Academics
Undergraduate Programs: Majors and Minors
Undergraduate Programs: Majors and Minors
Chemistry, B.A.
About the Program
The chemistry B.A. degree program offers students a strong background in chemistry while providing students with two concentration options. The chemistry concentration has been approved by the American Chemical Society. Graduates of this program are fully prepared to assume entry-level positions as chemists with industrial or governmental laboratories, or to begin more specialized programs of study at the graduate level. The biochemistry concentration prepares students for both professional programs in health-related professions and advanced studies in biochemistry.
About the Chemistry Department
313 Science Building
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-5204
Fax: (716) 878-4028
www.buffalostate.edu/chemistry/
Contact Faculty and Staff in the Chemistry Department
Admission Requirements
None at the freshman level. Transfer students from two-year colleges should have earned credit for course equivalent to CHE 111, CHE 112, CHE 201, CHE 202, CHE 203, CHE 204, CHE 301, MAT 161, MAT 162, MAT 263, PHY 111, PHY 112, and BIO 211 (biochemistry concentration only) to avoid possible delays in the completion of the degree program. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 10 credits in chemistry at Buffalo State. Chemistry courses taken elsewhere may be substituted for similar courses at Buffalo State only if they have the same or equivalent prerequisites. Chemistry courses not meeting this criteria may be transferred as elective credit.
Transfer Admission Requirements: Transfer students from two-year colleges should have earned credit for course equivalent to CHE 111, CHE 112, CHE 201, CHE 202, CHE 203, CHE 204, CHE 301, MAT 161, MAT 162, MAT 263, PHY 111, PHY 112, and BIO 211 (biochemistry concentration only) to avoid possible delays in the completion of the degree program. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 10 credits in chemistry at Buffalo State. Chemistry courses taken elsewhere may be substituted for similar courses at Buffalo State only if they have the same or equivalent prerequisites. Chemistry courses not meeting this criterion may be transferred as elective credit.
Career Information
Depending on their individual degree programs, chemistry majors may be employed as forensic chemists, middle and high school teachers, or chemists with industrial or governmental laboratories. Graduates may also attend graduate school to study medicine, advanced chemistry, or other programs.
Graduates have been hired as middle and high school teachers, quality control chemists, research chemists, and forensic consultants. Typical hiring firms include consumer product companies, pharmaceutical companies, engineering firms, and research and development companies.
Recent graduates have been hired by many school districts and by companies such as Aerospace Corp., Honeywell, Eastman Kodak, Proctor & Gamble, Recra Environmental, Westwood Squibb, and Wilson Greatbatch Technologies.
Program Requirements
Intellectual Foundations Requirements 39–51 cr
Total Required Credit Hours in Chemistry 42–44 cr
A. Required Courses (28 cr)
CHE 111, CHE 112 Fundamentals of Chemistry I, II (4, 4)
CHE 201, CHE 202 Organic Chemistry I, II (3, 3)
CHE 203, CHE 204 Organic Chemistry Laboratories I, II (1, 1)
CHE 301 Analytical Chemistry (4)
CHE 305, CHE 306 Physical Chemistry I, II (3, 3)
CHE 307, CHE 308 Physical Chemistry Laboratories I, II (1, 1)
B. Concentration Courses
Students are required to complete one of the following concentrations:
Chemistry Concentration1 (14 cr)
CHE 310 Literature of Chemistry (1)
CHE 403 Instrumental Analysis (4)
CHE 460 Inorganic Chemistry
CHE 461 Inorganic Chemistry Lab (2)
CHE 470 Biochemistry I
CHE 471 Biochemical Techniques (1)
1In addition to the above courses, any student who wishes to meet American Chemical Society
minimum certification requirements must take CHE 430 or complete at least 3 credit hours in a
laboratory-based CHE 495 (research project).
Biochemistry Concentration (15–16 cr)
CHE 310 Literature of Chemistry (1)
CHE 470 Biochemistry I
CHE 471 Biochemical Techniques (1)
CHE 472 Biochemistry II
Select two courses from the following:
BIO 303 Genetics (4)
BIO 305 Molecular Biology (4)
BIO 314 Advanced Cell Biology (4)
BIO 316 General Microbiology (4)
BIO 450 Recombinant DNA (4)
Research-based course (CHE 495 or BIO 495)
Total Required Credit Hours in Other Fields 25–29 cr
BIO 211 Introduction to Cell Genetics (4)
MAT 161 Calculus I (4)
MAT 162 Calculus II (4)
MAT 163 Using Technology to Explore Calculus I (1)
MAT 164 Using Technology to Explore Calculus II (1)
MAT 263 Calculus III (4)
MAT 264 Using Technology to Explore Calculus III (1)
PHY 111 University Physics I (5)
PHY 112 University Physics II (5)
Note: BIO 211 is only required for the biochemistry concentration
All College Electives 0–14 cr
Total Required Credit Hours 120 cr
