The Applied Chemistry emphasis is designed for students who want to build a strong foundation in chemistry while also developing the practical skills needed for entry level industry careers. Through extensive lab work, hands-on training with modern instrumentation, and real-world problem-solving, students graduate ready to work in environmental testing, sustainable technologies, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, technical sales and service, laboratory management, and more. Opportunities for undergraduate research and internships further enhance career readiness. In addition, the coursework allows for greater flexibility to augment training in chemistry with coursework in other areas, such as computer and information science, marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation, technical communication, or other sciences such as biology.
Program Requirements
Required General Education
Limits, continuity, the derivative and applications, transcendental functions, L'Hopital's Rule, and development of the Riemann integral.
Prerequisites:
Satisfy Placement Table in this section, MATH 115 or both MATH 112 and MATH 113 with "C" (2.0) or better.
Goal Areas:
GE-04
General background in physical concepts for those who do not plan advanced study in physics or engineering. Topics include mechanics, fluids, heat and thermodynamics. Lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisites:
Either MATH 112 and MATH 113, or MATH 115
Goal Areas:
GE-02, GE-03
Major Common Core
Introduction to the basic principles of chemistry including atomic and molecular structure, bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermodynamics and states of matter. Laboratory will reinforce lecture concepts. Other prerequisites: High school chemistry or C (2.0) or higher in CHEM 104. C (2.0) or higher in MATH 112 or student must demonstrate math placement requirements at or above MATH 115 in the placement chart. See Mathematics for details.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 104 and Select 1 Course: MATH 112, MATH 113, MATH 115, MATH 121. High school chemistry or "C" (2.0) or higher in CHEM 104. "C" (2.0) or higher in MATH 112 or student must demonstrate math placement requirements at or above MATH 115 in the placement chart. See Mathematics for details.
Goal Areas:
GE-02, GE-03
Continuation of the basic principles of chemistry including properties of solutions, kinetics, acids and bases, equilibria, buffers, precipitation reactions, electron transfer reactions, electrochemistry, entropy and free energy. Laboratory will reinforce lecture concepts.
Prerequisites:
"C" (2.0) or higher in CHEM 201
The course will cover aspects of the ethical conduct of research, chemical safety, and preparation for a profession related to chemistry or biochemistry.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 322
Introduction to the principles of chemical analysis, with emphasis on classical methods of analysis. Lectures will stress the theory of chemical measurements and sample handling. Laboratory exercises will provide students with opportunities to explore calibration methods, method development, and established procedures for volumetric and gravimetric analyses. Basic atomic spectroscopy is also presented.
Prerequisites:
"C" (2.0) or higher in CHEM 202
Introduction to organic nomenclature, structure, bonding, chemical reactivity, organic acid-base reactions, mechanisms and stereochemistry. IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopy will be introduced. The chemistry of alkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes, alkynes, and alcohols will be covered. Laboratory illustrates synthetic techniques and the preparation and reactions of functional groups discussed during lecture. Other Prerequisites: C (2.0) or higher in all prerequisites.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 202, "C" (2.0) or higher in CHEM 202.
This course is a continuation Chem 322 and includes organic nomenclature, structure, bonding, chemical reactivity, organic acid-base reactions, and reaction mechanisms; the chemistry of ethers, aromatic and heterocyclic compounds, polyenes, ketones, aldehydes, amines, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, and alpha carbonyl compounds and synthetic transformations is covered.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 322 with a "C" (2.0) or higher.
Laboratory will highlight common techniques including recrystallization, melting point determination, simple and fractional distillation, extraction, gas and thin layer chromatography, and chemical and spectroscopic qualitative analysis. Single and multi-step syntheses illustrating aromatic and carbonyl chemistry will be performed.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 324
Capstone course for majors in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Chemistry Teaching. During this course, students will present their mentored undergraduate research projects OR present a literature review synthesized from primary literature articles. Forums for presentation include an oral presentation and poster presentation.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 445 or CHEM 465
Emphasis Common Core
Detailed treatment of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Topics include equations of state, laws of thermodynamics, phase and reaction equilibrium, reaction kinetics, and thermodynamic properties of polymers, solutions, and of biochemical and electrochemical processes. C (2.0) or higher in all prerequisites.
Prerequisites:
MATH 121, PHYS 211, CHEM 305
Includes waves and sound, electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and topics in modern physics. Lecture and laboratory.
The sources of various elements and chemical reactions between them in the atmosphere and hydrosphere are treated. Current research topics relevant to the field of environmental chemistry will also be addressed. Laboratory exercises will emphasize proper sampling technique and various analytical methods for quantifying environmentally important components.
Prerequisites:
"C" (2.0) or higher in CHEM 305
Spectroscopic techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and mass spectrometry for determining structural features of molecules will be covered. Spectroscopic methods emphasize interpretation of spectra, and also provide hands-on operation of the corresponding electronic instruments. The laboratory uses these techniques for the determination of the structures of a series of unknown compounds.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 322
Theory and practice of modern instrumental methods including basic electronics. Special emphasis placed on sampling methods, analog and digital electronics, electrochemistry, spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods, surface and thin-film analysis and computer acquisition and data processing techniques. A C (2.0) or higher required in all prerequisites.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 305. Select 1 Course: PHYS 212 or PHYS 223. "C" (2.0) or higher in all prerequisites.
Group 2 - Choose 3 - 4 Credit(s). Choose 1 course
This course is designed to survey descriptive main group chemistry and augment General Chemistry's introduction to solid state and nuclear chemistry.
Prerequisites:
"C" (2.0) or higher in CHEM 202
This course is designed to address transition metal chemistry, introduce bonding theory, nomenclature, reactivity and mechanisms for transition metal compounds. It will also address and use examples from bioinorganic chemistry and catalysis.
Prerequisites:
"C" (2.0) or higher in CHEM 202
Analysis of the structure and metabolism of biologically important compounds. This intermediate-level course is designed for students in the medical technology, food science, chemistry education, chemistry and pre-professional health majors. The laboratory teaches basic biochemical techniques. Other Prerequisites: C (2.0) or higher in prerequisite courses. CHEM 324 strongly recommended.
Prerequisites:
CHEM 322. CHEM 324 is strongly recommended.
Group 3 - Choose 3 - 4 Credit(s). Choose 1 course
In this course, students will develop discipline-specific skills in critical reading and evaluation of the primary and secondary literature, including the use of libraries and databases to identify reliable sources. Work will culminate in a literature review that synthesizes the current state of research in synthetic polymers, biological macromolecules, supramolecular aggregates and/or meso/nanoscale materials with consideration toward future directions. Throughout the course, students will participate in peer review, revision of written work, learn key ethical considerations of writing, develop better writing mechanics and understand different conventions of scientific writing all while increasing their familiarity in the topics above.
Prerequisites:
ENG 101, CHEM 324
Introduction to learning the written and oral communication of technical information. Assignments include writing and presenting proposals, reports, and documentation. Emphasis on use of rhetorical analysis, computer applications, collaborative writing, and usability testing to complete technical communication tasks in the workplace.
Prerequisites:
ENG 101
Goal Areas:
GE-02, GE-13
Introduction to written and visual communication of technical information in agricultural contexts. Through rhetorical analysis, collaborative and independent writing, and usability testing, students will learn strategies to produce clear, concise, accurate, and effective documents and presentations.
Prerequisites:
none
Emphasis Unrestricted Electives
Choose 9 credits and at least 3 different courses from the 300-400-level CHEM courses other than CHEM 479. No CHEM courses can be double-counted in the degree.
Policies
Admission to Major. No formal Admission to Major paperwork is required for Chemistry or Chemistry Teaching. Students may enroll in 300- and 400-level courses after they have declared Chemistry or Chemistry Teaching as their first major and successfully completed any pre-requisite courses. Students should also have an assigned advisor in the department with whom they discuss their program.
GPA Policy. Students obtaining a major or minor in chemistry must maintain an overall GPA of 2.2 in all courses required for their selected program. Chemistry Teaching majors must maintain an overall GPA of 2.50 in all courses required for their selected program. All majors cannot have more than 4 credits of "D" (1.0) work in chemistry courses.
P/N Grading Policy. Courses leading to a major or minor in chemistry or biochemistry may not be taken on a P/N basis except where P/N grading is mandatory.
For students who choose to obtain a BS in Chemistry, CHEM 489 must be taken at Minnesota State Mankato. This course will not be substituted. This policy does not apply to students who choose to obtain a BS in Chemistry Teaching.
Students who use CHEM 498 (Undergraduate Research) as elective credits towards their Chemistry degree must submit a written research report to their faculty mentor upon completion of CHEM 498.
The first year of coursework for all chemistry majors should include general chemistry and mathematics (selection of courses depends on mathematics background). The second year should include organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, additional mathematics and physics. For BS chemistry majors, it is important that the calculus and physics sequences be completed early in the program since they are prerequisites for physical chemistry. Either physical chemistry or instrumental analysis should be taken during the third year. Other upper division courses in chemistry and biochemistry can be taken in either the third or fourth year. Participation in senior capstone is required of all BS majors in their last semester. Chemistry teaching majors see your chemistry advisor for placement of senior capstone in your program. The required coursework in mathematics may be credited towards a major or minor, so it is often desirable and convenient to choose a joint major or minor in mathematics.
Transfer students who are considering the Chemistry BS should note that before taking physical chemistry in the third (junior) year, students must successfully complete with a grade of "C" (2.0) or higher an analytical chemistry course in addition to appropriate mathematics and physics courses either here at Minnesota State Mankato or transferable to Minnesota State Mankato. Completion of an associate's degree may not meet the physical chemistry prerequisites and may add up to one year to the program of study.
Transfer students who are considering the Chemistry Teaching BS should consult with their chemistry advisor as soon as possible.
Degree Bachelor of Science
Major Credits 61
Total Credits 120
Locations Mankato
Career Cluster Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
