Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of the miniaturized world of atoms and molecules. Chemists analyze the structure of this world of chemicals, discover the forces that govern chemical changes, and invent chemical reactions which create new molecules and materials for the benefit of mankind. For example, most of the clothes we wear and the containers that hold our food are made of synthetic fibers and polymers that were conceived and developed by chemists. Life-saving pharmaceuticals are designed and synthesized by chemists. The development of insecticides, cosmetics, fragrances, fertilizers, and high-tech materials are other examples of the impact of chemistry on society. The objective of the Illinois Institute of Technology undergraduate program in chemistry is to provide rigorous education in the fundamental areas of chemical theory and chemical experimentation. Students become well-trained for industrial careers in research and development, chemical analysis, or chemical manufacturing and marketing. The opportunity for participation in an original research project also provides the necessary experiences for entrance into graduate school in one of the chemical sciences. In addition, the undergraduate program in chemistry provides excellent pre-professional training for careers in medicine (see Preparatory Program for Medical Studies and iit.edu/~premed ), law, business, and other areas of science and healthcare. The university has developed a very flexible curriculum which, in addition to our standard Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree, gives students the option of selecting an area of chemical emphasis such as biological, pharmaceutical, polymer, materials, chemical physics, or chemical education. Students learn not only the basic science of chemistry but also the practical aspects of the discipline and its numerous applications. The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree is approved by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training.
Coursework
The first stage of undergraduate training provides a solid foundation in all of the five basic areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, and biochemistry). Most of these courses include required laboratory work. These laboratories provide extensive practical exposure to each of these areas and experience with modern chemical instrumentation such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and gas and high-pressure liquid chromatography. Concurrently, students take courses to strengthen their understanding of mathematics and physics. Students are invited and encouraged to attend weekly chemistry colloquia where lectures are given by prominent chemists from industrial, governmental, and academic laboratories. In the second stage, students take advanced and specialized courses which focus on career interests. Students are encouraged to participate in a research project under the supervision of a member of the chemistry faculty. This research may lead to a senior thesis. Students may receive certification of their Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree through the American Chemical Society (acs.org ) by selection of appropriate chemistry electives.
Optional Degree Programs in Chemistry
Because of the diversity of interests of students in chemistry and the increasing interdisciplinary impact of chemistry in other areas, the university offers optional degree programs in chemistry. Each degree program maintains the five basic core areas of chemistry while at the same time providing options to prepare students to enter an operationally well-recognized career path. Students can elect the traditional Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree where they choose their own technical electives or focus on one of the following six options:
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with emphasis in Biological Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with emphasis in Chemical Education
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with emphasis in Chemical Physics
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with emphasis in Materials Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with emphasis in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with emphasis in Polymer Chemistry
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry Requirements | (54) | |
| CHEM 100 | Introduction to the Profession | 2 |
| CHEM 124 | Principles of Chemistry I with Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 125 | Principles of Chemistry II with Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 237 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 239 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 240 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 247 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 321 | Instrumental Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 343 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Physical Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 415 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 416 | Advanced Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 434 | Spectroscopic Methods in Identification and Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 451 | Undergraduate Seminar | 3 |
| CHEM 485 | Chemistry Colloquium 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 485 | Chemistry Colloquium 1 | 1 |
| Select two CHEM electives 2 | 6 | |
| Biology Requirements | (6-7) | |
| BIOL 107 | General Biology Lectures | 3 |
| or BIOL 115 | Human Biology | |
| BIOL 401 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3-4 |
| or BIOL 403 | Biochemistry | |
| Mathematics Requirements | (18) | |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 152 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariate and Vector Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 252 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| Physics Requirements | (8) | |
| PHYS 123 | General Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 221 | General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
| Computer Science Requirement | (2) | |
| CS 105 | Introduction to Computer Programming | 2 |
| or CS 110 | Computing Principles | |
| Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements | (21) | |
| See IIT Core Curriculum, sections B and C | 21 | |
| Interprofessional Projects (IPRO) | (6) | |
| See IIT Core Curriculum, section E | 6 | |
| Free Electives | (12) | |
| Select 12 credit hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 127-128 | |
| 1 | CHEM 416 and CHEM 485 are not required for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree with emphasis in Chemical Education. |
| 2 | Students may choose from CHEM 410, CHEM 450, CHEM 454, CHEM 455, CHEM 470, CHEM 487, and CHEM 500+ level courses. Students planning on taking CHEM 487 must complete CHEM 450 in a previous semester and are only required to take one semester of CHEM 485. |
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Curriculum
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 124 | 4 | CHEM 100 | 2 |
| CS 105 or 110 | 2 | CHEM 125 | 4 |
| MATH 151 | 5 | MATH 152 | 5 |
| Humanities 200-level Course | 3 | PHYS 123 | 4 |
| Social Sciences Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 18 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 237 | 4 | CHEM 239 | 3 |
| BIOL 107 or 115 | 3 | CHEM 240 | 2 |
| MATH 251 | 4 | CHEM 247 | 3 |
| PHYS 221 | 4 | MATH 252 | 4 |
| Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 | Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 |
| 18 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 321 | 4 | CHEM 344 | 4 |
| CHEM 343 | 3 | CHEM 434 | 4 |
| Chemistry Elective1 | 3 | CHEM 485 | 1 |
| IPRO Elective I | 3 | Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 |
| Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 415 | 3 | CHEM 4162 | 3 |
| CHEM 451 | 3 | CHEM 4852 | 1 |
| BIOL 401 or 403 | 3-4 | Chemistry Elective1 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | IPRO Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 16 | ||
| Total Credit Hours: 127-128 | |||
| 1 | Students may choose from CHEM 410, CHEM 450, CHEM 454, CHEM 455, CHEM 470, CHEM 487, and CHEM 500+ courses. Students planning on taking CHEM 487 must take CHEM 450 in a previous semester and are only required to take one semester of CHEM 485. |
| 2 | CHEM 416 and CHEM 485 are not required for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an emphasis in Chemical Education. |
Note: CHEM 321, CHEM 434, CHEM 415 and CHEM 451 are not offered every semester. The curriculum may differ in semesters 5 through 8 depending on course offerings.
BS in Chemistry with Secondary Science Teaching Certification Curriculum
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours | ||
| CHEM 124 | 4 | CHEM 100 | 2 | ||
| CS 105 or 110 | 2 | CHEM 125 | 4 | ||
| MATH 151 | 5 | MATH 152 | 5 | ||
| Humanities 200-level Course | 3 | PHYS 123 | 4 | ||
| Social Sciences Elective | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 18 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours | Semester 3 | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 237 | 4 | CHEM 239 | 3 | Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 |
| BIOL 107 or 115 | 3 | CHEM 240 | 2 | ||
| MSED 200 | 3 | CHEM 247 | 3 | ||
| PHYS 221 | 4 | MATH 252 | 4 | ||
| Humanities or Social Sciences Elective | 3 | MSED 250 | 3 | ||
| Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 18 | 3 | |||
| Year 3 | |||||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours | ||
| CHEM 343 | 3 | CHEM 344 | 4 | ||
| CHEM 321 | 4 | CHEM 434 | 4 | ||
| MSED 300 | 3 | MSED 400 | 3 | ||
| MSED 320 | 3 | Humanities Elective (300+) | 3 | ||
| IPRO Elective | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 14 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours | ||
| CHEM 415 | 3 | MSED 450 | 6 | ||
| BIOL 401 | 3 | MSED 497 | 6 | ||
| CHEM 451 | 3 | ||||
| MSED 350 | 3 | ||||
| IPRO Elective | 3 | ||||
| Social Sciences Elective (300+) | 3 | ||||
| 18 | 12 | ||||
| Total Credit Hours: 130 | |||||
Note: CHEM 321, CHEM 434, CHEM 415 and CHEM 451 are not offered every semester. The curriculum may differ in semesters 5 through 7 depending on course offerings. All four courses will be offered, and must be taken, during the three semesters preceding student teaching (MSED 450).
Optional Chemistry Degree Program Course Requirements
Students choosing to pursue one of the optional degree programs below must take the following prescribed courses as chemistry and free electives. Detailed sample curricula are available for each of the degree programs here .
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Emphasis in Biological Chemistry
Program Adviser: R. Wang
Biological chemistry is the study of the structure, composition, and chemical reactions of substances found in living systems. This option provides the necessary link between chemistry and biology which allows students to learn both the theory and technical skills required to initiate and successfully complete scientific problems at the interface of these two disciplines. The biological chemistry option is particularly well suited for students interested in the molecular basis of medicine. The option provides all the necessary background material required for admission to any medical, osteopathic, or veterinary school in the country.
Students must take:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 210 | Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 214 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 402 | Metabolic Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 404 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| CHEM 538 | Physical Biochemistry | 3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Emphasis in Chemical Physics
Program Adviser: D. Minh
Chemical physics is focused on the development of theoretical constructs and experimental methodologies to infer the properties of bulk matter from a molecular prospective. Chemical physicists seek to unravel varied mysteries such as how proteins fold, how nanostructures form and behave, and how small molecules interact with cell membranes. The chemical physics option provides a solid foundation in chemistry with extensive coursework in physics and mathematics allowing students to make connections using the language of mathematics and the laws of physics to solve chemical problems.
Students must take:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 308 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 405 | Fundamentals of Quantum Theory I | 3 |
| PHYS 410 | Molecular Biophysics | 3 |
| PHYS 440 | Computational Physics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Modern Optics and Lasers | 3 | |
| Electromagnetism I | 3 | |
| Solid State Physics | 3 | |
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Emphasis in Materials Chemistry
Program Adviser: M.I. Khan
Materials chemistry is focused on the preparation and characterization of pure chemicals or chemical systems that have some unique function. This function can be dependent on the material’s optical, electronic, magnetic, or catalytic properties. The materials chemistry option draws from all five of the basic areas of chemistry to lay the foundation for understanding the synthesis, structure, characterization, and applications of materials. A particularly strong emphasis of the program is programmatic access to advanced X-crystallographic instrumentation to study the structure of inorganic-based materials in the solid state.
Students must take:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 470 | Introduction to Polymers | 3 |
| MS 201 | Materials Science | 3 |
| PHYS 437 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Structural Inorganic and Materials Chemistry | 3 | |
or CHEM 522 | Efficient Chemical and Materials Synthesis | |
| Electrical, Magnetic, and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 | |
or PHYS 415 | Solid State Electronics | |
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Emphasis in Pharmaceutical Chemistry1
Program Adviser: H. S. Chong
Pharmaceutical chemistry is an area of chemistry focused on the development of new drugs used to prevent, cure, or relieve symptoms of disease. Modern medical practice relies on an enormous armamentarium of drugs that block, counteract, or lessen the debilitating effects of disease. The pharmaceutical chemistry option emphasizes the synthesis and characterization of pharmaceuticals as well as the relationship between the structure of the drug to its biological activity.
Students must take:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 402 | Metabolic Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 455 | Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 497 | Special Projects | 1-6 |
| CHEM 531 | Tactics in Organic Synthesis | 3 |
| CHEM 539 | Introduction to Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 3 |
| 1 | Students interested in pursuing the pharmaceutical chemistry or polymer chemistry degree option must submit a formal letter of intent to a program adviser by the end of their second year. To insure adequate performance in CHEM 455 and graduate-level organic chemistry courses, students should have completed CHEM 237 and CHEM 239 with grades of "B" or better. Students must also take the American Chemical Society placement examination in organic chemistry after they complete CHEM 239. The results will be used for advising and tracking purposes. |
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Emphasis in Polymer Chemistry1
Program Adviser: B. Mandal
A polymer is a chain of small molecules linked together to form a larger single molecule. Chemists make polymers because of their unique properties which they impart to products such as paints and adhesives, drug delivery systems, and artificial skin. The polymer chemistry option emphasizes the techniques involved in the synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials.
Students must take:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 455 | Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 470 | Introduction to Polymers | 3 |
| CHEM 535 | Polymer Synthesis | 3 |
| CHEM 537 | Polymer Chemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| CHEM 542 | Polymer Characterization and Analysis | 3 |
| 1 | Students interested in pursuing the pharmaceutical chemistry or polymer chemistry degree option must submit a formal letter of intent to a program adviser by the end of their second year. To insure adequate performance in CHEM 455 and graduate-level organic chemistry courses, students should have completed CHEM 237 and CHEM 239 with grades of "B" or better. Students must also take the American Chemical Society placement examination in organic chemistry after they complete CHEM 239. The results will be used for advising and tracking purposes. |
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Secondary Science Teaching Certification
Program Adviser: C. Sobers
There is a national need for teachers with a rigorous training in chemistry. The chemical education option not only leads to the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree but also enables a student to obtain a science teaching certificate through the Department of Mathematics and Science Education (see Mathematics and Science Education and iit.edu/csl/msed ).
Students must take:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSED 200 | Analysis of Classrooms | 3 |
| MSED 250 | Middle and Secondary Curriculum/Foundations | 3 |
| MSED 300 | Instructional Methods/Strategies I | 3 |
| MSED 320 | Inquiry and Problem Solving in Mathematics and Science | 3 |
| MSED 350 | Advanced Methods for Inclusive Instruction and Practicum | 3 |
| MSED 400 | Instructional Methods/Strategies II | 3 |
| MSED 450 | Professional Internship | 6 |
| MSED 497 | Special Projects | 1-6 |
Premedical Program for Chemistry Majors
Program Adviser: C. Sobers
Students majoring in chemistry can earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree and, at the same time, fulfill the prerequisites for medical school. For detailed information, visit the Premedical Program website (science.iit.edu/pre-medicine ). The following is a list of university science courses that fulfill the premedical requirements of most medical schools:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 107 | General Biology Lectures | 3 |
| BIOL 109 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 115 | Human Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 117 | Human Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 124 | Principles of Chemistry I with Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 125 | Principles of Chemistry II with Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 237 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 239 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 240 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| PHYS 123 | General Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 221 | General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
