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Undergraduate Degrees:

• Fast Track Programs:

Graduate Certificate Programs:

Graduate Programs:

BA in Chemistry:

The B.A. degree in Chemistry is designed for students who desire: (1) a strong chemistry background for careers in the health field (see advisor concerning additional necessary courses), (2) careers in industry, including textile chemistry, technical sales, government laboratories, patent law, library fields, etc., or (3) a single subject teaching credential (science, chemistry). 

BS Chemistry:

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry prepares students for careers as professional chemists and serves as a foundation for careers in other fields such as biology and medicine. The curriculum offers a thorough fundamental knowledge of the major fields of chemistry, covering the general areas of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, plus many more specialized courses including analytical, nuclear, and biophysical chemistry and chemical biology. Students gain laboratory experience in inorganic and organic synthesis, analytical methods, physical chemical measurements, spectroscopy, biochemical engineering, and chemical methods in nuclear technology. Undergraduates are encouraged to take full advantage of the scientific opportunities available in the department by joining a research group.

Secondary Education Concentration with 7-12 Life Science Certification and 7-12 Science Certification:
The two Secondary Education Concentrations are for Chemistry majors wishing to achieve secondary education certification as they complete the BS degree.  These options require a minor in Secondary Education that follows certification tracks for either Science or Physicals for grades 7-12. The major and minor requirements for these tracks are the same, but the additional science requirements are different for the Science versus Physical Sciences certification. Adequate scores on state-administered examinations after completion of all coursework are also required for teacher certification. 

BS Biochemistry:

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry is intended to prepare students for professional careers as chemists, either upon graduation or after graduate study in chemistry or related fields. In addition, it may serve as the basis for work in many areas outside pure chemistry, such as materials science, medicine and other health-related fields, pharmacology, patent law, business, and environmental science. The Honors Option is intended to prepare students for academic or research careers. 

Fast Track from Chemistry to MS in Chemistry:

This program allows students who are within 30 hours of graduating and have an overall and majors GPA of at least 3.5 to complete 15 hours of graduate courses and have them count toward their undergraduate degree and toward their master’s degree if they plan to pursue a master’s degree. 

Fast Track from BS Chemistry to PMS in Bioinformatics:

Students within 30 hours of graduating with BS in Chemistry with at least 3.3 cumulative GPA are allowed to complete up to 15 hours of graduate courses and have them count toward their undergraduate degree and toward their Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree in Bioinformatics. As part of the national effort in developing PSM degrees to train science professionals, this fast-track program is designed specifically for individuals with strong chemistry backgrounds to acquire bioinformatics techniques and develop professional skills with communication training. Bioinformaticians will be able to function as professionals in many different private, academic, and government sectors, with careers requiring skills for chemoinformatics and genomic data analyses related to agricultural and human health issues.

Graduate Certificate in Chemistry:

The Graduate Certificate Program in Chemistry provides students with thorough training in basic chemistry concepts at the graduate level. This program is appropriate for those who are graduates in chemistry or chemistry-related fields such as chemical engineering, industrial chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, and biochemistry who seek further training in chemistry but do not wish to go through the rigors of a thesis/dissertation-based graduate degree program. The focus is on exposure to advanced chemistry concepts, which will be particularly helpful for graduates planning to be secondary school teachers. 

MS in Chemistry:

The Master of Science degree program in chemistry focuses on developing the skills necessary for students to conduct specialized laboratory research in preparation for careers in highly-competitive chemical and biological industries. An MS in chemistry prepares students for careers in various areas of research, development, education, and administration, or for further study at the doctoral level. Students can focus on several areas of specialization including Analytical, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Chemical Physics. 

PhD in Chemistry:

The Chemistry department administers the Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry which consists of 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s level (or at least 42 hours beyond the master’s level). The program will provide opportunities for education and research in areas consistent with the strengths of department faculty and established research initiatives. The program is designed to prepare professional chemists for careers in teaching and research in academic, industrial and public sector settings. It will contribute to meeting an anticipated need for doctoral-trained chemists, particularly Hispanics, in industry and in academe. The border region location also places the Â鶹¹ÙÍø program to collaborate with locally-based industry to exploit the opportunities for commercialization of research results.