Undergraduate Chemistry Minor
The Chemical Sciences occupy a central position in today's rapidly developing world of science and technology. The fundamentals of Chemistry are based on an understanding of the composition and properties of matter, of the interconversions of one form of matter to another form. An understanding of these fundamentals leads one to the greater realm of the Sciences, where one attempts to understand such diverse topics as chemical biology, the synthesis of new forms of matter from pharmaceuticals to new materials, the chemical phenomena of the human environment, and an in depth comprehension of the chemical physics of matter. A student who completes the Chemistry Minor will have acquired a valuable introduction to this most central of the sciences.
Requirements for the Minor
See the Undergraduate Bulletin for degree requirements for the minor in Chemistry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do to sign up?
Just stop by the Chemistry main office on the first floor of the chemistry building
and speak to an advisor. There is one simple form to sign. The only requirement is
that you must declare your actual major first.
When should I sign up?
As early in your career as possible is best, because that way you will have plenty
of time to meet the requirements. However, you can still sign up in you senior year
if you have taken the required courses.
Does research count toward the Minor?
Research in the Chemistry Department, , , or counts.
Does the undergraduate teaching practicum count?
The undergraduate teaching practicum courses, and , will not count toward the 22 credit requirement, but they will count toward the
9 credit special restriction rule. Many of our undergraduate TAs in the general chemistry
and organic courses do become Chemistry Minors.
What courses should I take?
Most minors take the organic chemistry and lecture courses plus the laboratory. Combined with general chemistry this gives a student 20 credits. These
courses also correspond to the normal pre-med chemistry requirements. For the additional
required credits you have lots of choices.
Many students elect to take additional organic chemistry. : Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry or : Reaction Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry are good choices.
Students interested in biochemistry may wish to take : Biomolecular Structure and Reactivity.
Biology or Pharmacology majors may wish to take : Physical Chemistry (Short Course). That is the physical chemistry course designed for Biochemistry majors. If you are a Biochemistry major you might wish to take - : Physical Chemistry I and II instead of taking .
Another good course for anyone is : Chemistry in Technology and the Environment.