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University of Montana Catalog 2025-2026

Chemistry B.S. - Forensic Chemistry

General Degree Requirements

To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information. 

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.

Bachelor of Science - Chemistry; Forensic Chemistry Concentration

Course Requirements

Lower-Division Core Courses
Complete all of the following courses:
BIOB 160Principles of Living Systems3
BIOB 161NPrinciples of Living Systems Lab1
BIOB 260Cellular and Molecular Biology4
CHMY 141NCollege Chemistry I4
CHMY 142NCollege Chemistry I Lab1
CHMY 143NCollege Chemistry II4
CHMY 144NCollege Chemistry II Lab1
CHMY 221Organic Chemistry I3
CHMY 222Organic Chemistry I Lab2
CHMY 223Organic Chemistry II3
CHMY 224Organic Chemistry II Lab2
CJUS 125NFundamentals of Forensic Science3
COMX 111AIntroduction to Public Speaking3
M 171Calculus I4
M 172Calculus II4
PHSX 215NFundamentals of Physics with Calculus I4
PHSX 216NPhysics Laboratory I with Calculus1
PHSX 217NFundamentals of Physics with Calculus II4
PHSX 218NPhysics Laboratory II with Calculus1
SOCI 211SIntroduction to Criminology3
SOCI 221Criminal Justice System3
Upper-Division Core Courses
Complete all of the following courses:
BCH 480Advanced Biochemistry I3
BCH 482Advanced Biochemistry II3
BCH 486Biochemistry Research Lab3
CHMY 311Analytical Chemistry-Quantitative Analysis4
CHMY 373Physical Chemistry-Kinetics & Thermodynamics4
CHMY 401Advanced Inorganic Chemistry3
CHMY 421Advanced Instrument Analysis4
CHMY 488Forensic Research3
or CHMY 498 Internship/Cooperative Education
CHMY 489Forensic Research Seminar1
STAT 451Statistical Methods I3
STAT 457Computer Data Analysis I1
Advanced Electives
Complete 7 credits from the following courses: 7
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Organic Spectroscopy
FT-NMR Option for Undergraduate Research
Separation Science
Forensic Science the Crime Lab and Beyond
Writing in the Disciplines Requirement
To complete the Writing in the Disciplines Requirement, Chemistry students take BCH 482 and BCH 486 or any other stand-alone advanced writing course.
Total Hours97

Four Year Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
AutumnHours
CHMY 141N
CHMY 142N
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Lab
5
BIOB 160
BIOB 161N
Principles of Living Systems
and Principles of Living Systems Lab
4
M 171 Calculus I 4
WRIT 101 College Writing I 4
 Hours17
Spring
CHMY 143N
CHMY 144N
College Chemistry II
and College Chemistry II Lab
5
M 172 Calculus II 4
COMX 111A Introduction to Public Speaking 3
CJUS 125N Fundamentals of Forensic Science 3
 Hours15
Sophomore
Autumn
CHMY 221
CHMY 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
5
SOCI 211S Introduction to Criminology 3
PHSX 215N
PHSX 216N
Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus I
and Physics Laboratory I with Calculus
5
BIOB 260 Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
 Hours17
Spring
CHMY 223
CHMY 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
5
PHSX 217N
PHSX 218N
Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus II
and Physics Laboratory II with Calculus
5
SOCI 221 Criminal Justice System 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours16
Junior
Autumn
BCH 480 Advanced Biochemistry I 3
CHMY 311 Analytical Chemistry-Quantitative Analysis 4
STAT 451 Statistical Methods I 3
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours13
Spring
CHMY 421 Advanced Instrument Analysis 4
BCH 482 Advanced Biochemistry II 3
BCH 486 Biochemistry Research Lab 3
STAT 457 Computer Data Analysis I 1
Advanced Elective 3
 Hours14
Senior
Autumn
CHMY 401 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3
CHMY 373 Physical Chemistry-Kinetics & Thermodynamics 4
CHMY 489 Forensic Research Seminar 1
Advanced Elective 6
General Education Requirement 3
 Hours17
Spring
CHMY 488 Forensic Research 3
Advanced Elective 6
General Education Requirement 6
 Hours15
 Total Hours124

Last updated Autumn 2024