Chemistry majors get more options
New curriculum trims the number of required courses, offers more specialty electives
Central Michigan University undergraduate chemistry majors now have four new concentrations and more specialty courses designed to give them added flexibility to tailor their education.
A committee revamped the chemistry offerings to meet growing expectations that chemistry undergraduates coming out of college should have strong specialized skills to make an immediate contribution to industry or academia.
The curriculum of the new concentrations is designed to give students a solid chemical science foundation and marketable skills in each specialty area, said Bingbing Li, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Science and Engineering.
The new concentrations are:
Materials chemistry: For students interested in the development and applications of polymers and nanoscale structures.
Environmental chemistry: For students who are interested in understanding the impact of chemical substances on the environment.
Chemical technology: For students who are interested in developing the skills to work in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological and related industries.
General chemistry: For students who are interested in maximum flexibility for their program of study.
All chemistry majors, regardless of concentration, start with the same foundational and core courses (analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry) then specialize with advanced courses and electives tailored to the concentration. They also are required to do an extended research project in collaboration with a professor of their choosing.
For detailed information about courses and content, students may contact the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry or their academic advisor.