Department of Physical Sciences

The Department of Physical Sciences offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Chemistry and Physics and the Associate in Applied Science degree with a major in Electronic Engineering Technology.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY (340)

Chemistry is central to the study of all modern sciences and is therefore prerequisite to and required by many separate disciplines, even for their introductory courses. Since chemistry as a discipline is designed and structured as a vertical hierarchy (each course follows another and the preceding course is a required prerequisite) it is important to start the study of chemistry early in your college career. A basic year to two years of chemistry are required for entry into most allied health programs such as pharmacy, medical technology, physical and occupational therapy, radiological technology, biotechnology, and environmental sciences. A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry may be used to enter industry, teach, fulfill requirements for pre-professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, chemical engineering, and to enter graduate school for the further study of forensic science, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental science and other advanced programs.

At Cameron University there are three options to select from within the chemistry program. The selected option should be based upon the student’s long-term occupational goal. There are several possible goals not addressed here that should be discussed further with an advisor. The American Chemical Society (ACS) Certified Chemistry Degree Option is recommended for students considering a career in chemistry, especially those considering graduate study in any field of chemistry including engineering. Our non-ACS Chemistry Degree Option requires fewer upper-level chemistry courses, and the student must select a minor, usually biology or mathematics. This course of study is recommended for those wishing to prepare for industry, engineering, and graduate study. For graduate study in most areas, the ACS Certified Chemistry Degree Option is probably the better program, although both chemistry degree programs have been well received by graduate institutions. The Health Profession Chemistry Degree Option is a non-traditional approach. This course of study is recommended for those wishing to prepare for careers in the health industries (medicine, osteopathy, optometry, dentistry, veterinary medicine) because it overlaps and fulfills almost all pre-professional admission requirements as part of the degree plan. Please note that all chemistry degree programs require Physics I and Physics II in addition to the minimum chemistry requirements.

I. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 hours

General Education Requirements

II. MAJOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 hours minimum

Required Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 hours
CHEM 1361/1364, CHEM 1471/1474, CHEM 3113, CHEM 3232, CHEM 3314, CHEM 3324, PSCI 4442, PHYS 1115 or 2015 (preferred), PHYS 1215 or 2025 (preferred)

Options
Majors must select from the following options (A, B, or C):

A. American Chemical Society (ACS) Certified Chemistry Option

Required Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 hours
CHEM 4025, CHEM 4403, CHEM 4334, CHEM 4351, CHEM 4353, CHEM 4361, CHEM 4363, CHEM 4491-3 Special Problems Research*, MATH 2235, MATH 2244, MATH 3253, MATH 4433 (preferred) or MATH 2613.
*Only 3 hours for CHEM 4491-3 may be counted toward completion of the required 50 hours for chemistry degree. Must take a minimum of 2 credit hours of Special Problems Research.

Electives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .to total 50 hours of Chemistry courses
CHEM 2441, CHEM 3334, CHEM 3343, CHEM 4401, CHEM 4411, CHEM 4413, CHEM 4332, CHEM 4481-3

B. Chemistry Degree Option (non-ACS) (must select minor)

Required Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 hours
Choose one option - (Physical Chemistry or Biochemistry)

1. Physical Chemistry - CHEM 4351, CHEM 4353, CHEM 4361, and CHEM 4363

2. Biochemistry - CHEM 4401, CHEM 4403, CHEM 4411, and CHEM 4413

Required Upper Division Analytical Elective . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 hours
CHEM 3334 or CHEM 3343 or CHEM 4025

Electives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .to total 40 hours of Chemistry courses
CHEM 2441, CHEM 3334, CHEM 3343, CHEM 4025, CHEM 4332, CHEM 4334, CHEM 4481-3, CHEM 4491-3*

*Only 3 hours of CHEM 4491-3 may be counted toward completion of the required 50 hours for chemistry degree.

C. Health Profession Chemistry Degree Option

Required Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 hours
CHEM 4401, CHEM 4403, CHEM 4411, CHEM 4413, BIOL 1364, BIOL 1474, BIOL 2124 or BIOL 3154, CIS 1013

Guided Electives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 hours
1. Must select at least one lower division course from the following: AGRC 1124, BIOL 2034, BIOL 2134, or BIOL 2154

2. Substitutions can be made for other professional health programs. ANIM 3653, BIOL 3014, BIOL 3093, BIOL 3174, BIOL 4004, CHEM 3334, CHEM 3343, CHEM 4025, CHEM 4332, CHEM 4334, CHEM 4481-3, CHEM 4491-3*, STAT 3003

*Only 3 hours of CHEM 4491-3 may be counted toward completion of the required 50 hours for chemistry degree.

III. ELECTIVES TO COMPLETE 128 HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
MAJOR IN PHYSICS (385)

Physics is one of the basic sciences required by many disciplines. The Physics program at Cameron University emphasizes the multi-disciplinary approach and meets the needs of most pre-engineering programs. Graduates of the program generally enter industry (aerospace and defense industries are most common) or go on to graduate studies in physics, mathematics, computer science or other related areas. The Physics program requires that a minor in Mathematics be completed as fulfillment of the prerequisite courses for the upper division physics courses. Flexibility in the program is obtained by allowing the student to choose courses for study from the areas of chemistry, technology, and mathematics to fulfill degree requirements.

I. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 hours

General Education Requirements

II. MAJOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 hours

Required Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 hours
PHYS 1115 or PHYS 2015, PHYS 1215 or PHYS 2025, PHYS 3003, PHYS 3011, PHYS 3043, PHYS 3303, PHYS 3403, PHYS 4113, PSCI 4442

Course Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 hours
Option A Electronics (5 hours)
PHYS 3031 and PHYS 3024

Option B Optics (4 hours)
PHYS 4401 and PHYS 4403

Other Elective Courses to Total 40 hours
CHEM 4353, CHEM 4363, PHYS 3033, PHYS 4452, PHYS 4481-3, PHYS 4491-3

III. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 hours

All physics majors must complete the following courses: CIS 2013,
CHEM 1474/1471, MATH 2235, MATH 2244, and MATH 3253.
Depending upon high school background some students may also need: MATH 0013, MATH 0103, MATH 0213 and/or MATH 0115, MATH 1513, MATH 1613 and/or MATH 1715 as prerequisites. Some of these courses may be used to satisfy General Education requirements.

IV. MINOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 hours

(It is strongly recommended that the student select a minor from the fields of Mathematics or Chemistry.)

V. ELECTIVES TO COMPLETE 128 HOURS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION.

ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE
MAJOR IN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY (540)

Electronic Engineering Technology concepts and applications with emphasis in developing circuitry and test equipment expertise. Electronic Engineering Technology graduates are entry level electronics applications specialists. Typical career paths include computers, telecommunications, electronic controls, manufacturing, and research and development.

I. GENERAL EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 hours

Required Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 hours
ENGL 1113, PS 1113 (6 hours); HIST 1483 or HIST 1493 (3 hours)

Selected Electives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 hours
Behavioral Science or Economics (3 hours); ENGL 1213 or COMM 1113 (3 hours); Humanities (3 hours)

II. MAJOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 hours

TECHNICAL SPECIALTY

Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 hours
EET 1013, EET 1023, EET 1053, EET 2013, EET 2023, EET 2133, EET 2193, EET 2243, EET 2263

TECHNICAL-OCCUPATIONAL SUPPORT COURSES . 10 hours
CAD 1013, CIS 2013 or CIS 2023, PHYS 1004

TECHNICAL-OCCUPATIONAL RELATED COURSE WORK . . .6 hours
MATH 1513, MATH 1613
(NOTE: MATH 1715 plus 1 hour elective will satisfy this requirement)

TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 hours