Chemistry (B.A., B.S.)
The strength of the chemistry programs at Bloomsburg University is in the quality of its faculty, in the flexible structure of the curriculum and in the modern facilities. The Department of Chemistry is recognized by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS) as one that meets its nationally recognized standards for undergraduate education in chemistry. The chemistry department is housed in a newly renovated facility, with an excellent collection of computers and chemical instrumentation dedicated to undergraduate education. At Bloomsburg the student will have a Ph.D. chemist in the laboratory as the instructor, not a graduate student teaching assistant.
Facilities and Equipment
Because of growing program demands, Hartline Science Center is being substantially expanded and renovated for the second time in 13 years, mostly to expand laboratory facilities.
The Chemistry Department has available for student use most of the major scientific equipment normally present in industrial and graduate research environments, including instrumentation in such areas as atomic spectroscopy, electrochemistry, FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-visible-NIR spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography, fluorescence spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, ultra-centrifugation, light scattering, vacuum techniques, protein and nucleic acid electrophoresis, laser kinetic apparatus, DNA thermocycler and nuclear magnetic resonance.
Transferring to BU
Many students transfer to Bloomsburg University after one or more years of college elsewhere to take advantage of the quality programs on campus. Early contact with a faculty advisor will smooth the transition into the chemistry program as well as campus life in general. All interested students who have been accepted into the university for transfer should contact the chairperson in the Department of Chemistry for further information.
Students transferring into the chemistry program for the junior year should have completed four semesters of chemistry: two semesters of general chemistry, especially those courses stressing inorganic chemistry and chemical principles and two semesters of organic chemistry. All of these courses should have a laboratory component. In addition, a year of general physics and several calculus courses through multiple variables is highly recommended.
Chemistry (B.S.)
The Bachelor of Science program in chemistry is designed to give students a strong background in the sciences with several options. The degree has three tracks all with a common 5-semester core requirement:
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.) .
- Bachelor of Science Degree with a biochemistry option (B.S.-biochemistry) which has an additional molecular biology emphasis.
- American Chemical Society (ACS) - approved degree. (B.S.-ACS)
The Bachelor of Science degree offers a strong professional preparation in chemistry. It is recommended for those students who wish to follow a pre-law curriculum or to enter business upon graduation. The standard B.S. degree allows ample time for taking additional courses in other disciplines and taking a minor in related fields of interest. The B.S. chemistry-business minor program allows students to enter the Masters of Business Administration program in the College of Business at the end of the fourth year. Such a choice of study allows a student to have the background to be eligible for admission in masters of business administration (MBA) programs after graduation.
Chemistry - Biochemistry Option (B.S.)
Students interested in a pre-medical or pre-dental curriculum are encouraged to take the B.S.- biochemistry option. This curriculum features a requirement of a full year of biochemistry/molecular biology and four courses in biology.
A.C.S. Certification
Most students in either the B.S. or B.S.-biochemistry tracks chose to take additional courses to meet the standards for certification for undergraduate professional training by the American Chemical Society, the largest scientific society in the world. This is our B. S. - ACS degree. Students who intend to pursue advanced degrees in chemistry, biochemistry or related disciplines or who anticipate a career in the chemical industry and research are encouraged to take the B.S.-ACS program. Students in this program will culminate their studies by conducting an independent research project in collaboration with a faculty member. These individual research projects may be part of a larger research program by the faculty member and may lead to a presentation or publication with the student as a co-author. This experience is extremely valuable if the student decides to go to graduate school or industrial research. Students completing the B.S.-ACS degree program are certified by the American Chemical Society and become eligible for membership in the society immediately upon graduation.
Students who wish to qualify for Honors in Chemistry must take the B.S.-ACS course of study and three semesters of undergraduate research.
Clinical Chemistry (B.S.)
Clinical Chemistry is a select program in cooperation with the Geisinger Medical Center in nearby Danville, Pa. It is designed to prepare students for careers in a hospital setting or a pharmaceutical clinical laboratory. The program features a senior-year, 12-month clinical research experience in a laboratory at the Penn State/Geisinger Medical Center.
Students who wish to pursue careers as chemistry teachers at the secondary education level should select the Bachelor of Science in Education program. (B.S.Ed.) This curriculum is offered in cooperation with the College of Professional Studies. (See Secondary Education.)
Chemistry (B.A.)
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) curriculum is designed for students in such programs as pre-engineering or pre-pharmacy. These are typically a "3+2" or "3+3" schedule in which students spend three years at Bloomsburg and the remaining semesters at another campus. Students interested in chemical engineering can take part in the Cooperative Program in Engineering with The Pennsylvania State University. With the addition of three courses beyond the requirements of the B.A., a student may earn a B. A. in chemistry and a B. S. in chemical engineering after completing the program.
Chemistry Minor
The minor in chemistry consists of 19 to 21 semester hours. A minor in chemistry shall be awarded when a student obtains a 2.0 grade point average in prescribed courses. In addition to meeting the grade point average requirement, the student will be expected to meet with his/her minor adviser before scheduling the electives.