Major Requirements

In This Section

Students pursuing a degree in Chemistry must satisfy the following requirements:

Admissions Requirements

Students planning for a major in chemistry should present credits for one year of chemistry, one year of physics, and four years of mathematics, and should have at least a B average in these subjects. Students with a good high school record but lacking credit in any of these subjects should remedy any deficiencies in summer school. Students planning a science major should be particularly alert to the language proficiency requirement (see Program of Study) and the math diagnostic prerequisite for entrance in Chem 8. 

Major Requirements

The Chemistry Department offers several options for the student interested in chemistry:
     1. the standard chemistry major
     2. the chemistry major with an environmental concentration
     3. the biochemistry major (offered jointly with the Biology Department; see Biochemistry for more
           information).  
A suggested four-year program of study for a major in chemistry or biochemistry is available from any Chemistry Department faculty member. 

Lower Division 

The following lower division courses are required for the two majors in Chemistry:

  • Chemistry 8, 9 (lab), 10, 11 (lab), 89
  • Mathematics 27, 38

Each major has additional lower division requirements as follows:
For the standard chemistry major, students must also take: 

  • Mathematics 39
  • Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab)

For the chemistry major - environmental science concentration, students must also take:

  • Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab) or Physics 10, 20 (lab), 11, 21 (lab);
  • Biology 1, 1L (lab) 2, 2L (lab)

Upper Division

The following upper-division courses are required for the two majors in Chemistry: Chemistry 104, 106, 114, 115, 130

Each Major has additional upper-division requirements as follows:
For the standard chemistry major, students must take:

  • Chemistry 110, 113, 111 or 119, 118, 197 or 199

For the environmental concentration, students must take:  

  • Biology 125 and either Biology 113, 146, or 152
  • Chemistry 113 or 118, 119 and
  • One additional upper division chemistry course

Prerequisite Grade

Any course listed in this department with a prerequisite assumes a grade of C- or better in the prerequisite course.