College of Science and Technology

Department of Biology

Department of Chemistry

Department of Computer Science

Department of Geography

Department of Geology

Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology

Department of Mathematics

Department 
of Physics

Undergraduate Programs of Study

Chemistry (CHM)

For information, please contact 
Karl R. Lindfors, Chairperson, 774-3981, 268 Dow Science Complex

College of Science and Technology Website
Department Website

Why Study Chemistry?
Chemistry at CMU
Admission, Retention, and Termination Standards
Chemistry Major
Chemistry-Physics Major
Chemistry Minor - B.A., B.A.A., B.S.
Chemistry Minor - B.S. in Ed., Secondary
Chemistry Minor for the Biology/Medical Technology Major
The Faculty
CHM Course Descriptions

Why Study Chemistry?
The study of chemistry provides a wide variety of opportunities for students with career interests in the sciences or related professional areas and for students in nonscience areas who wish to obtain some understanding of the impact of the chemical sciences on modern society. As appropriate, a student may prepare for graduate work in chemistry; prepare for graduate work in a related area such as pharmacology, polymer science, chemical engineering, molecular biology, business or computer science; prepare for entry into an industrial chemistry position in research and development, technical service chemical marketing, technical writing, patent preparation, product formulation, quality assurance, analysis, or other areas; prepare for entry into a professional program in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry, medical technology or the law; prepare to become a teacher of chemistry or the sciences; or earn a general liberal arts undergraduate degree with a major in chemistry. Many minor programs in chemistry also are available for students needing a concentration in chemistry to support a particular major or degree. In addition, a variety of service courses are provided for other degree programs within the university.
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Chemistry at CMU
The Department of Chemistry offers a variety of courses at the freshman level to permit the selection of a beginning course that is most appropriate for each student. Although the principal guide in the selection of a beginning chemistry course is the student’s curriculum and interest in chemistry, other considerations include previous chemistry and mathematics experience.

Students for whom chemistry is a major, minor or degree requirement and/or demonstrate an aptitude for chemistry are encouraged to enroll in CHM 161 (5), Principles of Chemistry, an Honors offering. Other students for whom chemistry is a major, minor, or degree requirement are encouraged to enroll in CHM 131 (4), Introduction to Chemistry.

Students with minimal chemistry background may wish to enroll in CHM 120 (4) Survey of Chemistry. This course may satisfy some degree requirements or may also serve as preparation for CHM 131.

Students who have had no previous chemistry background and who desire some experience in chemistry as part of a liberal arts education may wish to enroll in CHM 111 (3) Interaction of Chemistry and Society, which satisfies Group IIA of University Program requirements, or CHM 101 (3) Armchair Chemistry which satisfies the Group IIB requirement including laboratory, as do CHM 161 and CHM 131. CHM 120 meets the Group IIB requirement but does not include a laboratory. Students taking CHM 111 or 120 desiring to satisfy the Group II laboratory requirement may concurrently enroll in CHM 127 (1) Introductory Chemistry Laboratory.

To properly acquaint the upper-level undergraduate student with the broader world of chemistry, the Department of Chemistry maintains an excellent departmental seminar program. All majors are encouraged to participate in this program and, in addition, to earn at least one credit in CHM 583 (1-4) Seminar in Chemistry.

Students planning a major or minor program in chemistry should contact the appropriate departmental advisor by the end of the freshman year. Chemistry courses and their mathematics and physics prerequisites should be scheduled in the proper sequence to avoid later conflict. Students planning to enter graduate school or the chemical industry are strongly encouraged to complete the requirements for the American Chemical Society (ACS) certified major in chemistry.

CMU is accredited by the ACS to award degrees certified by the society. This accreditation is a result of rigorous examination by the society of our faculty, programs, library, and laboratory facilities.

All transfer students who wish to complete major or minor programs in chemistry must demonstrate proficiency by completing appropriate course work at Central Michigan University as determined by the departmental major or minor advisor.

A variety of scholarships are available in chemistry including a merit-based Dow Chemical Company Foundation Scholarship of approximately $4000 per year, available for outstanding high school students who plan to complete the American Chemical Society certified major in chemistry.
Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis are not allowed on the major or minor.
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Admission, Retention, and Termination Standards

Standards for Chemistry major, B.S. in Ed. degree, Secondary Provisional Certification

1. The student must have completed at least 30 hours of his or her chemistry major, in addition to CHM 505 (3) and CHM 507 (1), before approval for student teaching can be given. The student must have a minimum grade point average of 2.7 in those 33 hours of chemistry courses. Transfer chemistry credit will be accepted from regionally accredited institutions, but at least six of the hours must be CMU classes with a minimum grade point average of 2.7. At least 12 of the required chemistry credit hours must have been received within 10 years of application for student teaching.

2. In order for a student to be approved for student teaching in chemistry, two CMU chemistry faculty must, at the student’s request, provide completed department student evaluation forms.

3. Each student must demonstrate competence in chemistry by passing an American Chemical Society standardized chemistry examination at a specific level in order to be approved for student teaching.

Standards for Chemistry minor, B.S. in Ed. degree, Secondary Provisional Certification

1. The student must have completed at least 20 hours of his or her chemistry minor, in addition to CHM 505 (3), before approval for student teaching can be given. The student must have a minimum grade point average of 2.7 in those 23 hours of chemistry courses. Transfer chemistry credit will be accepted from regionally accredited institutions, but at least six hours must be CMU classes with a minimum grade point average of 2.7. At least 12 of the required chemistry credit hours must have been received within 10 years of application for student teaching. 

2. In order for a student to be approved for student teaching in chemistry, two CMU chemistry faculty must, at the student’s request, provide completed department student evaluation forms.

3. Each student must demonstrate competency in chemistry by passing an American Chemical Society standardized chemistry examination at a specific level in order to be approved for student teaching.
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Chemistry Major
B.A., B.S., B.S. in Ed. degrees, Secondary Provisional Certification or Secondary Provisional Certification with Emotional or Cognitive Impairment Endorsement

Required Courses (32-37 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I
AND CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II
OR CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 331 (3) Inorganic Chemistry
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 351 (3) Physical Chemistry I
CHM 352 (3) Physical Chemistry II
CHM 357 (2) Physical Chemistry Laboratory I
CHM 425 (3) Introductory Biochemistry*
CHM 491 (1-3) Independent Study

Electives (3-8 hours): sufficient 500-level advanced courses to meet the minimum credit hour requirement. Certain electives are required for American Chemical Society certification. Electives are to be selected in consultation with and approved by a chemistry major advisor.

Notes: 11 credit hours must be in laboratory courses. (One credit hour each of CHM 131, 132, 211 and 331, and two credit hours of CHM 161 count as laboratory credit hours). * CHM 521 (3) and CHM 522 (3) may be substituted for CHM 425 (3). Students are urged to consult their major/preprofessional advisor before enrolling for biochemistry courses.

Mathematics and Physics: The following courses are required for students desiring American Chemical Society certification: MTH 136 and 137 (or 132, 133, and 223) and 233; PHY 145, 146, 175, and 176. Students with inadequate high school preparation may find it necessary to complete additional MTH courses. These MTH and PHY courses are also recommended for students who do not desire ACS certification. The MTH and PHY courses must be completed prior to enrolling in Physical Chemistry.

For B.S. in Ed. degree, Secondary Provisional Certification:

1. CHM 505 (3) Teaching Chemistry-Physics in the Secondary School, taken concurrently with CHM 507 (1) Field Experience in Teaching Chemistry in the High School.

2. The department recommends that students planning to teach chemistry in secondary schools major in chemistry.

Total: 40 semester hours
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Chemistry-Physics Major
B.S. in Ed. degree, Secondary Provisional Certification or Secondary Provisional Certification with Emotional or Cognitive Impairment Endorsement

This is an interdepartmental major. Please check the Interdepartmental and Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors section.
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Minors

Chemistry Minor
B.A., B.A.A., B.S. degrees

Required Courses (17-20 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I
AND CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II
OR CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory

Electives (3-6 hours): selected in consultation with and approved by a chemistry minor advisor.

Note: five credit hours must be in laboratory courses.

Total: 23 semester hours
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Chemistry Minor
B.S. in Ed. degree, Secondary Provisional Certification or Secondary Provisional Certification with Emotional or Cognitive Impairment Endorsement

Required Courses (20-23 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I
AND CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II
OR CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 505 (3) Teaching Chemistry/Physics in the Secondary School

Electives (0-3 hours): selected in consultation with and approved by a chemistry minor advisor.

Note: Five credit hours must be in laboratory courses.

Total: 23 semester hours
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Chemistry Minor for the Biology/Medical Technology Major
B.A., B.S. degrees

Required Courses (24-27 hours):
CHM 131 (4) Introduction to Chemistry I
AND CHM 132 (4) Introduction to Chemistry II
OR CHM 161 (5) Principles of Chemistry
CHM 211 (4) Quantitative Analysis
CHM 345 (3) Organic Chemistry I
CHM 346 (3) Organic Chemistry II
CHM 349 (2) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHM 425 (3) Introductory Biochemistry
CHM 523 (4) Clinical Chemistry

Total: 24-27 semester hours
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The faculty:  Edmund W. Benson, Minghui Chai, Bradley D. Falman, Eric Fossom, Bob A. Howell, Anton W. Jensen, George A. Kaminski, Robert E. Kohrman, Estelle L. Lebeau, Dale J. LeCaptain, Choon Y. Lee, Glenn S. Lewandos, Sharyl Majorski-Briggs (Laboratory Coordinator), Dillip K. Mohanty, Ajit Sharma, Philip J. Squattrito, Mary M. J. Tecklenburg, Calvin D. Tormanen.
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