Department of Chemistry and Geology
The Department of Chemistry and Geology will evolve in directions which best serve the needs of our students and the regional community. Department activities are presently oriented toward undergraduate education in the physical sciences and engineering. However, we are committed to growth and expansion of the range of available services by development of the department into a center of the following:
- undergraduate education in the chemical, geological, and physical sciences and engineering
- graduate education in the chemical and earth sciences
- graduate education in environmental science
- consulting and advisory services for commercial and governmental concerns
- pure and applied research within the departmental disciplines, focusing on the particular needs and features of the region
Chemistry
The baccalaureate degree programs in chemistry are designed to offer students a solid background in inorganic, analytical, organic, and physical chemistry, as well as exposure to applied chemistry, biochemistry, spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. Graduates are expected to appreciate quantitative interpretation, to think independently, and to apply skills and knowledge of chemistry to real-world problems. Because of the diverse goals of chemistry students, two degree programs are available, one of which has two subdivisions of specialization.
BA in chemistry. The bachelor of arts degree program is designed for students interested in attending professional schools of medicine, dentistry or pharmacy, or in employment in fields such as education, business, sales, quality control and environmental occupations. The BA in chemistry requires satisfactory completion of courses in mathematics, physics, and biology, as well as in chemistry, in addition to the general requirements. These provide a broad foundation in the field and permit flexibility for evolving and changing student interests. A broad range of upper-level elective courses exists to expose students to modern fields within the chemical sciences and to help students broaden their college experience. Faculty advisors work closely with students for careful planning of an individual student's program of study.
BS in chemistry. The bachelor of science degree program is designed for students who desire to enter the fields of industrial chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental chemistry, government research laboratories, or pursue graduate studies in chemistry. The BS in chemistry requires satisfactory completion of courses in mathematics, physics, and computer science, as well as in chemistry, in addition to the general requirements. These provide a broad foundation in the field and permit flexibility for evolving and changing student interests. A broad range of upper-level elective courses exists to expose students to modern fields within the chemical sciences and to help students broaden their college experience. Faculty advisors work closely with students for careful planning of an individual student's program of study.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of the diverse areas of chemistry, both theoretical and practical
- communicate the rapidly changing field of chemical knowledge effectively
- estimate and interpret chemical information in the context of the day-to-day events
- demonstrate skills in quantitative and qualitative problem-solving related to the chemical sciences
- demonstrate theoretical knowledge of chemical instrumentation, including the operation of microprocessor controlled instruments
- integrate the usage of computers in chemistry
- think independently and apply chemical knowledge to a problem
- enter into employment in the chemical industry or into graduate or professional schools
BA Chemistry
Areas A-E and Wellness Courses - Required Hours: 45
Area F - Courses Related to Major - Required Hours: 18
- CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry 1
- CHEM 1211L Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab
- CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry 2
- CHEM 1212L Principles of Chemistry 2 Lab
- ITDS **** Area B approved course
- MATH 1131 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 1 (1 hour from Area D)
- PHYS 1111 Introductory Physics 1
- PHYS 1112 Introductory Physics 2
- PHYS 1311 Introductory Physics 1 Lab
- PHYS 1312 Introductory Physics 2 Lab
Area G - Program Requirements - Required Hours: 39
- CHEM 2115 Quantitative Analysis
- CHEM 2315 Quantitative Analysis Lab
- CHEM 3111 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 3112 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II Lab
- CHEM 3135 Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 3335 Inorganic Chemistry Lab
- CHEM 4111 Physical Chemistry I
- CHEM 4175 Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis
- CHEM 4375 Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis Lab
- CHEM 4311 Physical Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM 4795 Senior Seminar 1
- CHEM 4796 Senior Seminar 2
- MATH 1132 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 2
- Foreign language 2001/2002 selected from French, German or Japanese
Area H - Program Electives - Required Hours: 21
- BIOL 2221 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIOL 3215 Cell Biology
- BIOL 5515 Selected Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology
- CHEM 3141 Biochemistry I
- CHEM 3142 Biochemistry II
- CHEM 3345 Biochemistry I Lab
- CHEM 5105 Polymer Chemistry
- CHEM 5115 Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
- CHEM 5125 Spectroscopy and Photo Physics
- CHEM 4899 Independent Study
- CPSC 1301 Computer Science 1
Total Hours Required 123
BS Chemistry
Areas A-E and Wellness Courses - Required Hours: 45
Area F - Courses Related to Major - Required Hours: 18
- CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry 1
- CHEM 1211L Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab
- CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry 2
- CHEM 1212L Principles of Chemistry 2 Lab
- ITDS **** Area B approved course
- MATH 1131 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 1 (1 hour from Area D)
- PHYS 2111 Principles of Physics 1
- PHYS 2112 Principles of Physics 2
- PHYS 2311 Principles of Physics 1 Lab
- PHYS 2312 Principles of Physics 2 Lab
Area G - Program Requirements - Required Hours: 40
- CHEM 2115 Quantitative Analysis
- CHEM 2315 Quantitative Analysis Lab
- CHEM 3111 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 3112 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II Lab
- CHEM 3135 Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 3335 Inorganic Chemistry Lab
- CHEM 4175 Instrumental Analysis
- CHEM 4375 Instrumental Analysis Lab
- CHEM 4111 Physical Chemistry I
- CHEM 4112 Physical Chemistry II
- CHEM 4311 Physical Chemistry I Lab
- CHEM 4312 Physical Chemistry II Lab
- CHEM 4795 Senior Seminar I
- CHEM 4796 Senior Seminar II
- MATH 1132 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 2
- MATH 3107 Differential Equations
Area H - Program Electives - Required Hours: 20
- CHEM 3141 Biochemistry I
- CHEM 3142 Biochemistry II
- CHEM 3345 Biochemistry I Lab
- CHEM 5105 Polymer Chemistry
- CHEM 5115 Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
- CHEM 5125 Spectroscopy and Photo Physics
- CHEM 4899 Independent Study
- CPSC 1301 Computer Science 1
Total Hours Required 123
Geology
The baccalaureate degree program in geology prepares graduates for entry into the practice of professional geology, or it may serve to prepare graduates for further training in many fields. Curricular requirements for registration by the Georgia Board of Registration for Professional Geologists can be met within the program. Students successfully completing program requirements are prepared for graduate studies in many branches of the geosciences, or for further studies in science education, environmental science, natural resources development, and regional planning. The BS in geology requires satisfactory completion of courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, as well as in geology. These provide a broad foundation in the field and permit flexibility for evolving and changing student interests. A broad range of upper-level elective courses exists to introduce fields within the geological sciences and to help students broaden their college experience. Some courses are offered every other year; therefore, careful planning of an individual student's program is necessary.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate a working knowledge of the major areas of geology (mineralogy, petrology, paleontology, stratigraphy, structural geology, environmental geology, and geomorphology)
- communicate geological concepts, data, and interpretations to others
- demonstrate knowledge and apply field observations, traditional techniques, and modern technology to the solution of geologic aspects of problems in regional planning and the environment as well as traditional geologic problems (use appropriate data bases, software, and analytical tools)
- demonstrate ability to assemble diverse geologic data into environmental, economic, and regional geologic interpretations
- perform the tasks requested in entry level geologic employment or graduate school
Course Requirements
BS Geology
Areas A-E and Wellness Courses - Required Hours: 45
Area F - Courses Related to Major - Required Hours: 18
- ITDS **** Area B approved course
- MATH 1131 Calculus with Analytical Geometry 1 (1 hour from Area D)
- Select two science sequences from the following that were not taken to satisfy Area
D
- CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry 1
- CHEM 1211L Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab
- CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry 2
- CHEM 1212L Principles of Chemistry 2 Lab
- GEOL 1121 Introductory Geosciences 1: Physical Geology
- GEOL 1122 Introductory Geosciences 2: Historical Geology
- PHYS 1111 Introductory Physics 1
- PHYS 1112 Introductory Physics 2
- PHYS 1311 Introductory Physics 1 Lab
- PHYS 1312 Introductory Physics 2 Lab
Area G - Program Requirements - Required Hours: 29
- GEOL 2265 Mineralogy
- GEOL 3215 Igneous and Metamorphic Geology
- GEOL 3235 Sedimentary Geology
- GEOL 3245 Invertebrate Paleontology
- GEOL 4275 Structural Geology
- GEOL 4795 Senior Geology Seminar
- GEOL 5165 Introduction to Hydrology
- GEOL 5255 Environmental Geology
Area H - Program Electives - Required Hours: 19
- GEOL 3265 Stratigraphy and Basin Analysis
- GEOL 3275 Mapping and Field Geology
- GEOL 4175 Undergraduate Research
- GEOL 4795 Senior Geology Seminar
- EOL 5115 Geochemistry
- GEOL 5175 Physical Anthropology and Archeology
- GEOL 5215 Geomorphology
- GEOL 5275 Vertebrate Paleontology
Area I - General Electives - Required Hours: 12
Total Hours Required 123
The Pre-Engineering Program
The pre-engineering program is designed to provide a liberal education and to develop a broad scientific and technical foundation for future specialization. Two programs are available: the Regents' Engineering Transfer Program (RETP) and the General Pre-Engineering Program (GPEP). Upon successful completion of the pre-engineering curriculum, RETP students transfer to Georgia Tech and work toward completing a bachelor of engineering degree, while GPEP students may apply to any engineering school in the nation of their choice, including Georgia Tech. It is expected that students will normally require four to five and one-half years to complete the degree requirements, depending on their pre-college preparation and engineering major, as with any other engineering school graduates. Students entering the pre-engineering program can be prepared for specialization in aerospace, ceramic, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, industrial, materials, mechanical, nuclear and textile engineering.
To be admitted to the Regents' Engineering Transfer Program at Columbus State University, a student must be a resident of Georgia, with a combined SAT score of at least 1090 (including a 560 math and 530 verbal score). Students who do not initially qualify for RETP when entering may join the RETP after the end of their freshmen year by completing the first two required chemistry courses and calculus 1 and 2 with grades of 3.0 (B) or higher, and by attaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Columbus State University faculty members have been working closely with Georgia Tech faculty to assure a curriculum that is well coordinated with that of Georgia Tech. At the same time, RETP students enjoy many of the advantages of Georgia Tech students: they have equal access to engineering majors at Georgia Tech, they can participate in the co-op program, and they are invited to the Georgia Tech campus once a year for campus tours, information sessions, and meeting with advisors in their engineering major.
