Chemistry: Materials Science

Degree Type

Concentration

About

To address challenges like sustainable energy, pharmaceuticals, polymers and manufacturing materials, you first must understand the chemical reactions that make them possible.

Introduction

Computational chemistry uses computer models and simulations to solve complex chemical problems. Often working with enormous amounts of data, computational chemists apply models and algorithms to find patterns, inform processes, and extract useful data for wider applications.  

There are parallels between computational chemistry and computer science; professionals in the field often work closely together. This field is important to drug development, analytical chemistry, and process development, with numerous opportunities in pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. 

In addition to majoring or minoring in general chemistry, students also have the option to choose another concentration for the chemistry major: 

What You'll Learn

Learn how to:

  • Demonstrate mastery of computational chemistry foundations and applications

  • Effectively communicate data and information to the scientific community through written and oral formats

  • Demonstrate and share ethical values of scientific research, as well as chemistry’s impact on the environment and society

  • Apply program knowledge to  real world questions and issues

  • Recognize interdisciplinary relationships between chemistry and other basic sciences including biology, physics, biophysics, material sciences, biochemistry, nanotechnology, and mathematics

  • Think critically and analytically on investigation and interpretation of experimental results

  • Solve problems of a chemical nature through application of knowledge of experimental approaches

  • Apply knowledge to connect solutions and approaches to new problems

In the computational chemistry concentration, you’ll learn how to integrate chemical theory and modeling with experimental observations through use of statistics, mathematical algorithms, and large databases. You’ll also gain skills to create models and simulations of physical and chemical processes.

Students studying

750+ Course Options

The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Materials Science concentration, students must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours split among:

  • General Education Requirements, or GERs

  • Program core courses
  • Additional required courses

  • Program electives

General Education Requirements (GERs)

All students must complete 40 GER credits. In addition, all science majors must also take these courses to satisfy GERs.

  • MATH 131 (College Algebra for science majors)

  • BIOL 106 (Fundamentals of cell biology) and

  • CHEM 101 - General Chemistry (Prerequisite MATH 131)

Learn more about the program courses you may take as part of the Materials Science concentration.

Program Core Courses (52 credits)

CoursecreditsName
CHEM 1024General Chemistry II
CHEM 2054Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 3075Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 3085Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3104Instrumentation
CHEM 3134Biochemistry
CHEM 3904Applied computational chemistry
CHEM 4004Physical Chemistry for Computational Chemistry
CHEM 4031Seminar I
CHEM 4041Seminar II
CHEM 4054Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 4194Thermo and Kinetics
CHEM 4904Polymer Chemistry
CHEM 4914Material Chemistry

Additional Required Courses (24 credits)

CoursecreditsName
PHYS 3034Mechanics and Dynamics
PHYS 3044Heat, Electricity, and Magnetism
MATH 1324Pre-Calculus
MATH 2014Calculus I
MATH 2024Calculus II
NANO 2104Intro to Nanotechnology

Program Electives (4 credits)

CoursecreditsName
BIOL 1034Botany
CHEM 2904Introduction to Computational Chemistry
CHEM 4093Research and Independent Study
CHEM 4254Nanostructured Material
CHEM 4504Phytochemistry

Remember! You must complete all major and prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher.

Sample Degree Plan

This plan is only for example purposes. Your academic journey may be slightly different from another student’s, so be sure to always communicate with your academic advisor before finalizing your course schedule.

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Coursecreditsname
ENGL 1013English Composition I
PSYC 2013General Psychology 
MATH 1313College Algebra
HIST xxx3History I Course

PHIL 102

or

PHIL 103

3

Introduction to Logic

or 

Philosophy

FRSEM 1011Freshman Seminar

Spring Semester (18 credits)

coursecreditsname
MATH 1324Pre-Calculus
BIOL 1064Cell Biology
CHEM 1014General Chemistry I
MISY 150 (or HEED 101 or GEOG 102)3Tech Fluency
HIST xxx3History II Course

Fall Semester (13 credits)

Coursecreditsname
ENGL 1023English Composition II
ANTH 2073Anthropology
WLIT 2073World Literature
BIOL 1034General Botany

Spring Semester (15 credits)

Coursecreditsname
CHEM 1024General Chemistry II
MATH 2014Calculus I
IDIS 103 (or Foreign Lang, ART 103, Music 201, Dance 226, Theater 211, Speech 105)3Vis Arts & Theater
CHEM 2904Computational Chemistry

Fall Semester (17 credits)

Coursecreditsname
CHEM 3075Organic Chemistry
PHYS 3034Mechanics and Particle Dynamics
CHEM 2054Quantitative Analysis
MATH 2024Calculus II

Spring Semester (17 credits)

coursecreditsname
CHEM 3085Organic Chemistry II
PHYS 3044Heat, Electricity, and Magnetism--Calculus Based
CHEM 310 4Instrumentation
CHEM 3134Biochemistry

Fall Semester (13 credits)

Coursecreditsname
CHEM 4031Seminar in Chemistry I
CHEM 4904Polymer Chemistry
CHEM 4054Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 4004Physical Chemistry for Computational Chemistry 

Spring Semester (13 credits)

CoursecreditsName
CHEM 4041Seminar in Chemistry II

CHEM 419

 

4

 

Thermo and Kinetics

 

CHEM 4914Material Chemistry
CHEM 3904Applied Computational Chemistry

Related Natural Science Programs

Applied Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

Graduate

Biology: Pre-Medicine

Undergraduate

Biology: Pre-Pharmacy

Undergraduate

Biology: Pre-Physician Assistant

Undergraduate

Biology

Undergraduate

Chemistry

Undergraduate

Biochemistry

Undergraduate

Polymer and Material Sciences

Graduate

Biology and Life Sciences

Undergraduate
College

Chemistry, Materials Science concentration lives in the Department of Natural Sciences in the School of Arts & Sciences within the College of Arts & Sciences, and Education.