Chemistry

• Faculty
• Chemistry Program
• Chemistry Major (comprehensive) Requirements
• Chemistry Major - Pre-Medicine/Pre-Pharmacy (Biochemistry)Concentration (Comprehensive) Requirements
• Chemistry Major - Secondary Education - Early Adolescence-Adolescence Level (EA-A) Requirements
• Chemistry Major- Forensic Chemistry concentration (comprehensive) Requirements-Suspended
• Chemistry Minor Requirements
• Student Learning Outcomes

Faculty

James W. Lane, Professor
Lorena M. Rios Mendoza, Associate Professor
Michael A. Waxman, Professor

Chemistry Program

UW-Superior offers a challenging major in chemistry that provides students with several options depending on their career goals. Students majoring in chemistry may seek jobs as professional chemists or teachers after they graduate, pursue advanced degrees in graduate school, or use their degree as the foundation for attending medical or veterinary school. The one-on-one attention students receive provides the opportunity to develop deeper scientific insights, sharpen their independent-thinking skills, and gains hands-on experience.

Students completing the 56-credit chemistry major are well prepared to seek entry-level jobs as professional chemists or to pursue graduate school or medical school. The major emphasizes chemistry but also includes courses in mathematics and physics.

Students interested in careers or advanced study in biochemistry can complete the chemistry major while selecting courses that cover the topics recommended for study by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

A severe shortage exists of secondary education teachers in chemistry. UW-Superior offers a chemistry major leading to certification to teach chemistry at the high school level. Students benefit not only from a quality education in chemistry but also from UW-Superior's strong Teacher Education program.

Graduates of the chemistry program work at companies such as 3M, Intel, Dow Corning, Potlatch Corp., Pfizer Pharmaceutical and Murphy Oil. Others have gone on to graduate or medical schools such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University.

Chemistry Major (comprehensive) Requirements

56 total credits

All grades in required courses for this major must be C or higher, except that two grades of C- may be counted toward the major. No minor is required.

Chemistry Core required courses (56 credits required):

or

or

or

and

or

and

Recommended:

Professional Chemistry option: This option is recommended for students considering graduate school in chemistry or employment as a professional chemist. The additional coursework provides the student with a stronger theoretical and practical foundation. In addition to the required courses listed above students must also complete:

Chemistry Major - Pre-Medicine/Pre-Pharmacy (Biochemistry)Concentration (Comprehensive) Requirements

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes occurring in living organisms. Education and skill development in this area are an important part of preparation for further studies in the fields of Medicine and Pharmacy as well as preparation for careers or graduate school in Biochemistry and related scientific disciplines. The field of Biochemistry is very interdisciplinary by nature; among other things, a biochemist needs to possess a knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics as well as an appreciation for the interrelationships between these disciplines. Chemistry majors choosing this concentration are typically those who are interested in attending medical, veterinary or pharmacy schools or graduate school in biochemistry. Consult with your advisor and the relevant post-graduate programs regarding additional requirements. 

Total - 68 credits

Required courses for the Pre-Medicine/Pre-Pharmacy (Biochemistry) Concentration are:

OR

OR

AND

OR

AND

Students who also choose BIOL 340 will complete a minor in biology. With additional biology coursework, students may earn a second major in Biology.

Students choosing the Pre-Medicine/Pre-Pharmacy (Biochemistry) Concentration will have completed the topics recommended for a biochemistry major by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Chemistry Major - Secondary Education - Early Adolescence-Adolescence Level (EA-A) Requirements

A severe shortage exists of secondary education teachers in chemistry. Many high schools must hire students with only a minor in chemistry. Students with this major will be very competitive in the secondary education job market, especially if they also have a secondary education major in biology or mathematics.

35 total credits

Required courses (35 credits required):

Graduates may obtain this major only if they complete all requirements for secondary education certification. A teaching minor or second teaching major is required with this major.

1. Students may substitute CHEM 320-323, 327 for CHEM 312/313.
2. Students may substitute CHEM 345 for CHEM 381.
3. Students may substitute PHYS 201 for PHYS 107 and PHYS 202 for PHYS 108.
4. Students must satisfactorily complete all DPI and UW-Superior requirements for secondary education certification, including coursework in Biology and Earth Science and NSEd 339 Teaching Science in the Secondary School.

Chemistry Major- Forensic Chemistry concentration (comprehensive) Requirements-Suspended

No admission to this program as of November 3, 2017.  Program has been suspended.  Current students in good standing have until December 23, 2022 to complete the program.

 

63 total credits

Forensic chemistry is increasingly used to solve crimes and provide evidence in court. The U.S. Department of Labor and the American Chemical Society are both optimistic about the job prospects for forensic chemists.

The Forensic Chemistry Concentration emphasizes analytical chemistry along with Criminal Justice courses dealing with handling evidence and other legal issues. The courses for this concentration satisfy the admission requirements for many forensic chemistry and forensic science graduate programs.

Those interested in attending graduate school in forensic chemistry or forensic science or pursuing a career in the field of forensics are required to take the following courses specifically tailored to the needs of this field.

Required courses (63 credits required):

Topic: Introduction to Physical Chemistry - 3.00 credits

or

Topic: Internship - 2.00 credits

or

Topic: Internship - 2 credits

Note: A year of high school biology or BIOL 130 Principles of Biology are recommended as prerequisites for Biology 330.

Chemistry Minor Requirements

22 total credits

Required courses (22 required credits):

and one of the following options:

Option 1:

or

and

Option 2:

or

or

or

or

and

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate command of facts, theories, and concepts of chemistry/physics, and ability to use this knowledge for problem solving and the development and understanding of higher-level concepts.
• Utilize a variety of sources to access scientific information and critically evaluate which sources are most reliable and useful for a particular application.
• Understand and follow a written, abbreviated experimental procedure as well as make modifications to the procedure and troubleshoot the procedure if unexpected results occur.
• Apply knowledge and skills gained from lecture and laboratory courses to independently create a plan for an experiment or project.
• Read and evaluate a set of original research papers in order to create their own critical analysis presented in written and oral form.