Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (ACS)/Master of Science in Chemistry

This program will provide strong, qualified undergraduates an avenue to accelerate their time to the MS degree. The program allows undergraduates to begin taking graduate level courses when they have completed 90 credit hours toward their baccalaureate degree, but no undergraduate course may count toward the accelerated Master’s degree. This program is also a financial and time saving degree plan.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

Possessing a Master’s degree in Chemistry will meet a job market that increasingly demands advanced education. Jobs for individuals with Master’s degrees in Chemistry include positions in the private sector, such as the pharmaceutical industry, analysis labs, quality control, R&D, and the energy sector (both renewables and oil & gas).

Admissions

Admission Requirements

To apply to the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's program in Chemistry, students must:

  • Be currently enrolled as a TWU Chemistry major.
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
  • Have successfully completed a minimum of 72 but no more than 90 hours of coursework toward the bachelor's.
  • Have a minimum of 12 hours remaining in chemistry courses toward the major.

How to Apply to the Accelerated Program

To apply, students must:

  1. Receive approval from the Division Lead.
  2. Once admitted to the Accelerated Program students must apply to the graduate M.S. in Chemistry program. Students cannot enroll in graduate-level coursework until accepted by the Graduate School.

Accelerated Undergraduate-Graduate Program Policy Guidelines

Students may apply to an approved accelerated degree program once they have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester credit hours. Upon admission to an accelerated program, students may enroll in graduate courses for credit once they have attained at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Conditions

  • Up to 12 SCH of designated graduate courses may apply to both the Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree program comprised of 45 or fewer SCH; and up to 15 graduate SCH may apply toward both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree program comprised of more than 45 SCH (Master’s, Specialist or Doctoral degree.)
  • Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
  • No undergraduate-level course may count toward a graduate degree.
  • Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Academic components may set higher requirements for their program.
  • Once admitted to an accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the remainder of their baccalaureate degree, or their admission to the accelerated graduate program may be revoked. Academic components may set additional requirements for their programs.
  • Prior to applying to an accelerated degree program, students must have completed a minimum of 15 semester credit hours at Texas Woman's University.

Graduate Application Process

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional graduate admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the graduate program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120

Major:  51 SCH

Program Code: BIOCHEM.BS.ACS.ACC     CIP Code: 26.0202.00

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

CHEM 1001Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry I: Career Possibilities1
CHEM 1101Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry II: Current Applications1
CHEM 1213
& CHEM 1211		Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I		4
CHEM 1223
& CHEM 1221		Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II		4
CHEM 2213
& CHEM 2211		Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I		4
CHEM 3223
& CHEM 3221		Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II		4
CHEM 3413
& CHEM 3411		Physical Chemistry I
and Physical Chemistry Laboratory I		4
CHEM 3423
& CHEM 3421		Physical Chemistry II
and Physical Chemistry Laboratory II		4
CHEM 3333
& CHEM 3331		Quantitative Chemical Analysis
and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory		4
CHEM 3633
& CHEM 3632		Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Laboratory		5
CHEM 3643Biochemistry II3
CHEM 4001Research Presentations in Chemistry and Biochemistry1
CHEM 4311Instrumental Analysis Laboratory1
CHEM 5323Advanced Analytical Chemistry3
CHEM 4511Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory1
CHEM 5523Advanced Inorganic Chemistry3
CHEM 4983Undergraduate Research3
CHEM 4991Senior Thesis1
Total SCHs51

Departmental Requirements

MATH 2014Calculus I4
MATH 2024Calculus II4
PHYS 2153
& PHYS 2151		General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I		4
PHYS 2163
& PHYS 2161		General Physics II
and General Physics Laboratory II		4
BIOL 1113
& BIOL 1111		Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory		4
BIOL 1123
& BIOL 1121		Principles of Biology II
and Principles of Biology II Laboratory		4
Upper Level BIOL/BACT/ZOOL4
Total SCHs28

Electives (Choose 3 SCH not already taken)

CHEM 3713
& CHEM 3711		Environmental Chemistry I
and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory I		4
CHEM 4981Undergraduate Research1
BACT 3113
& BACT 3111		General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory		4
BIOL 4223
& BIOL 4221		Ecology
and Ecology Laboratory		4
BIOL 4813
& BIOL 4811		Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Gene Expression Laboratory		4
BIOL 4823
& BIOL 4821		Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance
and Molecular and Cellular Biology: Genetics and Inheritance Laboratory		4
CHEM 5013Advanced Physical Chemistry3
CHEM 5213Advanced Organic Chemistry3
CHEM 5613Advanced Biochemistry I3
CHEM 5903Special Topics3

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
CHEM 1001Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry I: Career Possibilities 1
CHEM 1213
& CHEM 1211		Principles of Chemistry I
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I		 4
MATH 2014Calculus I MATH 24134
BIOL 1113
& BIOL 1111		Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory		 BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106		4
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: the First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
Wellness/Mathematics CAO Core2
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
CHEM 1101Horizons of Chemistry and Biochemistry II: Current Applications 1
CHEM 1223
& CHEM 1221		Principles of Chemistry II
and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II		 4
MATH 2024Calculus II MATH 24144
BIOL 1113
& BIOL 1111		Principles of Biology I
and Principles of Biology I Laboratory		 BIOL 1406
& BIOL 1106		4
Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core3
 SCHs 16
Second Year
FallTCCN
CHEM 2213
& CHEM 2211		Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I		 CHEM 2323
& CHEM 2123		4
PHYS 2153
& PHYS 2151		General Physics I
and General Physics Laboratory I		 PHYS 2325
& PHYS 2125		4
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
 SCHs 14
SpringTCCN
CHEM 3223
& CHEM 3221		Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II		 4
PHYS 2163
& PHYS 2161		General Physics II
and General Physics Laboratory II		 PHYS 2326
& PHYS 2126		4
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
CHEM 3333
& CHEM 3331		Quantitative Chemical Analysis
and Quantitative Chemical Analysis Laboratory		 4
 SCHs 15
Third Year
FallTCCN
CHEM 3413
& CHEM 3411		Physical Chemistry I
and Physical Chemistry Laboratory I		 4
CHEM 3633
& CHEM 3632		Biochemistry I
and Biochemistry I Laboratory		 5
Elective4
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
CHEM 3423
& CHEM 3421		Physical Chemistry II
and Physical Chemistry Laboratory II		 4
CHEM 3643Biochemistry II 3
Elective6
 SCHs 13
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
CHEM 4983Undergraduate Research 3
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
CHEM 3643Biochemistry II 3
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
CHEM 5323
& CHEM 4311		Advanced Analytical Chemistry
and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory		 4
 SCHs 16
SpringTCCN
CHEM 4991Senior Thesis 1
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core3
CHEM 4001Research Presentations in Chemistry and Biochemistry 1
Social/Behavioral Science Core3
Elective3
Creative Arts Core Course3
 SCHs 14
 Total SCHs:  120