Aberdeen, USA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest start date
TUITION FEES
USD 28,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* estimated yearly total for international students; USD 17,677 - estimated yearly total for residents
Key Summary
Introduction
Students here are encouraged to explore their individual interests and work closely with professors on research projects. Students may be able to present the results of their research at national or regional meetings - even publish their works in scientific journals.
As part of NSU's preprofessional programs, the study of chemistry provides excellent preparation for medical, dental, veterinary, or chiropractic school admission. It also prepares students to attend graduate school or work in the chemical industry.
In our program, you'll learn to operate a wide range of modern instruments, including:
- Ultraviolet-visible and infrared (UV and IR) spectrophotometers
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and
- A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrophotometer
NSU chemistry students pursuing the chemistry major have the option of taking courses in analytical, biochemistry, organic, chemical education, environmental, and physical chemistry, or material science.
Chemistry-Forensic Science Specialization
If you're patient, detail-oriented, and like to solve crime puzzles, you can specialize in chemistry-forensic science at NSU to prepare for a career as a forensic chemist. Forensic chemists analyze physical evidence and samples for clues to solve crimes.
If you'd like to work with trace evidence, such as glass, hairs, and gunshot residue, focus on instrumentation skills and take courses in geology, soil chemistry, and materials science.
If you prefer forensic biology, such as DNA analysis, take microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry courses.
If you're interested in obtaining and interpreting toxicology reports, you should study physiology, biochemistry, and chemistry.
Program Outcome
- Students demonstrate the ability to research a particular chemistry concept and the history behind it and can accurately present the information to peers. (Cross-curricular Skill: Inquiry and Analysis)
- Students will demonstrate the ability to understand and break down different types of chemistry problems into multiple steps, resulting in an informed conclusion. (Cross-curricular Skill: Critical and Creative Thinking)
- Students will demonstrate the ability to identify, locate and use mathematical principles, data tables, and scientific articles to solve applied problems and develop their own unique arguments. (Cross-curricular Skill: Information Literacy)
- Students will demonstrate the ability to work as a team while completing a chemistry-related project. (Cross-curricular Skill: Teamwork)
- Students will form convincing arguments to prove or disprove chemical statements. (Cross-curricular Skill: Problem Solving)
Curriculum
First Year Fall
- IDL 190, Freshman Seminar 2
- CHEM 130, Success in Science 1
- MATH 114/L, College Algebra* 3-4
- CHEM 112/L, General Chemistry I 4
- Behavioral/Social Sciences Course 3
First Year Spring
- Arts and Humanities Course 3
- ENGL 101, Composition I 3
- MATH 120, Trigonometry*** 3
- CHEM 114/L, General Chemistry II 4
- Behavioral/Social Sciences Course 3
Second Year Fall
- MATH 123, Calculus I 4
- CHEM 326/L, Organic Chemistry I 4
- PHYS 111/L, Physics I*** 4
- ENGL 201, Composition II 3
Second Year Spring
- CHEM 328/L, Organic Chemistry II
- PHYS 113/L, Physics II*** 4
- SPCM 101, Fundamentals of Speech* 3
- Arts and Humanities Course 3
- MATH 125, Calculus II*** 4
Third Year Fall
- CHEM 332/L, Analytical Chemistry 4
- MATH 225, Calculus III*** 4
- HLTH 100/L, Wellness for Life*** 2
- BIOL 235/L, Introduction to Biotechnology*** 3
Third Year Spring
- CHEM 434/L, Instrumental Analysis 4
- CHEM 452/L, Inorganic Chemistry 4
- Professional Technical Grant Writing*** 3
- MIS 205, Advanced Computer Applications*** 3
Fourth Year Fall
- CHEM 490, Seminar 1
- CHEM 342, Physical Chemistry I 3
- BIOL 240/L, Biotechnology Lab Methods*** 3
- CHEM 482, Environmental Chemistry*** 3
- Elective or minor course 3
- Elective or minor course 3
Fourth Year Spring
- CHEM 344, Physical Chemistry II 3
- CHEM 498, Undergraduate Research and Scholarship 1
- Human Values Course 3
- BIOL 245/L, Cell Culture Techniques*** 3
- CHEM 314/L, Criminalistics*** 3
- CSC 273, Computer Mathematics with Excel and VBA*** 3
*Fulfills a General Education Requirement. Other course options may be available.
**Fulfills a major requirement. Other course options may be available.
***Fulfills a general elective. Other course options may be available.
Suggested Double Majors: Math, Chemistry- FS.
Suggested Minors: Math, Quantitative Analytics in Science.
Career Opportunities
Chemist: Potential careers include analytical, inorganic, medicinal, organic, physical, or theoretical chemist; biochemist, teacher, professor, and materials scientist.
Forensic chemist: Forensic chemists usually work in labs associated with a federal, state, or local police department, medical examiner's office, forensic services lab, or branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
More career opportunities may be found in other fields of forensic science, education, or administration.
Chemists often work for private, for-profit businesses such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms and the chemical manufacturing industry; others are consultants or independent business owners. The education sector employs chemists and many works in government.
Many chemistry majors go on to earn advanced degrees and enter the health care industry: medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, podiatry, or veterinary.
Northern's placement rate for the past five years was 82 percent for medical school and 83 percent for dental school.
Internships
NSU offers extraordinary hands-on opportunities for undergraduate research or internships in chemistry. At NSU, students work closely in the lab with professors and equipment in a way not often available in other classrooms and labs. NSU students also have the chance to perform original chemistry research on their own, under faculty mentorship. Many students find that a summer undergraduate research project or internship helps crystallize their career goals.