Chemistry, BA

Introduction

The Chemistry (CHEM) program offerings are designed for students who want to become chemists, for those who would like to use chemistry to understand the behavior of living systems, and for those who wish to apply chemistry to problems in physics, geology, environmental science or marine science. It is also an appropriate degree program for students pursuing careers in engineering, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or science teaching at the secondary level. The CHEM program is approved by the American Chemistry Society (ACS) with the last reaccreditation in June 2021.

The program seeks to provide students with an opportunity to acquire a sound foundation in chemistry and to see its broader applications. Students are encouraged and expected to develop a comprehensive view of their subject as more than a simple sequence of courses. This requires attention to questions of methodology and intellectual style. Course offerings, laboratory experiments, seminars and independent study in the program are tailored to the background and goals of the individual student as much as possible. As the student progresses, emphasis shifts from relatively structured classroom and laboratory experiences to activities that require increasing independence and initiative on the student’s part. Undergraduate research is an integral part of the typical experience in the laboratory for juniors and seniors. 

Program Organization

Students typically begin in the Chemistry program with CHEM 2110: Chemistry I–General Principles and proceed through the CHEM 2110–2140 sequence (CHEM I, II, III, and IV) before advancing to upper-level coursework. It is important to note that at Stockton, CHEM I and IV are ‘General Chemistry’ while CHEM II and CHEM III are ‘Organic Chemistry’; thereby students may proceed to CHEM II or CHEM IV after taking CHEM I with lab. In some instances, if a student has a weak high school algebra background, additional math preparation may be necessary before beginning CHEM 2110. Important information for prospective students regarding math placement is available on the Academic Advising webpage.

Many students in the life sciences who are taking chemistry as a supporting program will find the recommended sequence of CHEM 2110 Chemistry I–General Principles and CHEM 2120 Chemistry II–Organic Structure to be sufficient for their needs. Others might find that Chemistry IV (CHEM 2140) should be taken AFTER Chemistry I to obtain the equivalent experience of a traditional year-long general chemistry course. 

The sophomore or junior who transfers to Stockton with a year’s coursework in general chemistry should register for CHEM 2120 Chemistry II–Organic Structure followed by CHEM 2130 Chemistry III–Organic Reactions. All courses in the Chemistry I–IV sequence have associated laboratories. CHEM 3025 Organic Techniques, designed to supplement Chemistry III, provides additional experience with organic synthesis and instrumentation. Intermediate-level courses in inorganic chemistry, laboratory methods and physical chemistry are required of all CHEM majors and are appropriate for a variety of other science majors.

Advanced elective courses in chemistry and biochemistry are offered on a regular basis. The listing of these courses and the semester offered can be found on the Chemistry program website and in the Course Catalog. A senior thesis or research-based internship is required of all CHEM majors for graduation. No more than 8 credits of research or internship may be counted toward any CHEM degree.  In addition to regularly scheduled courses, the CHEM 4700 topics series offers students the chance to work on special focus areas, laboratory projects and independent studies by arrangement with and permission of a faculty member. For more information on faculty specialties and interests, see the Chemistry Program website. 

Degree Options

Studies toward a degree in Chemistry are organized into six options or concentrations. 

B.A. general degree in Chemistry, appropriate as a general introduction to the physical sciences and for employment in chemistry.

B.S. general degree in Chemistry, suitable for employment or graduate study in chemistry and for professional programs in health-related fields.

B.S. degree in Chemistry with American Chemical Society (ACS) Certification, for those wishing a traditional, intensive background in Chemistry. This curriculum of the Chemistry program meets the undergraduate criteria established by the ACS and is included in the ACS list of approved programs. Students who complete the ACS requirements will be certified by the Society upon graduation.

B.S. degree in Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry Concentration, suitable for those interested in combining training in traditional Chemistry with the ability to apply that knowledge to environmental problems. This concentration prepares students for employment or graduate study in this field.

B.S. Chemistry and B.S. Engineering Dual-Degree for those interested particularly in Chemical Engineering. Stockton has established five-year dual-degree programs in Chemistry and Engineering with NJIT, Rowan University and Rutgers University. Under this option, Chemistry majors will spend their first three years at Stockton and last two years at NJIT, Rowan or Rutgers. The dual-degree program is described in more detail in the Engineering Dual-Degree program section in this Bulletin.

B.A. degree in Chemistry: Education Concentration, suitable for those wishing to pursue a career as a high school chemistry teacher. This concentration includes education and related courses necessary for certification in the State of New Jersey. 

Related Programs

The field of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology is the interface of Chemistry and Biology. Students interested in this area can study it from either of these basic starting points. A description of graduation requirements for the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology major (BCMB) is included in a separate chapter in the Bulletin. 

Admission to the Program

All interested students are welcome. Physics and mathematics are very much a part of the chemist’s thinking. The student with more than a casual interest in chemistry is, therefore, encouraged to develop, in high school, a solid background in the physical sciences and mathematics. The development of oral and written communication skills is also encouraged. The student whose background in these areas requires strengthening will be advised individually in the design of a program tailored to their needs.

Before students can declare this program as a major, they must demonstrate math readiness in ONE of the following ways: 

• SAT Math score of 570 or above

• ACT Math score of 24 and above

• Transfer of college-level algebra course (or college-level Precalculus/Calculus)

• Advanced Algebra and Function (AAF) Accuplacer score of 260 or higher

• Advanced Placement (AP) testing (refer to the AP credits policy)

• Successful completion of a sequence of math courses at Stockton to become eligible to take Precalculus (MATH 1100).

If a student does not meet these math requirements, Stockton University stands ready to assist these students prepare a strong math foundation with our introductory and intermediate courses in Mathematics. These courses are in addition to the courses required to complete a degree in Chemistry and may require additional time for a student to complete their degree.  

Graduation Requirements

The minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Chemistry is 64 credits of program and cognate courses. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree requires a minimum of 80 credits in program and cognate courses. These program credits, in combination with the University’s General Studies requirements and At-Some-Distance (ASD) courses, constitute the minimum of 128 credits necessary for a Stockton degree. University’s General Studies course requirements include the G-course distribution (32 credits), W and Q course requirements and AHRVI attributes. For details on General Studies requirements, visit the relevant section in this Bulletin. The ASD course requirement for the B.A. degree is 32 credits and for the B.S. degree is 16 credits. These courses are not directly related to the program and would include G-courses or courses from other programs. W, Q and AHRVI requirements could be met via G-course requirements, program course requirements, or ASD course requirements.

Although requirements are adjusted to suit the background and goals of each individual, the typical student in the program will choose to follow one of the specific program concentrations. Courses should be chosen carefully, with frequent guidance from one’s preceptor, to meet graduation requirements and each student’s career goals. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all graduation requirements are met in a timely manner.

In order to be eligible for graduation, a student must meet all University graduation requirements, including a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. University requirements for graduation can be found in the relevant section of this Bulletin. Special graduation requirements apply to transfer students as detailed in the relevant pages of this Bulletin. All Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NAMS) majors are required to meet a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in all NAMS courses. In addition, a student must satisfy the Chemistry program course distribution requirements and have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the program. The ACS certified degree requires a minimum 2.3 GPA in Chemistry Program courses. Additionally, a minimum grade of C- is required for all CHEM courses. No CHEM program or cognate course may be taken P/NC for any degree track in chemistry.  For the dual-degree Engineering concentration, a minimum grade of C for all courses as well as an overall GPA and an overall NAMS course GPA of 3.0 are required.

Students are expected to meet prerequisites specified for each required course in the course catalog. Students with deficiencies in incoming preparation may need to take additional courses as prerequisites, which may or may not count toward the degree requirements. A transfer student who wishes to major in Chemistry should contact the Program Chair prior to registering for courses at Stockton. Some transfer students may take longer to fulfill degree requirements, particularly if they are deficient in their science background. Also, continuously maintaining good standing as a student, including academic achievements and code of conduct as per university requirements, is imperative to the success of a student in any major. 

For the B.A. Degree - Education Concentration: The Chemistry B.A. core classes are required with Physics for Life Sciences I and II substituting for Physics I and II.  Additional Education and Psychology courses are required to complete the necessary requirements for certification in New Jersey. If a student switches out of the Education Concentration, the regular Chemistry B.A. requirements apply, which may require additional Chemistry or cognate courses. Students in this track are assigned two preceptors, one from Chemistry and one from the School of Education. For more details, please see the high-school chemistry teacher preparatory program and consult the preceptors. 

Graduation with Distinction

A Bachelor of Science degree with distinction in Chemistry will be awarded to students who meet University criteria and whose coursework and senior projects are judged by the Chemistry program faculty to be of outstanding quality. The award will be conferred by the Chemistry program faculty on those whose scholarly and scientific achievements are judged to be of unusual merit. 

Special Opportunities

Many Chemistry students choose to perform off campus work in a government, university or industrial laboratory, often as part of the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program. In addition, Stockton’s active Washington Internship program offers opportunities for placements in institutions like the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institutes of Health, or the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, located in the Washington, D.C. area. Academic credit will be granted for such experience, provided it contributes significantly to the student’s intellectual development. Credit will generally be contingent on a comprehensive report submitted after the experience is over. Students may choose to do some or all of their independent projects off campus. 

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of a degree program in Chemistry may be considered the initial step toward employment in industrial- or public-sector positions, including chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, sales, testing and evaluation, regulation and basic or applied research. It can also serve as a foundation for advanced study in science, human or veterinary medicine or dentistry, and for teaching at the secondary school or college level. Graduates of Stockton’s Chemistry program have been successful in all these areas.

Full degree curriculum and transfer audits for the chemistry program can be explored using the Degree Works web based tool. Full details about the curriculum are accessible on the Chemistry website.