Program: Chemistry, B.A. - University of Kentucky

Apr 06, 2025

2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin

The Department of Chemistry offers the Bachelor of Science degree for students who intend to become professional chemists or do graduate work in chemistry or a closely related discipline. There are three options in the B.S. program: a traditional track covering all the major areas of chemistry, an option that emphasizes biochemistry and an option in materials chemistry. The Biochemistry and Traditional Options are certified by the American Chemical Society. A Bachelor of Arts degree program is offered as well for students who want greater flexibility in the selection of courses to perhaps pursue more diverse degree options, including dual and double majors. The Department also offers the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

122 hours (minimum)

Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the Major Requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. Please also note that the Organic Chemistry Sequence (CHE 230 /CHE 231 /CHE 232 /CHE 233 ) will count towards completion of this requirement. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree .

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Bulletin for the complete UK Core requirements

. The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

UK Core hours: 33

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

In order to meet the Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR), students must successfully complete both BIO 425 to fulfill the oral communication requirement and one course from the list below to fulfill the written communication requirement. In order to receive GCCR credit a student must:

Earn an average grade of C or better on all GCCR assignments;
and
Have completed at least 30 credit hours of college-level coursework prior to registering for the course.

Oral Communication Requirement

BIO 425 - BIOLOGY SEMINAR: SUBTITLE REQUIRED Credit(s): 1

Written Communication Requirement

Choose one course from the following 8 options:

BIO 398 - RESEARCH AND WRITING IN BIOLOGY Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
BIO 404 - ADVANCED GENETICS Credit(s): 3
BIO 405 - HUMAN GENETICS Credit(s): 3
BIO 418 - ECOLOGICAL GENETICS Credit(s): 3
BIO 430G - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY Credit(s): 4
BIO 445 - THE BIOLOGY OF SEX Credit(s): 3
WRD 305 - WRITING PUBLIC SCIENCE Credit(s): 3
WRD 310 - WRITING IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 2-5

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

(placement exam recommended)

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science

(completed by Major Requirements)

b. Social Science: 6

c. Humanities: 6

III. Laboratory or Field Work

(completed by Premajor Requirement)

IV. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 18-32

Premajor Requirements

*Course used towards completion of a UK Core Requirement.

MA 113 - CALCULUS I Credit(s): 4 *
OR
MA 132 - CALCULUS FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES Credit(s): 3
MA 114 - CALCULUS II Credit(s): 4
CHE 105 - GEN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 4 *
CHE 107 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
CHE 111 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY Credit(s): 1 *
CHE 113 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY Credit(s): 2

Premajor hours: 17-18

Major Requirements

Major Core Requirements

CHE 226 - ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Credit(s): 3
CHE 230 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 3
CHE 231 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I Credit(s): 1
CHE 232 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
CHE 233 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II Credit(s): 1
CHE 440G - INTRODUCTORY PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY Credit(s): 3
CHE 441 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Credit(s): 2

Major Core hours: 16

Other Course Work Required for the Major

Chemistry Major Field Options

Choose 21 hours at the 300-500 level with a prefix of ANA, BCH, BIO, CHE, CME, CS, EES, MA, MI, MSE, PAT, PGY, PHA, PHR, PHY, PM, RM, or STA. Credit will not be given for both BCH 401G and CHE 550 or CHE 552 . At least 5 of these hours must be in CHE courses; at least 4 hours must be taken outside CHE. Up to 9 hours of CHE 395 are possible for students having a minimum GPA of 3.0 in CHE courses. Other courses may be approved by the Undergraduate Program Committee. Students working towards teaching accreditation may count 6 hours taken at the 300+ level from the College of Education. A maximum of 9 hours in undergraduate research or reading courses may be counted; such courses require approval of the Undergraduate Program Committee if the courses do not carry the CHE prefix 21

From the Physics Department

*Course used towards completion of a UK Core Requirement.

PHY 211 - GENERAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 5 *
PHY 213 - GENERAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 5
OR
PHY 231 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS Credit(s): 4 *
PHY 232 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS Credit(s): 4 * AND
PHY 241 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 1 *
PHY 242 - GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS LABORATORY Credit(s): 1 *

Other Major hours: 31

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 122

^Any language may be used to satisfy the College Foreign Language requirements - German is recommended.

Curriculum for B.A. in Chemistry

Freshman Year

First Semester

CHE 105 - GEN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 4
CHE 111 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY Credit(s): 1
CIS 110 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I Credit(s): 3
OR
WRD 110 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION I Credit(s): 3
MA 113 - CALCULUS I Credit(s): 4
UK 101 - ACADEMIC ORIENTATION Credit(s): 1 - 2 (Variable)
UK Core - Arts and Creativity
Credit(s): 3

Second Semester

CHE 107 - GENERAL COLLEGE CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
CHE 113 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY Credit(s): 2
MA 114 - CALCULUS II Credit(s): 4
CIS 111 - COMPOSITION & COMMUNICATION II Credit(s): 3
OR
WRD 111 - COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION II Credit(s): 3
UK Core - Humanities
Credit(s): 3

Sophomore Year

First Semester

CHE 230 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I Credit(s): 3
CHE 231 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I Credit(s): 1
PHY 211 - GENERAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 5
STA 210 - MAKING SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY: AN INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL REASONING Credit(s): 3
UK Core - Social Sciences
Credit(s): 3

Second Semester

CHE 226 - ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Credit(s): 3
CHE 232 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II Credit(s): 3
CHE 233 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II Credit(s): 1
PHY 213 - GENERAL PHYSICS Credit(s): 5
UK Core - Citizenship - USA
Credit(s): 3

Junior Year

†Any foreign language sequence satisfying the College of Arts and Sciences requirement in foreign languages may be taken. German is recommended

First Semester

CHE 440G - INTRODUCTORY PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY Credit(s): 3
WRD 310 - WRITING IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES Credit(s): 3
Foreign Language I Credit(s): 4 †
A&S Humanities Credit(s): 3
Major Field Option Credit(s): 3

Second Semester

CHE 441 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Credit(s): 2
Foreign Language II Credit(s): 4 †
A&S Social Science Credit(s): 3
Major Field Option Credit(s): 3
Major Field Option Credit(s): 3

Senior Year

First Semester

Foreign Language III Credit(s): 3 †
Major Field Option Credit(s) :3
Major Field Option Credit(s): 3
A&S Humanities Credit(s): 3
UK Core - Global Dynamics
Credit(s): 3

Second Semester

Major Field Option Credit(s): 3
Major Field Option Credit(s): 3
A&S Social Science Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
300+ Elective Credit(s): 3

Chemistry, B.A.

UK Core Requirements

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity

II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities

III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences

IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences

V. Composition and Communication I

VI. Composition and Communication II

VII. Quantitative Foundations

VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning

IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA

X. Global Dynamics

UK Core hours: 33

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

Oral Communication Requirement

Written Communication Requirement

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 2-5

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science

b. Social Science: 6

c. Humanities: 6

III. Laboratory or Field Work

IV. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 18-32

Premajor Requirements

Premajor hours: 17-18

Major Requirements

Major Core Requirements

Major Core hours: 16

Other Course Work Required for the Major

Chemistry Major Field Options

From the Physics Department

Other Major hours: 31

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 122

Curriculum for B.A. in Chemistry

Freshman Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Sophomore Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Junior Year

First Semester

Second Semester

Senior Year

First Semester

Second Semester