College of Letters & Science
Chemistry
Requirements for the Chemistry Major
Chemistry Course Degree
Honors in the Major
Introductory Chemistry Courses
Sequences in Which Courses Are Taken
Courses
1121 Chemistry Building, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; 608-262-1483; www.chem.wisc.edu
Professors Brunold, Burke, Burstyn, Cavagnero, Crim, Cui, Ediger, Gellman, Hamers, Hsung, Kiessling, Landis, McMahon, Moore, Nathanson, Nelsen, Raines, Record, Reich, Schwartz, Shakhashiri, Sibert, Skinner, Smith, Stahl, Weisshaar, Woods, Wright, Yethiraj, Lian Yu, Zanni; Associate Professors Blackwell, Coon, Gopalan, Jin, Li, Lynn, Mecozzi; Assistant Professors Berry, Fredrickson, Keutsch, Mahanthappa, Schmidt, Schomaker, Strieter, Yoon
Students seeking faculty advisors in chemistry should contact the Undergraduate Chemistry Office, room 1328 Chemistry, 608-263-2424. Pre-medical students should see Pre-Medicine in the L&S General Academic Information section of this catalog.
Faculty diversity liaison: Judith Burstyn, burstyn@chem.wisc.edu
There are two routes to the study of chemistry, the chemistry course degree and the chemistry major. The chemistry major leads to a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree; the chemistry course leads to the special degree Bachelor of Science-Chemistry. The chemistry major curriculum is a major within the College of Letters and Science. The student is required to meet all the breadth requirements of the college, along with the major requirements listed below. This curriculum provides good preparation in chemistry, along with breadth in the liberal arts.
The chemistry course curriculum, set entirely by the Department of Chemistry, lacks the breadth of the chemistry major, but the requirements are more comprehensive in chemistry. Currently, the chemistry course degree is undergoing development. Please consult the Department of Chemistry for current information.
Both curricula qualify the student for a wide variety of opportunities in the chemical industry and related industries, such as petroleum, metals, fibers, plastics, paper, and food, as well as environmental and health-related sciences. Combined with the courses required for teacher certification, either route will qualify the student to teach chemistry in secondary schools.
Please consult the School of Education section in this catalog for teacher certification requirements. Both the chemistry course and the chemistry major give the basic preparation for graduate work in chemistry or in several related fields, such as chemical physics, biochemistry, and biophysics. Students who do well in their undergraduate work are encouraged to undertake graduate studies so that they may qualify for more responsible positions in research and teaching. Qualified students with good scholastic records can usually obtain financial support for graduate study through teaching or research assistantships and fellowships. The chemistry department's placement office may be consulted for specific career information in room 2108 Chemistry or at 262-0363.
Requirements for the Chemistry Major
Any student who is interested in majoring in chemistry should consult with the Undergraduate Chemistry Office in room 1328 Chemistry as soon as possible to obtain assistance in choosing an advisor.
Required Chemistry Courses for the Chemistry Major
A. General Chemistry
Chem 109 (5 cr), Chem 109H (5 cr), or Chem 115 (5 cr)
B. Analytical Chemistry
Chem 329 (4 cr) or 116 (5 cr)
C. Inorganic Chemistry
Chem 311 (4 cr)
D. Organic Chemistry
Chem 343 (3 cr)
Chem 344 (2 cr)
Chem 345 (3 cr)
E. Physical Chemistry
Chem 561 (3 cr) or 565 (4 cr)
Chem 562 (3 cr)
Chem 567 (2 cr)
Notes:
Chem 104 may be taken in lieu of Chem 109.
Students who declare the chemistry major after taking Chem 327 may count Chem 327 toward the major instead of Chem 329.
Chemical Engineering 310 may be taken in place of Chem 561.
Chem 567 is a Physical Chemistry Laboratory that combines Chem 563 and 564 to form a 2-credit, one-semester course. This course may be taken concurrently with Chem 562. Chem 563 (1 cr) and 564 (1 cr) may be taken in lieu of Chem 567 (2 cr).
F. Additional course work (5 cr)
Chosen from any 500-600 level course in chemistry, biochemistry, and/or environmental chemistry and technology. Some 500- to 600-level courses in chemical engineering count for this requirement. The extra credits associated with 116 and 565 count toward the 5 credits.
G. Additional laboratory work (3 cr)
Chosen from the following Chemistry labs:
346, any 500 level laboratory, 691-692, and/or 699.
Note: 2 cr of Chem 524 count for requirement F and 1 credit for requirement G. Physical Chemistry Laboratory 563, 564, and 567 do not count for requirement G.
All students are required to fulfill the L&S requirement of at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major completed in residence. Chem 346, all courses with numbers greater than 500 in chemistry, as well as Biochemistry 501, 507 and 508, count toward this requirement. Other advanced level courses in departments outside of chemistry may also count in this area.
Note: Completion of all courses in the major automatically satisfies this requirement.
Chemistry Major Requirements Outside the Chemistry Department
Math 222 is required; Math 234 and Math 320 are highly recommended.
A year of calculus-based physics is required. Physics 207-208 is recommended. Physics 201-202 also fulfills this requirement.
Chemistry Course Degree
Any student who is interested in majoring in chemistry course should consult with the Undergraduate Chemistry Office in room 1328 Chemistry as early as possible.
Honors in the Major
To be admitted to the honors program in chemistry, students must have declared a major in chemistry; a GPA of 3.3 or higher for all chemistry courses taken; and fill out an honors registration form (available in room 1328 Chemistry).
Once admitted, honors majors should select a faculty research mentor by the fall semester of their junior year. Mentors may come either from chemistry or from a related department such as chemical engineering, pharmacology or biochemistry. Students who choose a mentor from outside the chemistry department are responsible for providing the mentor with the requirements for the honors major in chemistry.
Candidates for honors in the major take at least 3 credits of advanced work; complete at least two consecutive semesters of research on a single topic; submit an honors thesis in their senior year; present their work to their peers in a symposium; and are expected to maintain a 3.3 overall GPA in all their courses; and have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all courses taken at UW-Madison at the time of graduation. The requirement for advanced work may be met in one of three ways: (1) with additional 500-level or higher courses in chemistry or biochemistry, (2) with additional breadth courses in other related disciplines, or (3) with additional research credits beyond what is normally required for honors in the major. Examples of breadth courses include engineering, physics, molecular biology, computer science, water chemistry, and business. Advanced-level courses should be chosen in consultation with the student's research mentor.
Courses counted for the basic major in chemistry cannot be used to simultaneously satisfy the advanced course requirement for honors in the major. Chemistry 681-682 (Senior Honors Thesis, minimum of 4 credits) guides honors candidates through the process of writing the required honors thesis. Honors theses must conform to the guidelines published by the department, available either from the honors advisor or at www.chem.wisc.edu. At the end of their senior year, honors candidates have the opportunity to present their work either at UW-Madison or at the annual statewide Undergraduate Chemistry Research Symposium.
Introductory Chemistry Courses
For most students needing two or more semesters of chemistry, Chem 103-104 is the sequence of choice. Chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, and other science majors with one or more years of high school chemistry, honors program students, students whose math placement is Math 221 or beyond, and other well-prepared students should consider Chem 109. The Undergraduate Chemistry Office, room 1328 Chemistry, may be consulted regarding selection.
Students who need only a single semester of chemistry and others using chemistry as a science elective may choose to take Chem 108, which is a one-semester survey of general, organic, and biochemistry. Chem 108, however, does not meet the prerequisite for subsequent chemistry courses, and the sequence Chem 108-104 is not recommended. Only 4-5 credits from among the courses Chem 103 and 108 will be accepted for degree credit.
Advanced Placement. A student may receive 3 credits for one semester of introductory chemistry (Chem 103) via the National Advanced Placement Examination or a similar exam offered through the Undergraduate Chemistry Office, room 1328 Chemistry. Consult this office for details.
Sequences in Which Courses Are Taken
The organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry course sequences are independent and the student may begin the second sequence before completing the first. Opportunities for taking advanced electives or for doing research in one area may be enhanced somewhat by an earlier start in that area. Students should consult their advisor prior to selecting an appropriate sequence of courses.
Note: Only 4-5 credits from among the courses Chem 103 and 108 will be accepted for degree credit. Only 4-5 credits from among courses 116, 327, and 329 will be accepted for degree credit. Enrollment in Chem 115 is by consent of instructor only. Entering freshmen are screened on the basis of high school record and placement scores, and additional information is sent to those who might beeligible.