UNDERGRADUATE BULLETIN 1999 - 2002	[ Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page ]

Chemistry, as a central science, is involved in natural processes occurring in living things, the earth, the oceans, and the atmosphere. The chemical industry provides materials to feed, clothe, and house mankind, drugs to combat disease, and processes to provide energy. Chemistry plays a role in high technology fields such as molecular biology, microelectronics, drug design, and ceramics.

The basic chemistry degree includes core chemistry courses and electives. Special options are available for students with specific interests in combining chemistry with other subjects, such as bioscience, business, communication, computer science, education, and polymer science. These options allow students to take additional courses that provide an in-depth introduction to the subject of choice and are directly relevant to individual career goals.

The basic BS degree in chemistry prepares students for a career in business or industry, or for advanced study in chemistry. Combined with core biology courses, the chemistry major is frequently selected as the preferred major for admission to the graduate health professions, including medical and dental school. In combination with an education option, the chemistry major prepares students for a certification program leading to a career in secondary science teaching. Chemists at all levels of training have a wide variety of industrial and corporate career opportunities in agricultural chemistry, food chemistry, environmental science, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and electronics, fine chemicals, as well as in basic research. Many opportunities are available for chemistry majors with skills in business (sales, technical marketing, management), communications (technical writing, journalism), and computer science (programming, database management, information science). For more information on the major and the Department of Chemistry, see http://www.chem.pitt.edu/.

• Major Requirements

  The requirements for the regular track major in chemistry are as follows:

  • These chemistry courses must be taken:
    • CHEM 0110, 0120 (General Chemistry 1 and 2 ) or 0710 and 0720 (Honors General Chemistry 1 and 2)
    • CHEM 0250, 0260 (Introduction to Analytical Chemistry and Lab)
    • CHEM 0310 and 0320 (Organic Chemistry 1 and 2) or 0730 or 0740 (Honors Organic Chemistry 1 and 2)
    • CHEM 0330 and 0340 (Organic Chemistry Lab 1 and 2) or CHEM 0330 and 0750 (Honors Organic Chemistry Lab 2)
    • CHEM 1410 and 1420 (Physical Chemistry 1 and 2)
    • CHEM 1430 and 1440 (Physical Chemistry Lab 1 and 2)
    • CHEM 1250 and 1255 (Instrumental Analysis and Lab)
    • CHEM 1130 (Inorganic Chemistry)

  • Corequisite courses must be taken in math and physics:
    • MATH 0220, 0230, and 0240 (Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, 2, and 3)
    • PHYS 0104, 0105, and 0106 (Physics for Science & Engineering 1,2, and 3)
    • PHYS 0219 (Introduction to Experimental Physics)

  • At least four credits must be selected from an approved list of chemistry or science electives, two of which must be in a lab course. Each chemistry option allows for waiver of CHEM 1440 (Physical Chemistry Lab 2) and the four-credit science elective required in the regular track.

  • The chemistry major must earn a 2.00 QPA in all departmental courses. Chemistry majors may use the S/N option in all required physics and mathematics courses and in CHEM 0110 and 0120 (General Chemistry I and II).

Students who complete the requirements of the chemistry major automatically complete the requirements for a related area in mathematics. To graduate with departmental honors the student must have an overall QPA of at least 3.00; have a QPA of at least 3.25 in required chemistry courses; earn two credits in CHEM 1710 (Undergraduate Research), and one credit in CHEM 1711 (Undergraduate Research Report Writing).

The chemistry department offers options in bioscience, business, communications, computer science, education, and polymer science. Each chemistry option allows for a waiver of CHEM 1440 (Physical Chemistry Lab) and the four-credit science elective required in the regular track. Specific information on the options program is available from the department.

UNDERGRADUATE BULLETIN 1999 - 2002	[ Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page ]