Chemical Sciences BSc (Hons)
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Bachelor's degree
In St Andrews
Description
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Type
Bachelor's degree
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Location
St andrews (Scotland)
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Duration
4 Years
The BSc (Hons) in Chemical Sciences will teach you the fundamentals of Chemistry, from the composition and properties of matter to using reactions to create new materials, and from pharmaceuticals to drinkable water. This degree allows you to include a small component of a non-chemistry subject at Honours level, such as Communication and Teaching in Science.
This degree is especially suited to students who want a career where a strong science base is needed, but who do not seek advanced professional chemist accreditation. For example, the technology sector, teaching, journalism or patent law.
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About this course
The BSc in Chemical Sciences is a four-year course run by the School of Chemistry. Chemical Sciences at St Andrews provides students with a fundamental and comprehensive understanding of chemistry, along with the flexibility to study some modules at Honours level in other science, social science or business-related subjects.
In the first two years, you will take modules in organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. The skills you gain in research and analysis during these years will prepare you to undertake more advanced and specialist modules during your final two years. Examples of previously offered modules have included (but are not limited to):
chemistry of materials
carbohydrate and nucleic acid chemistry
energy conversion and storage
functional materials.
Chemical Sciences graduates have never been more in demand, and they are keenly sought by major companies; there are also exciting opportunities in a new generation of innovative grassroots companies.
St Andrews Chemical Sciences graduates are highly employable and have gone on to find success in a wide variety of careers in industry and business where a strong science base is needed, including:
technology sector
financial sector
teaching
journalism
patent law.
SQA Highers AAAB, including A in Chemistry, and an additional Higher in one of the following:
Biology or Human Biology
Computing Science or equivalent
Geography
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology.
GCE A-Levels AAB, including A in Chemistry.
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Subjects
- Teaching
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials
- Communication Training
- Chemistry
- Blockbuster Solids
- Energy conversion
- Pericyclic Chemistry
- Colour Chemistry
- Food
- Fragrance
Course programme
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours) you will take the required modules in Chemistry alongside modules in at least one other subject.
Typically, you will take one or two Chemistry modules per semester during your first two years, and four to six per semester during your third and fourth year (known as Honours).
1st Year
Students will take the following compulsory first-year modules:
- Introduction to Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers the origin of the elements, atoms and the Periodic Table, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics.
- Inorganic and Physical Chemistry 1: covers bonding in simple molecules, inorganic solids, chemistry of the first row transition metals, properties of solids, states of matter and introductory spectroscopy.
- Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: covers the structure, stereochemistry and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.
Students will take the following compulsory second-year modules:
- Inorganic Chemistry 2: covers metal complexes and organometallics, descriptive transition-metal chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, solid-state chemistry and descriptive main-group chemistry.
- Organic Chemistry 2: covers carbon-carbon bond formation, interconversion of functional groups, aromatic and heteroaromatic reactivity, mechanistic biological chemistry and organic spectroscopy.
- Physical Chemistry 2: covers quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and electrochemistry, kinetics, molecular spectroscopy and diffraction and mathematical tools for chemistry.
If you decide to take Chemical Sciences in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced modules in Chemistry alongside a small number of modules in other science, social science or business-related subjects.
Here is a sample of Honours modules in Chemistry which have been offered in previous years:
- Energy Conversion and Storage
- Blockbuster Solids
- Ligand Design
- Functional Materials and Electrons in Solids
- Fragrance, Food and Colour Chemistry
- Heterocyclic and Pericyclic Chemistry.
In fourth year, students will conduct a research project which is designed to develop your skills in experimental design and problem-solving, the evaluation and interpretation of data, and communication skills. The project is selected and supervised by a member of academic staff.
Additional information
Chemical Sciences BSc (Hons)