“Slippery Rock was a life-altering experience for me. The chemistry course I took as a freshman, and great professors, set my life’s direction.”

Randy Russell
Chairman and President of Ranbar Technology, Inc.
and Ranbar Electrical Materials, Inc.
Vice Chairman of Preservation Technologies, LLP

Program in Chemistry

A chemistry major studies the characteristics and interactions of matter in order to develop a rational perspective toward chemical information and technology. Two programs of study are available: bachelor of arts and bachelor of science. The bachelor of arts program allows more flexibility in choosing electives to complement the students interests and career goals. The bachelor of science program, which requires more credits in chemistry, is designed to prepare students for postgraduate chemistry programs. Both programs are designed to steadily develop the quantitative, deductive and inductive reasoning skills chemists are expected to have. Students in either program are strongly encouraged to do research under the direction of one of our faculty.

Graduates are qualified and prepared for the variety of professional positions available to chemists in industry or government. Alternatively, graduates can pursue further education in chemistry, engineering, medicine and a number of other science related programs. Students seeking state certification in secondary education must also complete requirements for a Master of Education degree.

The SRU student chemistry affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society has won national awards on three occasions in recent years. Among student activities are field trips, local events such as “Chem. Games” and independent research projects with members of the faculty, often leading to presentations at American Chemistry Society meetings.

Chemistry majors graduating from Slippery Rock University have gone on to pursue a variety of careers. Examples include positions in industry, obtaining secondary education degrees, attending graduate school, and attending professional schools, including dentistry, pharmacy, and medicine.

College-Wide Requirements: CHEM 107, 111, MATH 225, PHYS 211

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
Major: Chemistry (38-39 credits)

Required Courses

Chemistry Courses (31-32 credits): CHEM *108, 112, *201, *202, 211, 212, 301, 321, 335, 336, 350, 351, 425, 426, plus 3-4 credits at the 300 level or above.
Mathematics Courses (4 credits): MATH 230
Physics Courses (3 credits): PHYS 213

*Students must earn at least a “C” or better in these courses to register for Chemistry courses numbered 300 or above.

Degree Completion in Four Years
Chemistry (BA)

Freshman Year	Hours		Sophomore Year	Hours
CHEM 107, 108, 111, 112	8		CHEM 201, 202, 211, 212	8
MATH 225, 230	8		PHYS 211, 213	7
Liberal Studies	14		Liberal Studies	15
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
Junior Year	Hours		Senior Year	Hours
CHEM 301, 321, 335, 336	8		CHEM 305, 351, 425, 426	8
CHEM Elective	3		Modern Language	6
Liberal Studies	16		Electives	13
Modern Languages	3		Liberal Studies	3
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
			Completion Hours	120

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science
Major: Chemistry (59 credits)

Required Courses for the Chemistry (BS) – Biochemistry Track

Chemistry Courses (32 credits): CHEM *108, 112, *201, *202, 211, 212, 301, 321, 335, 336, 350, 351, 425, 426, plus three credits from 337, and one credit from 496.
Computer Science Course (3 credits): CPSC 130, 140 or 180
Mathematics Courses (4 credits): MATH 230
Physics Courses (3 credits): PHYS 213
Biology Courses (17 credits): BIOL 104, 250, 330, 335, 370

*Students must earn at least a “C” or better in these courses to register for Chemistry courses numbered 300 or above.

Degree Completion in Four Years
Chemistry (BS) – Biochemistry Track

Freshman Year	Hours		Sophomore Year	Hours
CHEM 107, 108, 111, 112	8		CHEM 201, 202, 211, 212	8
MATH 225, 230	8		PHYS 211, 213	7
BIOL 104	4		BIOL 250	4
Liberal Studies	10		Liberal Studies	11
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
Junior Year	Hours		Senior Year	Hours
CHEM 301, 321, 335, 336, 350, 351	12		CHEM 337, 425, 426, 496	8
BIOL 330, 335	6		BIOL 370	3
CPSC	3		Liberal Studies	19
Liberal Studies	9
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
			Completion Hours	120

Required Courses for the Chemistry (BS) – Environmental Track

Chemistry Courses (36 credits): CHEM *108, 112, *201, *202, 211, 212, 301, 321, 335, 336, 340, 350, 351, 370, 425, 426.
Computer Science Course (3 credits): CPSC 130, 140 or 180
Mathematics Courses (4 credits): MATH 230
Physics Courses (3 credits): PHYS 213
Biology Courses (8 credits): BIOL 104, 357
Environmental Geosciences Courses (5 credits): EGEO 451, 453

*Students must earn at least a “C” or better in these courses to register for Chemistry courses numbered 300 or above.

Degree Completion in Four Years
Chemistry (BS) – Environmental Track

Freshman Year	Hours		Sophomore Year	Hours
CHEM 107, 108, 111, 112	8		CHEM 201, 202, 211, 212	8
MATH 225, 230	8		PHYS 211, 213	7
BIOL 104	4		Liberal Studies	15
Liberal Studies	10
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
Junior Year	Hours		Senior Year	Hours
CHEM 301, 321, 335, 336, 340, 370	14		CHEM 350, 351, 425, 426	8
BIOL 357	4		EGEO 451, 453	5
CPSC	3		Liberal Studies/Elective	17
Liberal Studies	9
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
			Completion Hours	120

Required Courses for the Chemistry (BS) – Non-Specialized Track

Chemistry Courses (37 credits): CHEM *108, 112, *201, *202, 211, 212, 301, 321, 335, 336, 350, 351, 425, 426, plus one credit from 496 and 6 credits at the 300 level or above.
Computer Science Course (3 credits): CPSC 130, 140 or 180
Mathematics Courses (8 credits): MATH 230, 231
Physics Courses (7 credits): PHYS 212, 213
Biology Courses (4 credits): BIOL 104

*Students must earn at least a “C” or better in these courses to register for Chemistry courses numbered 300 or above.

Degree Completion in Four Years
Chemistry (BS) – Non-Specialized Track

Freshman Year	Hours		Sophomore Year	Hours
CHEM 107, 108, 111, 112	8		CHEM 201, 202, 211, 212	8
MATH 225, 230	8		PHYS 211, 213	7
BIOL 104	4		MATH 231	4
Liberal Studies	10		Liberal Studies	11
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
Junior Year	Hours		Senior Year	Hours
CHEM 301, 321, 335, 336	8		CHEM 350, 351, 425, 426, 496	9
PHYS 212	4		CHEM Electives	6
CPSC	3		Liberal Studies/Electives	15
Liberal Studies	15
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
			Completion Hours	120

Requirements for the Minor in Chemistry

Required Courses
Option A: CHEM 107, 108, 111, 112, 201, 202, 211, 212, 335, 475
Option B: CHEM 107, 108, 111, 112, 225, 301, 302, 321, 322

Requirements for the Teacher Certification in Chemistry

Teacher certification is earned through the master of education degree at Slippery Rock University. Students seeking secondary school teaching certification in chemistry must earn a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and contact the Department of Secondary Education/Foundations of Education concerning its graduate program in education. Information about this program, including prerequisites for admission, may be obtained from the secondary education/foundations of education office in 114 McKay Education Building.

Program in Physics

Physicists study the world around us in order to discover the basic principles or laws which govern the natural world. As a physicist you can:

• Seek to understand the origin of the universe and the ultimate structure of matter;
  
• Study the principles underlying the structure of materials in order to design faster computer chips or improved liquid crystals used for electronic displays;
  
• Work in hands-on lab courses studying laser-based optics, learn electronic instrumentation for the physical sciences including the computer acquisition and analysis of data, and use modern lab equipment such as the electron spin resonance spectrometer which can detect the radiation from individual atoms;
  
• Acquire the theoretical and experimental background for work in areas such as acoustics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, education mathematical physics, and engineering.

Developments in science and technology move very fast and a degree in Physics provides you with the fundamental tools, which you will, need in order to attack the scientific and technological problems of this millennium.
An undergraduate degree in Physics gives students a broad, deep, rigorous understanding to solve many types of quantitative problems, a skill which is useful to many different careers in computers, engineering, finance, etc. With the rapid and unpredictable pace and direction of technological advance, training in physics gives the undergraduate their most important skill, namely the ability to think clearly and rigorously about a technical problem which may arise in the workplace.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
Major: Physics (39 credits)*

Required Courses (19 credits): PHYS 212, 213, 314, 331, 381, 411
Elective Physics (select 6 credits): PHYS/CHEM 301, PHYS 315, 325, 410, 480
Related Field Work (14 credits): CPSC 140, MATH 230, 231, 240
*A language is required of all BA majors

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts
Major: Physics

Specialization: Engineering
See the Pre-professional Programs section.

Degree Completion in Four Years
Physics (BA)

Freshman Year	Hours		Sophomore Year	Hours
PHYS 211, 213	7		PHYS 212	4
CHEM 107, 111	4		CPSC	3
MATH 225, 230	8		MATH 231, 240	7
Liberal Studies	11		Liberal Studies	16
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
Junior Year	Hours		Senior Year	Hours
PHYS 314, 331, 381, 411	12		PHYS Elective	6
Liberal Studies	15		Modern Language	6
Modern Languages	3		Electives	15
			Liberal Studies	3
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
			Completion Hours	120

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science
Major: Physics (57 credits)

Required Courses (30 credits): PHYS 212, 213, 314, 331, 371, 381 (must take twice), 410, 411, 480

Elective Physics (Select 6 credits): PHYS/CHEM 301, PHYS 315, 325

Related Field Work (21 credits): CHEM 108, 112; MATH 230, 231, 240, 301, CPSC 140

Degree Completion in Four Years
Physics (BS)

Freshman Year	Hours		Sophomore Year	Hours
PHYS 211, 213 7	7		PHYS 212 4	4
CHEM 107, 108, 111, 112 8	8		CPSC 3	3
MATH 225, 230 8	8		MATH 231, 240 7	7
Liberal Studies 7	7		Liberal Studies 16	16
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
Junior Year	Hours		Senior Year	Hours
PHYS 314, 331, 381, 411	12		PHYS 371, 381, 410, 480	11
PHYS Electives	6		Liberal Studies	19
MATH 301	3
Liberal Studies	9
Total Hours	30		Total Hours	30
			Completion Hours	120

Requirements for the Minor in Physics
Required Physics Courses (16-19 credits): PHYS 211, 212, 213 and two courses at or above the 300 level

Requirements for the Teacher Certification in Physics

Teacher certification is earned through the master of education degree at Slippery Rock. Students seeking secondary school teaching certification in physics must earn a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree in physics and contact the Department of Secondary Education/Foundations of Education concerning its graduate program in education. Information about this program, including prerequisites for admission, may be obtained from the secondary education/foundations of education office in 114 McKay Education Building.