Mar 04, 2025  
[DRAFT] 2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
[DRAFT] 2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Chemistry, B.S.

Location(s): On Campus


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[linked graphic] Program Description [linked graphic] Program Student Learning Outcomes [linked graphic] Admissions, Enrollment, and Graduation Criteria [linked graphic] Program Course Requirements [linked graphic] Have questions? Contact us!

Program Description

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry provides American Chemical Society (ACS) approved programs. Students completing a baccalaureate degree that meets the ACS Guidelines will receive an ACS-certified degree. All of the degree concentrations could include the course work and experience necessary to satisfy requirements for ACS certification with proper choice of supporting discipline and elective credits. See an academic advisor or the Chemistry department for more information on the requirements for ACS certification and other aspects of these degree concentrations.

ACS Certified Chemistry Concentration: This concentration is designed to prepare students for graduate school in chemistry or the professional workforce and will satisfy the requirements for American Chemical Society certified Bachelor’s Degree Programs.

Integrative Chemistry Concentration: This concentration is designed to allow flexibility in choosing elective credits that support individual career goals and/or a KSU Minor.

Forensic Chemistry Concentration: This concentration is designed to prepare students for graduate school or a career in the forensic field. 

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Concentration: This concentration is designed to prepare students for pharmacy school while they work towards a degree in Chemistry. Students may also go to graduate school or work in the pharmaceutical industry after completing this concentration. As pharmacy school prerequisites change, students need to be diligent in ensuring they are meeting the requirements of the pharmacy school they wish to attend. The streamlining of both the requirements for a degree in chemistry and the needed prerequisites is best done in consultation with an academic advisor.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to: 

  1. Recall, integrate, and/or apply the fundamental concepts in the core areas of the discipline (organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and/or biochemistry).
  2. Integrate their knowledge of chemical structure and function, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and/or chemical equilibrium to solve complex chemical problems.
  3. Use conceptual, quantitative, and/or computational skills to identify the strengths and limitations of fundamental theories and models that apply to chemical systems under study.
  4. Rationalize choices made in the experimental methods to explore a proposed hypothesis based upon the student’s understanding of related theories and models.
  5. Handle chemicals and maintain a safe laboratory workspace in accordance with safety guidelines. 
  6. Demonstrate proficiency in using standard chemistry laboratory equipment appropriate to their field such as: UV/vis/fluorescence, NMR, IR, and chromatography (electrophoresis).
  7. Effectively represent, interpret, and/or communicate information, either written or orally, while using appropriate citation guidelines and ethical reporting of data.  
  8. Describe the benefits and impacts of chemistry related to the environment, society, and other disciplines outside the scientific community.
  9. Interact effectively in a group to solve scientific problems and work productively with a diverse group of peers.

[icon]This program is a part of the College of Science and Mathematics .

[linked graphic] Double Owl Pathway

Accreditation

This is an American Chemical Society (ACS) approved program.

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Admissions, Enrollment, and Graduation Criteria

Admissions Criteria

Admission to this program is open to all students who meet Kennesaw State University’s general admission standards. Visit the Admissions  section of the Catalog for more details.

Enrollment Criteria

This program does not have specific enrollment requirements. 

Graduation Criteria

Each student is expected to meet the requirements outlined in Academic Policy 5.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & GRADUATION .

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Program Course Requirements

Core IMPACTS Curriculum (42 Credit Hours)


KSU’s General Education Core IMPACTS Curriculum  

Core IMPACTS Curriculum Requirements Specific to This Major


Science Majors: Students should take MATH 1113  or higher in Mathematics & Quantitative Skills and MATH 1179  or higher in Applied Math.

 

Science and Engineering Majors: Students should take two four-hour laboratory sciences in Natural Sciences. Students may choose from CHEM 1211 /1211L  , CHEM 1212 /1212L  , PHYS 1111 /1111L *, PHYS 1112 /1112L  , PHYS 2211 /2211L *, PHYS 2212 /2212L  , BIOL 1107 /1107L  , or BIOL 1108 /1108L .

*Students cannot take both PHYS 1111/L and PHYS 2211/L nor PHYS 1112/L and PHYS 2212/L.

Core Field of Study (18 Credit Hours)


Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in these courses.

Major Requirements (33 Credit Hours)


Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in these courses.

Major Concentrations (27 Credit Hours)


Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in these courses.

ACS Certified Chemistry Concentration


Physical Chemistry Lab Course (1 Credit Hour)


Select 1 credit hour from the following list of courses:

Advanced Chemistry Courses (9 Credit Hours)


University Electives (9 Credit Hours)


In accordance with KSU Graduation Policy , students must earn a grade of “D” or better in these courses while maintaining a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Upper-Division Electives (3 Credit Hours)

Select 3 credit hours of 3000-4000 level coursework from the University Catalog.
Free Electives (6 Credit Hours)

Select 6 credit hours of 1000-4000 level coursework from the University Catalog.

Integrative Chemistry Concentration


Advanced Chemistry Courses (6 Credit Hours)


University Electives (21 Credit Hours)


In accordance with KSU Graduation Policy , students must earn a grade of “D” or better in these courses while maintaining a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Upper-Division Electives (12 Credit Hours)

Select 12 credit hours of 3000-4000 level coursework from the University Catalog. Courses may be taken from any department, but it is recommended for students to integrate their chemical interests and career goals. This area could be used for credit toward a KSU Minor.

Free Electives (9 Credit Hours)

Select 9 credit hours of 1000-4000 level coursework from the University Catalog.

Forensic Chemistry Concentration


Required Courses (1 Credit Hour)


Advanced Chemistry Courses (6 Credit Hours)


Select 6 credit hours from the following list of courses:

Applied Chemistry Courses (2 Credit Hours)


Select 2 credit hours from one of the following courses:

Supporting Discipline Courses (12 Credit Hours)


University Electives (6 Credit Hours)


In accordance with KSU Graduation Policy , students must earn a grade of “D” or better in these courses while maintaining a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Upper-Division Electives (6 Credit Hours)

Select 6 credit hours of 3000-4000 level coursework from the University Catalog. Courses may be taken from any department, but it is recommended for students to integrate their chemical interests and career goals.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Concentration


Pharmaceutical Chemistry Elective Course (3 Credit Hours)


Choose 3 credit hours from the following list of courses. Students interested in pharmacy school should consider CHEM 3030.

University Electives (20 Credit Hours)


In accordance with KSU Graduation Policy , students must earn a grade of “D” or better in these courses while maintaining a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.

Upper-Division Electives (10 Credit Hours)

Select 10 credit hours of 3000-4000 level coursework from the University Catalog. Courses may be taken from any department, but it is recommended for students to integrate their chemical interests and career goals. This area could be used for credit toward a KSU Minor.

Free Electives (10 Credit Hours)

Select 10 credit hours of 1000-4000 level coursework from the University Catalog.

Program Total (120 Credit Hours)


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