311 – Analytical I CHEM 370 – Physical I MATH 273 – Calc III |
CHEM 334/335 – Organic II CHEM 371 – Physical II |
Year 4 | CHEM 303 – Biochem CHEM 470 – Adv. Inorganic CHEM 490 – Seminar I |
CHEM 312 – Analytical II Chemistry elective CHEM 491 – Seminar II |
Professional Chemistry with Biochemistry Option
Required Courses
Chemistry courses (46 cr.) |
CHEM 105/106 – General Chemistry I & II (10 cr.) CHEM 234/235 – Organic Chemistry I (lab, lecture, 4 cr.) CHEM 334/335 – Organic Chemistry II (lab, lecture, 4 cr.) CHEM 303/304 – Biochemistry (lab, lecture 4 cr.) CHEM 311 – Analytical Chemistry I (4 cr.) CHEM 312 – Analytical Chemistry II (3 cr.) CHEM 315 – Advanced Biochemistry (3 cr.) CHEM 370/371 – Physical Chemistry I & II (8 cr.) CHEM 470 – Inorganic Chemistry (4 cr.) CHEM 490/491 – Seminar I & II (2 cr.) or 474 Honors Thesis (3 cr.) |
Biology (3 cr.) |
Any course beyond the introductory level which contains cell biology, microbiology, or genetics |
Physics and Math (22 cr.) |
MATH 171, 172, 273 – Calculus I, II & III (12 cr.) PHYS 191/192 – General Physics (10 cr.) |
Possible Course Sequences
Many courses build on each other, so they need to be taken in order. For example,
- Calculus I is a co-requisite for Physics I.
- Physics II is a prerequisite for Physical Chemistry I, while Modern Analytical Chemistry and Calculus III are co-requisites.
Course offerings change from year to year, so these exact models may not be available. You must meet your chemistry department academic adviser each semester to create your personal plan.
Option 1
Fall | Spring | |
Year 1 | CHEM 105 – General I MATH 108 – Precalculus Quest I pairing |
CHEM 106 – General II Math 171 – Calculus I Quest II pairing |
Year 2 | BIO 105 Concepts – Unity MATH 172 – Calculus II PHYS 191 – General I Quest III |
CHEM 234/235 – Organic I MATH 273 – Calculus III PHYS 192 – General II Connect |
Year 3 | CHEM 334/335 – Organic II CHEM 311 – Analytical I CHEM 370 – Physical I |
CHEM 312 – Analytical II CHEM 371 – Physical II |
Year 4 | CHEM 303 – Biochem CHEM 470 – Adv. Inorganic CHEM 490 – Seminar I |
Biology elective CHEM 315 – Advanced Biochem CHEM 491 – Seminar II |
Option 2
Fall | Spring | |
Year 1 | CHEM 105 – General I MATH 171 – Calculus 1 Quest I pairing |
CHEM 106 – General II MATH 172 – Calculus II Quest II pairing |
Year 2 | CHEM 311 – Analytical I CHEM 234-235 – Organic I PHYS 191 – General I |
BIO 105 Concepts – Unity CHEM 334/335 – Organic II PHYS 192 – General II Quest III |
Year 3 | CHEM 303/304 – Biochem CHEM 370 – Physical I MATH 273 – Calc III Connect |
CHEM 315 – Adv. Biochem II CHEM 371 – Physical II |
Year 4 | CHEM 470 – Adv. Inorganic CHEM 490 – Seminar I |
CHEM 312 – Analytical II Biology elective CHEM 491 – Seminar II |
Biomolecular Science
Required Courses
Chemistry courses (33-35 cr.) |
CHEM 105/106 – General Chemistry I & II (10 cr.) CHEM 234/235 – Organic Chemistry I (lab, lecture, 4 cr.) CHEM 334/335 – Organic Chemistry II (lab, lecture, 4 cr.) CHEM 303/304 – Biochemistry (lab, lecture 4 cr.) CHEM 311 or 320 – Analytical Chemistry I (4 or 3 cr.) CHEM 315 – Advanced Biochemistry (3 cr.) CHEM 365 or 370– [Bio]physical Chemistry (3 or 4 cr.) CHEM 490/491 – Seminar I & II (2 cr.) or 474 – Honors Thesis (3 cr.) |
Biology and Microbiology (16-18 cr.) |
BIO 105 – Biological Concepts – Unity (4 cr.) BIO 323 – Molecular and Cell Biology (3 cr.) BIO 343 – Genetics (4 cr.) Choose one advanced molecular/cellular biology course with lecture and lab – BIO 309, 319, 345 or 450 (5 cr.) -OR- Choose one advanced molecular/cellular biology lecture course – BIO 315, 316, 341, 372, or 389 (3 cr.) AND one advanced molecular/cellular biology lab technique course – BIO 350, 374, 377, or 390 (2–4 cr.)Note: you can get permission to take BIO 375, 377, 389 and 390 with only BIO 323 (309 and 343 prerequisites waived). |
Science elective (3 cr.) |
BIO 211, 212, 306, 309, 315, 316, 319, 338, 341, 345, 350, 354, 372, 374, 375, 377, 389, 390, 450; CHEM 323, 360, 435; PSYCH 367, 383; Research/Internship courses BIO 300, 301, 446, 456, CHEM 360, 446, 456, 495 |
Physics and Math (17 cr.) |
MATH 171 – Calculus I (4 cr.) MATH 172 – Calculus II or MATH 201, 301, ECON 210 or PSYCH 203 – Statistics (3 cr.) PHYS 171 or 191 and 172 or 192 – General Physics (10 cr.) |
Possible Course Sequences
Many courses build on each other, so they need to be taken in order. For example,
- CHEM 106 is a prerequisite for all higher numbered chemistry courses and BIOL 323;
- BIOL 323 is a prerequisite for BIOL 343;
- Biochemistry I, Calculus I and Physics II are prerequisites for Biophysical Chemistry.
Course offerings change from year to year so these exact models may not be available. Chem 365 is offered about every third semester; it is scheduled only when there is sufficient demand. You must meet your Chemistry Department academic adviser each semester to create your personal plan.
Option 1
Option 1 is similar to the professional chemistry emphasis, thus delaying a final choice of emphasis.
Fall | Spring | |
Year 1 | CHEM 105 – General I MATH 108 – Precalculus Quest I pairing |
CHEM 106 – General II Math 171 – Calculus I Quest II pairing |
Year 2 | CHEM 234/235 – Organic I MATH 172 – Calculus II PHYS 191 – General I Quest III |
BIO 105 Concepts – Unity CHEM 334/335 – Organic II PHYS 192 – General II Connect |
Year 3 | CHEM 311 – Analytical I CHEM 303/304 –Biochem |
BIO 323 – Molec and Cell CHEM 365 – Biophysical Chem |
Year 4 | BIO 343 – Genetics Biology lab course CHEM 490 – Seminar I |
Biology lecture course Biology elective CHEM 315 – Advanced Biochem CHEM 491 – Seminar II |
Option 2
Fall | Spring | |
Year 1 | CHEM 105 – General I MATH 108 – Pre-Calculus Quest I pairing |
CHEM 106 – General II BIO 105 Concepts – Unity Quest II pairing |
Year 2 | BIO 323 – Molec and Cell CHEM 234/235 – Organic I MATH 171 – Calculus I |
BIO 343 – Genetics CHEM 334/335 – Organic II Statistics course Quest III |
Year 3 | PHYS 171 – General I Biology lecture and lab Connect |
CHEM 303 – Biochem PHYS 172 – General II |
Year 4 | Biology elective CHEM 311 – Analytical I CHEM 304 – Biochem Lab CHEM 490 – Seminar I |
CHEM 315 – Advanced Biochem CHEM 365 – Biophysical Chem CHEM 491 – Seminar II |
Secondary Education
Required Courses
Chemistry courses (33 or 34 cr.) |
CHEM 105/106 – General Chemistry I & II (10 cr.) CHEM 234/235 – Organic Chemistry I (lab, lecture, 8 cr.) CHEM 334/335 – Organic Chemistry II (lab, lecture, 8 cr.) CHEM 311 – Analytical Chemistry I (4 cr.) CHEM 370/371 – Physical Chemistry I & II (8 cr.) CHEM 490/491 – Seminar I & II (2 cr.) |
Choice of chemistry electives (5 cr.) |
CHEM 303 – Biochemistry (3 cr.) CHEM 304 – Biochemistry Lab (1 cr.) CHEM 312 – Analytical Chemistry II (3 cr.) CHEM 315 – Advanced Biochemistry (3 cr.) CHEM 323 – Analytical Separations (3 cr.) CHEM 360 – Special Topics (3 cr.) CHEM 435 – Interpretive Spectroscopy (3 cr.) CHEM 446 – Independent Study (1-3 cr.) CHEM 470 – Inorganic Chemistry (4 cr.) CHEM 474 – Honors Thesis (1-3 cr.) CHEM 495 – Internship (1-3 cr.) |
Physics and Math (22 cr.) |
MATH 171, 172, 173 – Calculus I, II and III (12 cr.) PHYS 191/192 – General Physics (10 cr.) |
Education courses | Determined by the College of Education and Human Services to meet requirements for licensure by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction. |
Location and Hours
The Chemistry Department Office is
Halsey Science Center, Room 432.
The office is usually open
9:00 am - 3:30 pm.
Mailing Address
Department of Chemistry
UW Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901