School of Humanities and Sciences

Department of Chemistry

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science

Vincent DeTuri, Associate Professor and Chair

The chemistry curriculum, approved by the American Chemical Society, provides an exceptionally strong foundation for further training at the graduate level. The department is nationally noted for its research program, and students are regularly involved in research publications. Approximately 80 percent of chemistry majors continue in postgraduate education to pursue a Ph.D. or M.D. immediately after graduation. Students with an interest in chemical engineering can prepare for a career in this field by obtaining a bachelor of science degree at Ithaca College and then enrolling in a master's of engineering program in chemical engineering from an engineering school. The department curriculum is also designed to provide outstanding classroom and laboratory experience as preparation for a career in the chemical industry directly after graduation. Graduates who have chosen to go directly into industry as chemists have obtained excellent placements. Chemistry majors are well prepared for a wide range of career opportunities, including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacology, environmental science, toxicology, food science, forensic science, secondary school teaching, and engineering.

Chemistry, B.A.
Chemistry, B.S.
Chemistry, B.A. with Teaching Option
Chemistry, B.S. with Teaching Option
Chemistry Minor

Honors in Chemistry

To be awarded honors in chemistry, a student must have a minimum GPA of 2.80 overall and 3.30 in chemistry courses. A student may apply with 2.75 overall GPA and 3.00 in chemistry. Application must be made to the chair of the chemistry department no later than the first week of the senior year. The student must select an adviser and a research project.

The faculty of the Department of Chemistry reviews the qualifications of the applicant and either approves or disapproves the application. If the application is approved, the student must enroll in CHEM 49100 and CHEM 49200 Honors Research in Chemistry.

A final version of an honors thesis reporting the results of a research investigation must be submitted to the adviser not later than three weeks before the expected date of graduation. The student must defend the thesis before a committee of no fewer than three members of the chemistry faculty. Faculty from other departments may be included if the topic is interdisciplinary.

Requirements for the Major in Chemistry -- B.A.

Courses in the department

CHEM 12100 Principles of Chemistry or  
CHEM 12300 Principles of Chemistry - Enriched 4
CHEM 12400 Experimental Chemistry I 2
CHEM 22100 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 22200 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 22500 Experimental Chemistry II 2
CHEM 23200 Quantitative Chemistry 3
CHEM 32400 Experimental Chemistry III 3
CHEM 32500 Experimental Chemistry IV 3
CHEM 32600 Experimental Chemistry V 3
CHEM 33100 Physical Chemistry I 3
CHEM 33200 Physical Chemistry II 3
CHEM 34200 Inorganic Chemistry 3
CHEM 48700 Chemistry Seminar 1
CHEM 48800 Chemistry Capstone 3
  Total, required courses in the department 39

Courses outside the department

PHYS 11700 Principles of Physics I: Mechanics 4
PHYS 11800 Principles of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4
MATH 11100 Calculus I 4
MATH 11200 Calculus II 4
  Electives 65
  Total, B.A. in chemistry 120

Requirements for the Major in Chemistry -- B.S.

(American Chemical Society-approved degree)

Courses in the department

CHEM 12100 Principles of Chemistry or  
CHEM 12300 Principles of Chemistry - Enriched 4
CHEM 12400 Experimental Chemistry I 2
CHEM 22100 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 22200 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 22500 Experimental Chemistry II 2
CHEM 23200 Quantitative Chemistry 3
CHEM 32400 Experimental Chemistry III 3
CHEM 32500 Experimental Chemistry IV 3
CHEM 32600 Experimental Chemistry V 3
CHEM 33100 Physical Chemistry I 3
CHEM 33200 Physical Chemistry II 3
CHEM 34200 Inorganic Chemistry 3
CHEM 48700 Chemistry Seminar 1
CHEM 48800 Chemistry Capstone 3
  Research in Chemistry (CHEM 19100, CHEM 19200, CHEM 29100, CHEM 29200,
CHEM 39100, CHEM 39200, CHEM 49100, or CHEM 49200)		 3
  Total, courses in the department 42

Restricted electives

Select two of the following:

BIOC 35400 Biochemistry II  
CHEM 35400 Polymer Chemistry  
CHEM 35600 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance  
CHEM 42100 Advanced Organic Chemistry  
CHEM 42200 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry  
CHEM 43200 Bio-organic Chemistry  
CHEM 44200 Computational Chemistry  
CHEM 44400 Chemical Applications of Group Theory  
CHEM 45200 Instrumental Analysis  
CHEM 48100 Selected Topics in Chemistry  
CHEM 48200 Selected Topics in Chemistry  
  Total, restricted electives 6

Courses outside the department

BIOC 35300 Biochemistry I 3
PHYS 11700 Principles of Physics I: Mechanics 4
PHYS 11800 Principles of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4
MATH 11100 Calculus I 4
MATH 11200 Calculus II 4
  Total, courses outside the departments 19
  Electives 53
  Total, B.S. in chemistry 120

Requirements for Chemistry -- B.A. with Teaching Option

Courses in chemistry

CHEM 12100 Principles of Chemistry or  
CHEM 12300 Principles of Chemistry - Enriched 4
CHEM 12400 Experimental Chemistry I 2
CHEM 22100 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 22200 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 22500 Experimental Chemistry II 2
CHEM 23200 Quantitative Chemistry 3
CHEM 32400 Experimental Chemistry III 3
CHEM 32500 Experimental Chemistry IV 3
CHEM 32600 Experimental Chemistry V 3
CHEM 33100 Physical Chemistry I 3
CHEM 33200 Physical Chemistry II 3
CHEM 34200 Inorganic Chemistry 3
CHEM 48700 Chemistry Seminar 1
CHEM 48800 Chemistry Capstone 3
  Total, chemistry courses  39

Courses in related science

PHYS 11700 Principles of Physics I: Mechanics 4
PHYS 11800 Principles of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4
MATH 11100 Calculus I 4
MATH 11200 Calculus II 4
  Total, courses in related science 16

Core education requirements

COMP 20100 Technology for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher 2
EDUC 22900 Second-Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators 2
EDUC 23900 Educating Children with Special Needs 2
PSYC 21010 Educational Psychology 3
EDUC 10100 Literacy Education for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher 2
EDUC 21910 Early Field Experience: Theory and Practice 3
EDUC 34000 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education 3
EDUC 40810 Pedagogy and Practice across the Disciplines 3
EDUC 41010 Pedagogy and Practice for the Science Teacher 3
EDUC 41210 Seminar in Reflective Practice 3
EDUC 49810 Professional Seminar in Education 12
EDUC 11000 Child Abuse Identification and Prevention 0
EDUC 11100 Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Identification and Prevention 0
  Total, core education requirements 38

Additional requirements

  • All teaching-option students must successfully complete a year of college-level study in a language other than English. Students may test out of this requirement by taking the language placement test and placing at level 2.
  • All teaching-option students must successfully complete a writing course numbered WRTG 10600 or above.
  • All teaching-option students must successfully complete the second-year review and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their subject. If a student receives an unsuccessful review, or a review with stipulations, the student must participate in and successfully pass a second review the following year. Unsuccessful reviews and reviews with stipulations will be accompanied by a written statement outlining what must be done before the second review is completed.
  • Students must earn a grade of B or better in EDUC 40810 and EDUC 41010 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
  • EDUC 49810 Professional Semester in Education and EDUC 41210 Seminar in Reflective Practice constitute a full course load during the student-teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
  • All candidates for initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the liberal arts and sciences test, the assessment of teaching skills (written), and the content area exam.
  • The student's department chair and the coordinator of teacher education must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.
Electives 27
Total, B.A. in chemistry with teaching option 120

Requirements for Chemistry -- B.S. with Teaching Option

Core courses in the department 

CHEM 12100 Principles of Chemistry or  
CHEM 12300 Principles of Chemistry - Enriched 4
CHEM 12400 Experimental Chemistry I 2
CHEM 22100 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 22200 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 22500 Experimental Chemistry II 2
CHEM 23200 Quantitative Chemistry 3
CHEM 32400 Experimental Chemistry III 3
CHEM 32500 Experimental Chemistry IV 3
CHEM 32600 Experimental Chemistry V 3
CHEM 33100 Physical Chemistry I 3
CHEM 33200 Physical Chemistry II 3
CHEM 34200 Inorganic Chemistry 3
CHEM 48700 Chemistry Seminar 1
CHEM 48800 Chemistry Capstone 3
  Research in Chemistry (CHEM 19100, CHEM 19200, CHEM 29100, CHEM 29200,
CHEM 39100, CHEM 39200, CHEM 49100, or CHEM 49200)		 3
  Total, courses in the department 42

Required courses in related science

BIOC 35300 Biochemistry I 3
PHYS 11700 Principles of Physics I: Mechanics 4
PHYS 11800 Principles of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4
MATH 11100 Calculus I 4
MATH 11200 Calculus II 4
  Total, related science courses 19

Restricted electives

Select one of the following:

BIOC 35400 Biochemistry II  
CHEM 35400 Polymer Chemistry  
CHEM 35600 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance  
CHEM 42100 Advanced Organic Chemistry  
CHEM 42200 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry  
CHEM 43200 Bio-Organic Chemistry  
CHEM 44200 Computational Chemistry  
CHEM 44400 Chemical Applications of Group Theory  
CHEM 45200 Instrumental Analysis  
CHEM 48100 Selected Topics in Chemistry  
CHEM 48200 Selected Topics in Chemistry  
  Total, restricted electives 3

Core education requirements

COMP 20100 Technology for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher 2
EDUC 22900 Second-Language Acquisition: Its Nature and Meaning for Educators 2
EDUC 23900 Educating Children with Special Needs 2
PSYC 21010 Educational Psychology 3
EDUC 10100 Literacy Education for the Middle/Secondary School Teacher 2
EDUC 21910 Early Field Experience: Theory and Practice 3
EDUC 34000 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education 3
EDUC 40810 Pedagogy and Practice across the Disciplines 3
EDUC 41010 Pedagogy and Practice for the Science Teacher 3
EDUC 41210 Seminar in Reflective Practice 3
EDUC 49810 Professional Semester in Education 12
EDUC 11000 Child Abuse Identification and Prevention 0
EDUC 11100 Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Identification and Prevention 0
  Total, core education requirements 38

Additional requirements

  • All teaching-option students must successfully complete a year of college-level study in a language other than English. Students may test out of this requirement by taking the language placement test and placing at level 2.
  • All teaching-option students must successfully complete a writing course numbered WRTG 10600 or above.
  • All teaching-option students must successfully complete the second-year review and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their subject. If a student receives an unsuccessful review, or a review with stipulations, the student must participate in and successfully pass a second review the following year. Unsuccessful reviews and reviews with stipulations will be accompanied by a written statement outlining what must be done before the second review is completed.
  • Students must earn a grade of B or better in EDUC 40810 and EDUC 41010 to qualify for student teaching. A grade of B- does not qualify.
  • EDUC 49810 Professional Semester in Education and the EDUC 41210 Seminar in Reflective Practice constitute a full course load during the student-teaching semester. No additional courses may be taken.
  • All candidates for initial certification must successfully complete all three sections of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations: the liberal arts and sciences test, the assessment of teaching skills (written), and the content area exam.
  • The student's department chair and the coordinator of teacher education must approve any exceptions to the above requirements.
Electives 18
Total, B.S. in chemistry with teaching option 120

Minor in Chemistry

A minor in chemistry may be appealing to natural science majors, premedical students, or majors in any discipline with some interest in chemistry. The courses required for the minor are the foundation courses for a chemistry major and two advanced courses in chemistry. Principles of Chemistry is an introductory course covering atomic structure, bonding, molecular shape, intermolecular interactions, reaction types, and thermochemistry. Organic Chemistry focuses on the chemistry of carbon compounds. Quantitative Chemistry completes the lecture foundation, emphasizing a quantitative approach to chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, chemical thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. In addition, students will be expected to complete 140 hours of laboratory instruction.

Physical Chemistry I or Physical Chemistry II is also required for the minor. These courses go beyond the material presented in the first four semesters and are required for many advanced electives. Physical Chemistry I focuses on energy flow in chemical reactions and physical processes. There are numerous applications in Physical Chemistry I, including the chemistry of biochemical systems (such as protein kinetics) and industrial applications (such as engine efficiency and electrochemistry). Physical Chemistry II is a course on quantum mechanics relating to how matter is put together and behaves at the atomic level and molecular level.

Chemistry Seminar is a capstone course in which students participate in the seminar program and meet with invited speakers, attend the weekly chemistry seminars, and present a topic of interest to the department. The presentation topic is typically a research project in chemistry or biochemistry but could also be a project relating to chemistry or a literature presentation relating to chemistry.

To successfully complete the minor, students must also meet prerequisite requirements for courses outside of chemistry, completing either Calculus for Decision Making or Calculus II and completing either Introduction to Physics II or Principles of Physics II.

The chemistry minor is not open to biochemistry majors, due to the course overlap. 

Required courses in the department

CHEM 12100 Principles of Chemistry 4
CHEM 12400 Experimental Chemistry I 2
CHEM 22100 Organic Chemistry 3
CHEM 22200 Organic Chemistry 3
CHEM 22500 Experimental Chemistry II 2
CHEM 23200 Quantitative Chemistry 3
CHEM 48700 Chemistry Seminar 1
  Total, required courses in department 18

Required courses outside the department

Physics
PHYS 11700 Principles of Physics I: Mechanics 4
PHYS 11800 Principles of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 3

or

PHYS 10100 Introduction to Physics I 4
PHYS 10200 Introduction to Physics II 4
Mathematics
MATH 10800 or MATH 11100 4
MATH 11200 OR MATH 24400 4
Total, required courses outside the department 15-16

Restricted electives

Select one course

CHEM 33100 Physical Chemistry I (3)  
CHEM 33200 Physical Chemistry II (3)  
  Total, restricted electives 3
  Total, minor in chemistry 36-37