Program Overview

Chemistry B.S./M.S. Program

The Chemistry B.S./M.S. program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in chemistry, preparing them for careers in research, industry, and education.

Program Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 138 credits, including general university requirements, general education requirements, B.S. degree requirements, and chemistry program requirements.

• General University Requirements: Complete the general university requirements.
• General Education Requirements: Complete the general education requirements (36-40 credits).
  • MATH F251X: Calculus I
  • PHYS F123X and PHYS F124X: College Physics I and II, or PHYS F211X and PHYS F212X: General Physics I and II
• B.S. Degree Requirements: Complete the B.S. degree requirements (16 credits).
  • MATH F252X: Calculus II
• Chemistry Program Requirements: Complete the following courses:
  • CHEM F105X and CHEM F105L: General Chemistry I and Lab (4 credits)
  • CHEM F106X and CHEM F106L: General Chemistry II and Lab (4 credits)
  • CHEM F202: Basic Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits)
  • CHEM F212: Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis (4 credits)
  • CHEM F321: Organic Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CHEM F325: Organic Chemistry II (4 credits)
  • CHEM F331: Physical Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CHEM F332: Physical Chemistry II (4 credits)
  • CHEM F434: Chemistry Capstone Laboratory (3 credits)
  • CHEM F449: General Biochemistry: Metabolism (3 credits)
  • CHEM F481: Seminar (1 credit)
  • CHEM F482: Seminar (2 credits)
• Concentration: Complete one of the following concentrations:
  • Chemistry
  • Biochemistry and Neuroscience
  • Environmental Chemistry

Concentrations

Chemistry

• Complete one of the following:
  • CHEM F488: Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (3-4 credits)
  • CHEM F288 and CHEM F488: Introduction to Chemical Research and Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (2-3 credits)
• Complete two of the following:
  • CHEM F314: Analytical Instrumental Laboratory
  • CHEM F402: Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHEM F450: Biochemistry: Macromolecule Information Storage and Transfer

Biochemistry and Neuroscience

• Complete the following:
  • BIOL F115X and BIOL F115L: Fundamentals of Biology I and Lab (4 credits)
  • BIOL F116X and BIOL F116L: Fundamentals of Biology II and Lab (4 credits)
  • CHEM F450: Biochemistry: Macromolecule Information Storage and Transfer (3 credits)
  • CHEM F488: Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (3 credits)
• Complete 10 credits from the following:
  • BIOL F240X: Beginnings in Microbiology
  • BIOL F260 and F260L: Principles of Genetics and Lab
  • BIOL F310 and F310L: Animal Physiology and Lab
  • BIOL F342 and F342L: Microbiology and Lab
  • BIOL F402: Biomedical and Research Ethics
  • BIOL F417: Neurobiology
  • BIOL F462: Infectious Diseases
  • CHEM F360: Cell and Molecular Biology
  • CHEM F455: Environmental Toxicology
  • CHEM F470: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • CHEM F474: Neurochemistry

Environmental Chemistry

• Complete the following:
  • CHEM F314: Analytical Instrumental Laboratory (3 credits)
  • CHEM F488: Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry Research (3 credits)
• Complete two of the following:
  • ATM F401: Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
  • BIOL F240X: Beginnings in Microbiology
  • BIOL F342: Microbiology
  • BIOL F457: Environmental Microbiology
  • GEOS F417: Introduction to Geochemistry
  • NRM F380: Soils and the Environment

M.S. Portion of the Chemistry B.S./M.S. Program

The M.S. portion of the program requires a minimum of 30 credits, including general university requirements, master's degree requirements, and chemistry program requirements.

• General University Requirements: Complete the graduate general university requirements.
• Master's Degree Requirements: Complete the master's degree requirements.
  • Oral and Written Comprehensive Exam
• Chemistry Program Requirements: Complete any deficiencies concurrently with this degree.
  • Complete two credits of advisory committee-approved seminar courses.
  • Complete 7-10 credits of courses approved by the advisory committee.
• Concentration: Complete 6-9 credits from relevant advisory-committee-approved graduate-level courses or select one of the following concentrations:
  • Biochemistry and Neuroscience
  • Environmental Chemistry
• Options: Complete one of the following:
  • Thesis Option
  • Project Option

Options

Thesis Option

• Complete the following:
  • CHEM F699: Thesis (6 credits)
  • Thesis credits or committee-approved courses that are F400-level or higher (6 credits)
• Submit a committee-approved, written research-based thesis proposal and pass an oral comprehensive examination centered on the proposal.
• Complete a committee-approved, research-based written thesis and pass an oral defense of the thesis.

Project Option

• Complete the following:
  • CHEM F698: Non-thesis Research/Project (6 credits)
  • Committee-approved courses that are F400-level or higher (6 credits)
• Submit a committee-approved, literature-based written project proposal and pass an oral comprehensive examination centered on the proposal.
• Complete a committee-approved, literature-based written project and pass an oral defense of the project.

Concentrations

Biochemistry and Neuroscience

• Complete 9 credits from the following:
  • CHEM F654: Protein Structure and Function
  • CHEM F657: Molecular Foundations of Gene Expression
  • CHEM F670: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • CHEM F674: Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics
  • CHEM F675: Cellular Signaling

Environmental Chemistry

• Complete 6 credits from the following:
  • CHEM F606: Atmospheric Chemistry
  • CHEM F609: Aqueous and Environmental Geochemistry
  • CHEM F631: Environmental Fate and Transport
  • CHEM F655: Environmental Toxicology

Admission Requirements

• Be admitted to the Chemistry baccalaureate program and have at least junior standing.
• Have a 3.0 GPA and have completed 24 of their undergraduate major requirements.
• Submit a study goal statement.
• Submit a UAF graduate application for admission.

Roadmaps

Roadmaps provide suggested semester-by-semester study plans for programs and are based on full-time enrollment, unless otherwise specified.

Chemistry Concentration

• First Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F105X, ECON F120X, MATH F251X, SOC F101X, WRTG F111X
  • Spring: CHEM F106X, HIST F100X, MATH F252X, COM F121X or COM F131X or COM F141X
• Second Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F212, CHEM F321, MATH F253X, PHYS F123X or PHYS F211X
  • Spring: CHEM F202, CHEM F325, LS F101X, WRTG F213X, PHYS F124X or PHYS F212X
• Third Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F331, CHEM F481, ENGL F200X, Concentration Course
  • Spring: CHEM F332, CHEM F449, CHEM F482, Degree Requirement - Ethics
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F434, Program Elective, Concentration Course, Complete one of the following: CHEM F488 or CHEM F288 and CHEM F488
  • Spring: Program Elective, Concentration Course, General Elective, General Elective
• Fifth Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F698 or F699, General Elective, General Elective, Complete one of the following: CHEM F688 or CHEM F691
  • Spring: CHEM F698 or F699, Degree Requirement - Other, Degree Requirement - Other, Comprehensive Examination

Biochemistry & Neuroscience Concentration

• First Year:
  • Fall: BIOL F115X, CHEM F105X, MATH F251X, SOC F101X, WRTG F111X
  • Spring: BIOL F116X, CHEM F106X, HIST F100X, MATH F252X, COM F121X or COM F131X or COM F141X
• Second Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F212, CHEM F321, MATH F253X, PHYS F123X or PHYS F211X
  • Spring: CHEM F202, CHEM F325, LS F101X, WRTG F213X, PHYS F124X or PHYS F212X
• Third Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F331, CHEM F450, CHEM F481, ENGL F200X
  • Spring: CHEM F332, CHEM F449, CHEM F482, Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed, Degree Requirement - Ethics
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F434, ECON F120X, Concentration Course, Concentration Course
  • Spring: CHEM F488, Program Elective, Concentration Course, Concentration Course
• Fifth Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F698 or F699, Program Elective, Complete one of the following: CHEM F688 or CHEM F691
  • Spring: CHEM F698 or F699, Concentration Course, Concentration Course, Comprehensive Examination

Environmental Chemistry Concentration

• First Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F105X, ECON F120X, MATH F251X, SOC F101X, WRTG F111X
  • Spring: CHEM F106X, HIST F100X, MATH F252X, COM F121X or COM F131X or COM F141X
• Second Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F212, CHEM F321, MATH F253X, PHYS F123X or PHYS F211X
  • Spring: CHEM F202, CHEM F325, LS F101X, WRTG F213X, PHYS F124X or PHYS F212X
• Third Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F331, CHEM F481, ENGL F200X, Concentration Course
  • Spring: CHEM F314, CHEM F332, CHEM F449, CHEM F482, Degree Requirement - Ethics
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F434, CHEM F488, Program Elective, Concentration Course
  • Spring: Program Elective, Concentration Course, General Elective, General Elective
• Fifth Year:
  • Fall: CHEM F698 or F699, Program Elective, Concentration Course, Complete one of the following: CHEM F688 or CHEM F691
  • Spring: CHEM F698 or F699, Degree Requirement - Other, Degree Requirement - Other, Comprehensive Examination

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Obtain fundamental chemical knowledge consistent with national standards for chemistry competency
• Attain baccalaureate-level chemistry knowledge in accordance with American Chemical Society Guidelines
• Have problem-solving, laboratory, and safety skills
• Have hands-on experience with modern chemical instrumentation
• Effectively communicate their work through oral/audiovisual presentations
• Have writing skills consistent with professional standards
• Attain a level of technical ability and knowledge to function as professionals in their discipline
• Have performed research using technical, safety, and problem-solving skills to contribute to their field
• Have communication/presentation skills consistent with professional standards
• Be employed or continue education in the field following graduation