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Academic Programs

St. Cloud State University’s (SCSU) Department of Chemistry offers two Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree programs. The B.S. Chemistry degree emphasizes the technical and communication skills needed for a professional career in chemistry and includes a year-long undergraduate research project. The B.S. Chemistry degree is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and serves as an entryway to a career as a chemist in chemical manufacturing, electronics, textiles, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, plastics, agriculture, and food industries. The B.S. Chemistry degree is also an excellent foundation for further graduate studies should you decide to continue your education to earn an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. SCSU offers a second Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in biochemistry that is an excellent pre-professional curriculum for medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and dentistry, we well as graduate studies in biochemistry and related fields.

SCSU also offers the Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) degree. The B.A. degree program provides a broad education needed for careers dependent on a basic knowledge of chemistry and allows students to complete a minor or a second major without exceeding the minimum number of credits required for graduation.

Capstone Experience

Chemistry majors at SCSU are required to complete CHEM 391 (Chemical Information) and CHEM 491 (Senior Thesis) as a graduation requirement. This satisfies the university’s upper division writing requirement. All ACS-certified chemistry majors are also required to complete a research experience (2 semesters of CHEM 489, Undergraduate Research). BA Chemistry majors and BS Biochemistry majors are also encouraged to include CHEM 489 in their capstone experience.

SCSU offers a B.S. degree in Science Teaching—Chemistry Emphasis that is approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

The department continually evaluates our courses and programs to better meet the needs of students. Since this is an ongoing process, changes will be made in the future. Students should contact an advisor for the most current information. It is very important that you make contact with a member of the chemistry faculty the first semester you enroll in the courses that are part of the programs listed. The programs require careful planning to ensure you take courses in a timely fashion and have the correct prerequisites needed to graduate on-time.

Advising

When an undergraduate student declares a chemistry major, they will be assigned an advisor by the dean’s office within the College of Science and Engineering. However, the chemistry department encourages students to meet with a faculty member before they declare a major. The faculty advisor works with the student to make sure that they are completing the required courses within the chemistry major as well as assisting them with the selection of elective courses.

Advisors by Emphasis

B.S. and B.A. Majors and Minors

Transfer Students

B.S. Science Teaching - Chemistry Emphasis

Pre-Medicine

Pre-Pharmacy