S&T offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees for undergraduate chemistry students.
The Bachelor of Arts degree offers a broad liberal arts education and allows the chemistry major to choose a curriculum to focus on individual career goals. Additionally, one may choose to follow the “Secondary Education emphasis” curriculum that has been designed for students interested in teaching at the secondary education level. The Department of Chemistry is working closely with the Department of Teacher Education and Certification to bring the best of modern pedagogy to STEM education and vice versa. This program is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students intending to teach in other states are responsible for investigating the reciprocity agreement of that state agency.
The Bachelor of Science degree places strong emphasis on chemistry education and is certified by the American Chemical Society. Students may opt for more specialized curricula, and the designed emphasis areas include Biochemistry, Polymer & Coatings Chemistry, and Pre-medicine.
Information about the required coursework for both degrees and a suggested timeline for the completion of these courses can be found here:
This degree program is most appropriate for chemistry majors studying to become bone fide chemists. The B.S. in Chemistry opens the door for employment opportunities in the chemical industry and it is the traditional gateway degree to enter graduate school to pursue M.S. and/or Ph.D. degrees. All B.S. curricula place high value on the students’ preparation for research and are approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The emphasis areas are defined by the appropriate sets of electives courses.
This degree plan allows students to build a solid foundation in the chemistry major while enabling aspirations to apply chemistry knowledge within the contexts of other disciplines. Students should pursue this degree in preparation for careers in chemical business/sales/marketing, in legal fields including patent law, in environmental policy, and so on. This degree might also be an option of students interested in STEM education.
This degree plan is specified by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for education and certification of secondary education teachers (i.e., high school) in chemistry and science teaching careers.
All students at Missouri S&T are required to participate in appropriate experiential learning activities. Experiential learning refers to learning stimulated by a variety of structured activities that differ significantly from the traditional lecture format. Experiential learning activities are designed to require students to go beyond mastering basic skills and knowledge in the application of that material to problem solving challenges. These activities involve collaboration and reflective learning and allow students to learn in environments that align with their aptitudes.