Major in Chemistry, Sustainable Chemistry Concentration

The sustainable chemistry concentration is recommended for students who wish to pursue a career in the interdisciplinary field of sustainability, including renewable energy, green materials, pollution control, and waste remediation. Because sustainability requires that chemists be well rounded, students will take courses that develop an understanding of the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainability as well as the intrinsic interconnectedness of these areas.

Chemistry majors in the sustainability track are encouraged to participate in undergraduate research. Ample opportunities exist for undergraduate students to become involved in ground-breaking research in the laboratories of individual faculty members. Students have access to state-of-the-art equipment in faculty laboratories and the Analytical Resources Core facility, including NMR, FTIR, UV/Vis, fluorescence, and mass spectrometers, vacuum lines, x-ray diffractometers, and many more. Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged for any student considering a career in chemistry, and many students complete supervised research for academic credit. Development of skills in all of the aforementioned analytical techniques will enable graduates to pursue a consultant, educator, or researcher career.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Describe the unintended consequences associated with the synthesis of compounds ranging from life-enhancing medicines to the materials of modern society.
2. Articulate the thought process used to develop safer, more energy and material efficient processes, including the recovery and conversion of waste to raw material--the principles of Green chemistry.
3. Effectively communicate the results of the collection and analysis of data used in policy decisions for questions involving the air, food, soil, and water.

Effective Fall 2026

Chemistry majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.000) in all the listed courses required for the major in chemistry.

In-depth Chemistry Courses

At least 3 credits must come from laboratory course or lab components of lecture/laboratory courses: CHEM 431, CHEM 433, CHEM 434, CHEM 440, CHEM 442, CHEM 462, CHEM 477, or CHEM 498. 

¹

Students who complete General Chemistry Freshman year (CHEM 111 or CHEM 107, CHEM 112 or CHEM 108, CHEM 113, CHEM 114) do not have to take CHEM 120 and CHEM 121.

²

Students may complete the organic chemistry requirement by taking CHEM 341, CHEM 343, and CHEM 344. Students who take CHEM 245/CHEM 246 may complete the organic chemistry requirement by taking CHEM 343/CHEM 344. For both sets of these students, CHEM 343/CHEM 344 together count as an in-depth chemistry course.

³

CHEM 301 is recommended. 

⁴

 CHEM 499 by department approval. Students fulfilling the AUCC 4C requirement with CHEM 499 must write a thesis and present it to the department. 

⁵

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
TO PREPARE FOR FIRST SEMESTER:   The curriculum for the new American Chemical Society Certified Chemistry major assumes students enter college prepared to take calculus. Entering students who are not prepared to take calculus will need to fulfill pre‐calculus requirements in the first semester. CHEM 111 and CHEM 120 require Algebra II as a prerequisite (this prerequisite is met by having Algebra II by test credit, transfer credit, or placement out of MATH 117 and MATH 118 on Math Placement Exam). Earned grades of C (2.000) or better are required in all listed courses for the major in chemistry. Students with credit for CHEM 111, CHEM 112,CHEM 113, CHEM 114 do not need to take CHEM 120, CHEM 121.  Students with credit for CHEM 341, CHEM 343, CHEM 344 do not need to take CHEM 241, CHEM 242.