Major Requirements

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, bachelor of science (BS)
     2. a slightly shortened chemistry major, bachelor of arts (BA)
     3. the chemistry major with an environmental concentration (BS)
     4. 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 three majors in Chemistry:

  • Chemistry 8, 9 (lab), 10, 11 (lab), 89
  • Mathematics 13+14 or 27, Mathematics 28 or 38 (Math 39 is optional but encouraged)
  • Physics 1, 2 (lab), 3, 4 (lab) (preferred) or Physics 10, 10L (lab), 11, 11L (lab);

Two majors have additional lower division requirements as follows:

For the chemistry BS major, students must also take: 

  • Biology 1, 1L (lab) (unless waived due to strong high school preparation in biology) 

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

  • Biology 1, 1L (lab) 2, 2L (lab)

Upper Division

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

Each Major has additional upper-division requirements as follows:

For the chemistry BS major, students must take:

  • Chemistry 110, 113, 114, 115, 118, and Biochemistry 101 or Biology 135
  • One additional upper-division course in Chemistry, or 1.0 credits of Chem 197/199

For the chemistry BA major, students must take:

  • Chemistry 110, 113 or 118, 114
  • Two additional upper-division courses from Chemistry or Biochemistry. Biology 135 may count as an upper-division course if Biochemistry 101 or 102 are not taken. A combination of one to three Chemistry 197/199 courses that equal 1.0 or more credit can count for one upper division course.

For the environmental concentration, students must take:  

  • Chemistry 113 or 118, 114, 115, 119
  • Biology 125 and either Biology 113, 146, or 152
  • One additional upper division chemistry course, or 1.0 credits of Chem 197/199

Prerequisite Grade

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