Chemistry, B.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

About the Chemistry Bachelor’s Program

The B.A. in Chemistry degree requires 120 credit hours for graduation and has a curriculum primarily designed for those interested in using an undergraduate major in chemistry as the background for a career in which extensive training in chemistry is either valuable or essential (e.g., medicine, dentistry, forensics, environmental protection, clinical and pharmacological chemistry, technical sales, and chemical patent law). Though a B.S. is generally preferred by employers, a B.A. may also provide a sufficient background in chemistry for employment as a chemist in a small laboratory or for entry into a graduate program leading to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in chemistry.

Communication Literacy Requirement. Students attending Texas Tech University for the first time in the Fall 2017 term or later will complete a Communication Literacy requirement in their program(s) of study.

Texas Tech University’s transition from the Writing Intensive requirement to the Communication Literacy requirement signals the university’s awareness that in addition to the fundamental role that writing plays in enabling students to explore, develop, focus, and organize a message, other types of communication must also be taught as appropriate for a student’s discipline. Throughout each program of study, then, students must be given ample opportunity to develop their skills in forms of communication central to that program.

Communication Literacy courses for the B.A. in Chemistry are CHEM 4101 plus two other CL courses (see degree plan for specific requirements).

Recommended Curriculum

First Year

Fall

CHEM 1307 - Principles of Chemistry I 3 Semester Credit Hours
CHEM 1107 - Experimental Principles of Chemistry I 1 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 1301 - Essentials of College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
U.S. History 3 Semester Credit Hours *
MATH 1451 - Calculus I with Applications 4 Semester Credit Hours (See Below)
Creative Arts Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours*^†

Total: 17

Spring

CHEM 1308 - Principles of Chemistry II 3 Semester Credit Hours
CHEM 1108 - Experimental Principles of Chemistry II 1 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 1302 - Advanced College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
U.S. History 3 Semester Credit Hours*
MATH 1452 - Calculus II with Applications 4 Semester Credit Hours (See Below)
Oral Communications 3 Semester Credit Hours*

Total: 17

Second Year

Fall

CHEM 3305 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Semester Credit Hours
CHEM 3105 - Experimental Organic Chemistry I 1 Semester Credit Hours
Social & Behavioral Sciences Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours*^†
PHYS 1408 - Principles of Physics I 4 Semester Credit Hours ^§
Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 14

Spring

CHEM 3306 - Organic Chemistry II 3 Semester Credit Hours
CHEM 3106 - Experimental Organic Chemistry II 1 Semester Credit Hours
Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours*
PHYS 2401 - Principles of Physics II 4 Semester Credit Hours ^§
English 3 Semester Credit Hours*

Total: 14

Third Year

Fall

CHEM 3341 - Analytical Chemical Methods 3 Semester Credit Hours ^††
CHEM 3141 - Experimental Analytical Chemical Methods 1 Semester Credit Hours ^††§§
CHEM 3310 - Molecular Biochemistry 3 Semester Credit Hours
POLS 1301 - American Government 3 Semester Credit Hours
English 3 Semester Credit Hours*

Total: 13

Spring

CHEM 3301 - Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry 3 Semester Credit Hours
Creative Arts Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours*^†
Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours^#
POLS 2306 - Texas Politics and Topics 3 Semester Credit Hours
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours*^†

Total: 15

Fourth Year

Fall

CHEM 3307 - Physical Chemistry I 3 Semester Credit Hours ^‡‡
CHEM 3107 - Experimental Physical Chemistry I 1 Semester Credit Hours ^‡§§
Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours^#
Advanced Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours*^†
Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hour*

Total: 14

Spring

Advanced Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours*^†
Social & Behavioral Sciences Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours*^†
Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours^#
Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hour*
Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours**

Total: 16

Total Hours: 120

* Select from Arts and Sciences General Requirements  for B.A. degree.
^† At least one should also be multicultural. If not, students must complete an additional course from the university’s Multicultural list
^‡If taking CHEM 3308 , substitute CHEM 3108  for CHEM 3107 . CHEM 3107  must be taken with CHEM 4311 .
^§ Can substitute PHYS 1403  and PHYS 1404  for PHYS 1408  and PHYS 2401

^# Minor can be in English or a foreign language without requiring additional courses that will cause the degree hours to be more than 120.
^** May be outside of major

^††Can substituteCHEM 3351 for CHEM 3341 , and CHEM 3251 for CHEM 3141
^‡‡Can substitute CHEM 4311 or CHEM 3308 for CHEM 3307
^§§ Communication Literacy Course

Calculus

Adequate training in algebra, trigonometry, and analytic geometry is a prerequisite for calculus. A score of 7 on the Math Placement Exam is necessary to take calculus the first year. Scores below 7 will require additional coursework.

Foreign Language

A student must complete 6 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. The prerequisite for all sophomore language courses is credit for the freshman level. This credit can be determined through a credit by examination. The score attained on the exam will determine whether the student is placed in a second-year course, a 5-hour review course, or in some cases the first or second semester of a beginning (first-year) language course. See Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirements for further explanation.

Advanced Elective

Six advanced elective hours from CHEM 3201 , CHEM 4300 , CHEM 4309 , CHEM 4314 , CHEM 3000 (1-6), CHEM 3308 , CHEM 4105 , CHEM 4114 , CHEM 4302 , CHEM 4306 , or CHEM 4310 .