Polymer Science, B.S.

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Degree Plan (PLYMRSCIBS)

General Education Curriculum

GEC 01. Written Communication (6 hours)

ENG 101 - Composition One 3 hrs.
ENG 102 - Composition Two 3 hrs.

GEC 02. Natural Science and Mathematics (11 hours)

Science Requirement (8 hours)

Select 2 courses with labs:

AST 111 - General Astronomy I 3 hrs. AND
AST 111L - General Astronomy I Laboratory 1 hr.
AST 112 - General Astronomy II 3 hrs. AND
AST 112L - General Astronomy II Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 103 - Biology and Society 3 hrs. ◊AND
BSC 103L - Biology and Society Laboratory 1 hr ◊
BSC 110 - Principles of Biological Science I 3 hrs. ◊AND
BSC 110L - Principles of Biological Science I Laboratory 1 hr. ◊
BSC 111 - Principles of Biological Science II 3 hrs. ◊AND
BSC 111L - Principles of Biological Science II Laboratory 1 hr. ◊
BSC 250 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 3 hrs. AND
BSC 250L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 251 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 3 hrs. AND
BSC 251L - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory 1 hr.
CHE 104 - Chemistry and Our Environment 3 hrs. AND
CHE 104L - Chemistry and Our Environment Laboratory 1 hr.
CHE 106 - General Chemistry I 3 hrs. * AND
CHE 106L - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 hr. *
CHE 107 - General Chemistry II 3 hrs. * AND
CHE 107L - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hr. *
GHY 104 - Weather and Climate 3 hrs. AND
GHY 104L - Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 hr.
GHY 105 - Landforms, Hydrology and Biogeography 3 hrs. AND
GHY 105L - Landforms, Hydrology and Biogeography Laboratory 1 hr.
GLY 101 - Physical Geology 3 hrs. AND
GLY 101L - Physical Geology Laboratory 1 hr.
GLY 103 - Historical Geology 3 hrs. AND
GLY 103L - Historical Geology Laboratory 1 hr.
MAR 151 - Introduction to Ocean Science 3 hrs. AND
MAR 151L - Introduction to Ocean Science Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 103 - Introductory Physics 3 hrs. AND
PHY 103L - Introductory Physics Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 111 - General Physics I 3 hrs. AND
PHY 111L - General Physics I Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 112 - General Physics II 3 hrs. AND
PHY 112L - General Physics II Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 201 - General Physics I with Calculus 4 hrs. *AND
PHY 201L - General Physics I with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr. *
PHY 202 - General Physics II with Calculus 4 hrs. *AND
PHY 202L - General Physics II with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr. *
PSC 190 - Living in a Material World 3 hrs. AND
PSC 190L - Lab for Living in a Material World 1 hr.

GEC 04. Aesthetic Values (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

GEC 05. Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)

Select 2 courses:

ANT 101 - The Human Experience: A Global Perspective on Human Diversity 3 hrs.
COH 100 - Concepts of Wellness 3 hrs.
ECO 101 - Basic Economics 3 hrs.
GHY 101 - World Geography: Dynamics of a Changing Earth 3 hrs.
PS 101 - American Government 3 hrs.
PSY 110 - General Psychology 3 hrs.
SOC 101 - Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology 3 hrs.

GEC 06. Computer Competency Requirement (Major Area)

PSC 285 - Problem-Solving Techniques for Polymer Scientists 3 hrs.

GEC 07. Writing-Intensive Requirement (Major Area)

PSC 341L - Polymer Techniques I 3 hrs. (WI)
ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

GEC 08. Speaking Intensive Requirement (Major Area)

PSC 192 - Introduction to Polymers II 1 hr. (SI)

GEC 09. Capstone Requirement (Major Area)

PSC 490 - Special Projects in Polymer Science 1 hr. (Capstone) AND
PSC 490L - Laboratory for Polymer Science 490 3 hrs. (Capstone)
PSC 491 - Special Projects in Polymer Science 1 hr. (Capstone) AND
PSC 491L - Laboratory for Polymer Science 491 3 hrs. (Capstone)
Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Note:

*This course satisfies both the GEC requirement and a program requirement for this major.

**This particular GEC course is recommended by this major.

***This course does not satisfy prerequisites for any other math course.

◊ GEC restrictions apply; see here .

GEC 06 - GEC 09 courses are specific to this major.

For full description of the GEC, see here .

Program Curriculum

DEG 01. Major Area of Study Requirements (55 hours)

PSC 191 - Introduction to Polymers 1 hr.
PSC 192 - Introduction to Polymers II 1 hr. (SI)
PSC 285 - Problem-Solving Techniques for Polymer Scientists 3 hrs.
PSC 292 - Applications of Polymers II 2 hrs.
PSC 301 - Organic Polymer Chemistry I 3 hrs.
PSC 302 - Organic Polymer Chemistry II 3 hrs.
PSC 341L - Polymer Techniques I 3 hrs. (WI)
PSC 360 - Polymer Rheology 3 hrs.
PSC 361 - Polymer Processing 3 hrs. AND
PSC 361L - Laboratory for Polymer Science 361 2 hrs.
PSC 401 - Physical Chemistry of Polymers I 3 hrs.
PSC 402 - Physical Chemistry of Polymers II 4 hrs.
PSC 410 - Safety Principles and Procedures in the Chemical Sciences 1 hr.
PSC 450 - Polymer Characterization 3 hrs. AND
PSC 450L - Laboratory for Polymer Science 450 2 hr.
PSC 470 - Surface Coatings 4 hrs. AND
PSC 470L - Laboratory for Polymer Science 470 1 hr.
PSC 475 - Biomaterials 2 hrs.
PSC 480 - Polymer Kinetics 3 hrs.
PSC 490 - Special Projects in Polymer Science 1 hr. (Capstone) AND
PSC 490L - Laboratory for Polymer Science 490 3 hrs. (Capstone)
PSC 491 - Special Projects in Polymer Science 1 hr. (Capstone) AND
PSC 491L - Laboratory for Polymer Science 491 3 hrs. (Capstone)

DEG 02. Additional Requirements (24-35 hours)

CHE 106 - General Chemistry I 3 hrs. *AND
CHE 106L - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 hr. *
CHE 107 - General Chemistry II 3 hrs. *AND
CHE 107L - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hr. *
CHE 255 - Organic Chemistry I 3 hrs. AND
CHE 255L - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1 hr.
CHE 256 - Organic Chemistry II 3 hrs. AND
CHE 256L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hr.
MAT 167 - Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 3 hrs. ♦*
MAT 168 - Calculus II with Analytic Geometry 3 hrs.
MAT 169 - Calculus III with Analytic Geometry 3 hrs.
PHY 201 - General Physics I with Calculus 4 hrs. *AND
PHY 201L - General Physics I with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr. *
PHY 202 - General Physics II with Calculus 4 hrs. *AND
PHY 202L - General Physics II with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr. *

DEG 03. Electives

Choose electives as needed with adviser’s approval. (See Hours to Degree below.)

Note:

♦ Calculus is required for this major. Students may enter MAT 167 directly if Math ACT sub score is 26 or higher. If Math ACT sub score is 24-25, MAT 103 must be completed. If Math ACT sub score is less than 24, MAT 101 and MAT 103 must be completed.

Hours to Degree

124 hours are needed to graduate with a BS in Polymer Science. At least 50 percent of the hours applied to a degree at The University of Southern Mississippi must be earned from a senior college, and 45 of these hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. The last 25 percent of course work must be earned from Southern Miss. The student must earn at least 12 hours in the major area of study from Southern Miss.