Chemistry

Graduates with a degree in chemistry will be well prepared for employment, graduate study in a chemistry-related field, or professional school. Chemists are employed in research, quality control, design, sales and management. Many graduates pursue masters and doctoral degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, materials science, or environmental science, among others. A chemistry degree is excellent preparation for medical school and related fields, and also for careers in business, law or education.

The curriculum at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology provides a rigorous introduction to all subdisciplines of chemistry. Students have access to modern instrumentation, a new biochemistry lab, and a new environmental chemistry lab. Rose-Hulman students are introduced to modern computational methods beginning in the sophomore year. There are many opportunities for research or other individual projects, and students are encouraged to present their results at regional and national chemistry conferences. Close interaction with engineering departments provides students with a point of view not available at most other undergraduate institutions.

Students may broaden their education by choosing a minor or second major. Many students, including chemistry majors, may be interested in a second major or minor in biochemistry and molecular biology. Other common choices include applied biology, chemical engineering and mathematics.

CHEMISTRY PLAN OF STUDY

Freshman Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 111* General Chemistry 4
MA 111 Calculus I 5
AB 110** Cell Structure and
Function 		4
CLSK 100 College & Life Skills 1
RH 131

HSS 		Rhetoric and Composition
or
Elective 		4
Total 18
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 113* General Chemistry II 4
MA 112 Calculus II 5
PH 111 Physics I 4
RH 131

HSS 		Rhetoric and Composition
or
Elective 		4
Total 17
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 115 General Chemistry III 4
MA 113 Calculus III 5
HSS Elective 4
PH 112 Physics II 4
Total 17
Sophomore Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry I 4
PH 113 Physics III 4
MA 212 Matrix Algebra and Systems
of Differential Equations 		4
Free Elective 4
Total 16
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 200 Career Preparation
(take in winter or spring) 		1
CHEM 252 Organic Chemistry II 4
CHEM 291 Intro to Undergraduate
Research 		4
MA 381 Introduction to Probability
with Applications to Statistics 		4
Free Elective 4
Total 16 or 17
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 200 Career Preparation
(take in winter or spring) 		1
CHEM 253 Organic Chemistry III 4
CHEM 225 Analytical Chemistry I 4
HSS Elective 4
Free Elective 4
Total 16 or 17
Junior Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 326 Bioanalytical Chemistry 4
CHEM 361 ***Physical Chemistry I 4
CHEM 330 Biochemistry I 4
HSS Elective 4
Total 16
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 327 Advanced Analytical 4
CHEM 362 ***Physical Chemistry II 4
CHEM 400 Chemical Communications I 1
HSS Elective 4
Free Elective 4
Total 17
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 363 Quantum Chemistry &
Molecular Spectroscopy 		4
CHEM 451 Organic Structure
Determination 		4
HSS Elective 4
Free Elective 4
CHEM 490# Research 1
Total 17
Senior Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 441 Inorganic Chemistry I 4
CHEM 401 Chemical Communications II 1
CHEM 490 Research 1
Chemistry Elective 4
Free Elective 4
Total 14
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 442 Inorganic Chemistry II 4
CHEM 402 Chemical Communications III 1
CHEM 490 Research 1
HSS Elective 4
Chemistry Elective
(400-level)### 		4
Total 14
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 403 Chemical Communications IV 1
CHEM 490 Research 1
HSS Elective 4
Free Elective 4
Free Elective 4
Total 14
Total credits required: 193

Notes:
Two degree or double major programs in biochemistry and either chemistry or biochemistry and molecular biology is not allowed.
CHEM111 General Chemistry I is an automatic substitution for the former CHEM105 Engineering Chemistry I.
CHEM113 General Chemistry II is an automatic substitution for the former CHEM107 Engineering Chemistry II.
*Subject to approval, CHEM 112 may be substituted for CHEM 111 and CHEM 113.
**AB120 or AB130 may be substituted for AB110 ***CHE 303, CHE 304 and CHEM 360 may be substituted for CHEM 361 and CHEM 362.
#Students must complete at least 3 credits of CHEM 490 prior to the Spring quarter of their senior year.
Students may count up to 8 credits of research toward their electives, of which no more than 2 credits can come from CHEM 290.
##Research and independent study do not meet this requirement.

List of Required Chemistry Courses

Course Numbers Credits
General Chemistry 111, 113, 115 12
Organic Chemistry 251, 252, 253 12
Analytical Chemistry 225, 326, 327 12
Physical Chemistry 361, 362, 363 12
Inorganic Chemistry 441, 442 4
Biochemistry 330 4
Organic Structure Determination 451 4
Chemical Communication 400, 401, 402, 403 4
Research 291, 490 8
Career Preparation 200 1
Electives 8
Total 85

Summary of minimum graduation requirements:

Course or areas Required Elective Total
Chemistry 77 8 85
Physics 12 0 12
Mathematics 23 0 23
Biology 4 0 4
Humanities and Social Sciences 4 32 36
Electives 0 32 32
College and Life Skills 1 0 1
Total 121 76 193

Area Minor in Chemistry
Students not taking a first or second major in chemistry may earn an Area Minor in Chemistry by successfully completing the sequence of courses listed below. The student desiring this minor must request the approval of the Department Head and file the appropriate form with the registrar. This form is available on the Department of Chemistry webpage.

The requirements for an area minor in chemistry for students with a first or second major in applied biology or chemical engineering are different from those majoring in other disciplines.

Area Minor in Chemistry for Most Students

Course Number Course Title Credits
CHEM113 General Chemistry II 4
CHEM115 General Chemistry III 4
CHEM225 Analytical Chemistry 4
CHEM251 Organic Chemistry I 4
CHE252 Organic Chemistry II 4
*Approved List of Chemistry Electives 4
Total 24

*Approved list of chemistry electives includeCHEM253, CHEM290 (up to two credit hours), CHEM291, or any 300 or 400 level chemistry courses.

Area Minor in Chemistry for Chemical Engineering and Applied Biology Majors

Course Number Course Title Credits
CHEM225 Analytical Chemistry 4
CHEM253 Organic Chemistry III 4
Chemistry Electives* 12
Total 20

*The electives cannot count toward the student’s major. Students who have taken CHE 303, 304 and CHEM 360 cannot count CHEM 361 or CHEM 362 toward the minor. No more than 2 credits of CHEM 290 can count toward the minor.

Environmental Chemistry Minor for Most Students

Course Number Course Title Credits
CHEM111 General Chemistry I 4
CHEM113 General Chemistry II 4
CHEM115 General Chemistry III 4
CHEM225 Analytical Chemistry 4
CHEM251 Organic Chemistry I 4
CHE264 Introduction to Environmental Science 4
CHEM 371 Environmental Analytical Chemistry 4
CHEM 465 Energy and the Environment 4
Total 32

Environmental Chemistry Minor for Chemical Engineers and Applied Biology Majors Environmental Certificate for Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors

Course Number Course Title Credits
CHEM225 Analytical Chemistry
or CHEM253 Organic Chemistry III 4
CHEM330 Biochemistry
or CHEM361 Physical Chemistry I 4
CHEM303 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 4
CHE264 Introduction to Environmental Science 4
CHEM 371 Environmental Analytical Chemistry 4
CHEM 465 Energy and the Environment 4
Total 24
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
5500 Wabash Ave.
Terre Haute, IN 47803
812-877-1511
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