Chemistry, B.S.

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STEM Designation: This program is STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)-designated by the Department of Homeland Security. For more information, please see https://www.newhaven.edu/admissions/stem-designated-programs.php

The B.S. in Chemistry program includes most of the courses recommended by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and provides a rigorous background well-suited to those students who will enter the workforce upon graduation or pursue graduate studies in chemistry. The program contains four free electives and three technical electives. By careful selection of courses, these electives allow the student to develop a cluster in a related field such as biotechnology, biochemistry, computer science, environmental studies, or an engineering field. The chemistry program also offers three concentrations: Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Environmental and Sustainability Chemistry, and Computational and AI Chemistry. The concentration in Pharmaceutical Chemistry is highly recommended for premedical students.

Chemistry is described as the "central science" and a degree in chemistry can prepare one for many possible careers in industry, government, and academia. A chemist possesses strong critical thinking and communication skills, and has developed a deep understanding of matter and energy, their interrelatedness, their transformations, and their impact on technologies, societies, and the environment. Many advances in basic chemistry, coupled with the ability to work with scientists in other disciplines, have often led to the creation of new areas in science that eventually become or get appropriated by other fields, such as biochemistry and molecular biology. A general chemistry degree will involve courses in the four fundamental areas of analytical, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. On top of these fundamental areas, students can choose technical electives depending on their interests. Depending on their choices of electives, we offer the opportunity for students to declare certain concentrations, as described below.

B.S. Chemistry- Pharmaceutical Concentration

This chemistry concentration is geared for students who after graduation wish to pursue a career in the medical, health, and biotechnology fields. Some of the advanced technical electives recommended in this concentration are Pharmacology (CHEM 4555), Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology (BIOL 4501), and Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM 4550). These provide a sound introduction to courses needed in medical school, or to the high-risk-big-reward work of drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry.

B.S. Chemistry- Environmental Chemistry and Sustainability Concentration

This chemistry concentration is geared for students who after graduation wish to pursue a career as an environmental scientist, consultant, or auditor, health and safety coordinator, analytical chemist, water treatment specialist, or government scientist. Some of the technical electives recommended in this concentration are Intro to Environmental Science (ENVS 1101), Environmental Chemistry (CHEM 2215), and Environmental Geoscience with Laboratory (ENVS 4500).

B.S. Chemistry- Computational Chemistry and Artificial Intelligence Concentration

This chemistry concentration is geared for students with a strong interest in applications of computer science and in silico modeling of chemical systems. A computational chemistry degree opens a very wide field of positions in, for example, pharmaceutical drug discovery, polymer and material science, catalysis, process development, geological and environmental science. Some of the technical electives recommended in this concentration are Introduction to C Programming (CSCI 1110), Introduction to Computational Chemistry (CHEM 4615), and Computational Chemistry (CHEM 4710).

Program Outcomes

Apply chemical theory and knowledge to the study of chemical systems.
Conduct experiments utilizing modern techniques and instrumentation.
Evaluate experimental results from chemical experiment.
Communicate chemical knowledge.
Communicate experimental results.
Utilize existing chemical literature for information retrieval.
Anticipate the hazards associated with chemical experimentation.
Analyze chemical systems using linear algebra and computational software (Computational and AI Chemistry concentration).
Assess the impact of existing chemical practices on the natural world and environment (Environmental and Sustainability Chemistry concentration).
Describe the action of a drug structure through a combination of cross-disciplinary knowledge in pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, structural biology, and organic chemistry (Pharmaceutical Chemistry concentration).

Required Courses

Students pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in computational and AI chemistry will take CHEM 4615 Introduction to Computational Chemistry and CHEM 4710 Computational Chemistry in place of two advanced chemistry electives.

Students pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in pharmaceutical chemistry will take BIOL 4501 Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology or BIOL 4503 Nucleic Acid Biochemistry, CHEM 4550 Medicinal Chemistry, and CHEM 4555 Pharmacology in place of one technical elective and two advanced chemistry electives.

Students pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in environmental and sustainability chemistry will take CHEM 2215 Environmental Chemistry, ENVS 1101 Introduction to Environmental Science, and ENVS 4500 Environmental Geoscience with Laboratory or CHME 4521 Fundamentals of Pollution in place of one technical elective and two electives.

Students majoring in chemistry must complete the following courses for a total of 121 or 122 (for ACS certified degree) credits:

Freshman Year

CHEM 1115 - General Chemistry I
CHEM 1116 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 1117 - Lab CHEM 1115
CHEM 1118 - Lab CHEM 1116
MATH 1117 - Calculus I
MATH 1118 - Calculus II
ENGL 1112 - Seminar in Academic Inquiry and Writing
EASC 1126 - Entrepreneurial Concepts for Engineers and Scientists
COMM 1130 - Principles of Communication
One C7T1 elective (The Individual and Society)
one free elective

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

CHEM 3331 - Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 3332 - Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 3333 - Lab CHEM 3331
CHEM 3334 - Lab CHEM 3332
CHEM 3341 - Synthetic Methods in Chemistry
BIOL 4461 - Biochemistry
BIOL 4462 - Lab BIOL 4461 (students who want ACS certified degree must take Biochemistry lab)
Plus one technical elective chosen with the adviser,
one advanced chemistry elective
one free elective,
one C6T1 elective (Historical Perspectives),
and one C8T1 elective (Global and Intercultural Awareness)

Senior Year

EASC 4400 - Professional Enrichment Program for Engineering and Applied Science
CHEM 4411 - Chemical Literature
CHEM 4412 - Seminar
CHEM 4501 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
CHEM 4521 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 4592 - Thesis with Laboratory
or
CHEM 4593 - Honors Thesis: Chemistry
or
advanced chemistry
or
chemical engineering course
Plus two technical electives chosen with the advisor, and
one C9T1 elective (Perspective on the Arts)
one advanced chemistry elective
two free electives

Dual Degree Graduate Programs for B.S. Chemistry

The Master of Science in chemistry prepares students for industry job positions and for continuing education in chemistry. This program will equip students with a unique integrative approach in advanced chemistry study, i.e., combining theoretical, computational, and experimental chemistry methods, for the purpose of attacking important chemistry challenges such as molecular drug discovery, polymer materials design, catalyst design, and chemical analysis for sustainable environment. Students will apply their chemistry knowledge and skills through engaging in research projects, graduate thesis, or research-based internships, under the guidance of research mentors. Graduates of the program may pursue career paths as scientists in the chemical, energy, pharmaceutical, materials, biomedical, environmental, computational analysis, and data science industries, and as researchers in academic institutions and government laboratories.

Pathway Program for B.S. Chemistry/M.S. Chemistry

Qualified students in the B.S. Chemistry program have the opportunity to gain early acceptance into the M.S. programs at the University of New Haven. The Dual Degree: Pathway program allows students to take several graduate courses during their senior year and thus complete the M.S. program with one additional year of full-time study. Already matriculated students with a cumulative major GPA of 3.0 or higher would apply for the Pathway program in their junior year. To remain in the program, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0.

Direct Entry B.S. Chemistry/M.S. Chemistry

The Dual Degree: Direct Entry combines the B.S. Chemistry/M.S. Chemistry degree program allowing incoming students direct entry into the graduate program upon completion of the undergraduate degree. The program is available to qualified students with a minimum 3.5 high school GPA, 1100 or higher on the SAT. Students work with their advisor to choose appropriate chemistry courses for undergraduate requirements and, in their senior year, begin working with a graduate advisor on the master's degree requirements. Direct entry students do not have to apply for admission to the graduate program as long as they maintain the cumulative 3.0 GPA requirement throughout their undergraduate coursework. Students graduate with a B.S. in Chemistry at the end of the fourth year and take the remaining graduate-level courses in the fifth year to complete the M.S. in Chemistry.