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Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (120 units)

Degree Progress

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry majors must complete the following requirements within the specified time of declaring the major. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete. Students required to enroll in pre-baccalaureate math may receive one additional semester to meet the requirements.

Freshmen: A grade "C" or better must be achieved in both MATH 122 and CHEM 111A within one calendar year. A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in CHEM 111B and CHEM 220A within two calendar years.

Transfer Students: A grade of "C" or better must be achieved in both CHEM 220A and PHYS 151 within 1 calendar year.

In addition, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry majors must earn a “C” or better in all courses counting toward the major and must maintain major and upper-division major GPAs of 2.0 or higher. A student whose GPA in the major or upper division GPA in the major falls below 2.0 will be advised that they are at risk of being dismissed from the major and granted one semester to raise their major GPA(s) to 2.0. Students who do not successfully raise their major GPA(s) must meet with an advisor to declare another major or submit an appeal to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry explaining why they need one additional semester. Students whose major GPAs remain below 2.0 after this additional semester must declare a new major.

Students Desiring Entrance into a Health Professions Program

Students desiring entrance into one of the various health-related professional schools should consult with the Health Professions Advising Office in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Jensen Student Access to Sciences and Mathematics Center (HSCI-164) for more information. Most of the these schools do not require students to major in any particular discipline and many favor applicants who have earned a baccalaureate; rather, they want students who have done well in their major and who also took the prerequisite courses required by that particular school.

Requirements

Lower Division:

Either take all of the following:

  • BIOL 211 Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4)
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111A with a grade of "C" or better.
  • BIOL 212 Intro to Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
    Prerequisites: BIOL 211, CHEM 111A with grades of "C" or better. Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 111B.

NOTE: BIOL 111, BIOL 111L, BIOL 212, BIOL 212L are required if courses were taken prior to catalog year 2010-11.

Or one of the following:

  • BIOL 200 General Biology (4)
    Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
  • BIOL 205 Human Biology (4)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements.
  • BIOL 207 Human Physiology (4)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements.

Take either:

  • CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5)
    Prerequisites: A passing score on the Chemistry Placement Examination. 
    Corequisite:  MATH 109 or higher.
  • and
  • CHEM 111B General Chemistry (5)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 111A and MATH 113 or MATH 115 or MATH 119A or MATH 122 all with a grade of "C" or better.

or

  • CHEM 112A Advanced General Chemistry (5)
    Prerequisite: Department consent.
  • and
  • CHEM 112B Advanced General Chemistry (5)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 112A with a grade of "C" or better

Take either:

  • CHEM 251 Quantitative Analysis (4)
    Prerequisite: CHEM 111B with a grade of “C” or better

or

  • 4 units of electives chosen in consultation with an advisor

Take all of the following courses:

  • CHEM 220A Organic Chemistry I (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 111B with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisites: CHEM 224 is required for students repeating course. CHEM 223A must be taken concurrently if required by a degree plan.
  • CHEM 220B Organic Chemistry II (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 220A with a grade of C or better
    Corequisite: CHEM 223B or CHEM 320L except for students who previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 223B or CHEM 320L
  • MATH 122 Calculus I (4)
    Prerequisite: Appropriate MDPT placement or a grade of "C" or better in MATH 111 and MATH 113.
  • MATH 123 Calculus II (4)
    Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in MATH 122.
  • MATH 224 Calculus III (4)
    Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in MATH 123 or MATH 222.
  • PHYS 151 Mechanics and Heat (4)
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 122.
  • PHYS 152 Electricity and Magnetism (4)
    Prerequisite: PHYS 151; Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 123.

Upper Division:

Take all of the following courses:

  • CHEM 320L Organic Chemistry Laboratory for Chemistry & Biochemistry Majors (2) F, S
    Prerequisites: CHEM 220A.
    Corequisites: CHEM 220B, except for students who have previously earned a "C" or better in CHEM 320B.
  • CHEM 331 Inorganic Chemistry (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 111B with a grade of "C" or better.
  • CHEM 332 Inorganic Chemistry Lab (2)
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 331.
  • CHEM 361 Chemical Communications (3)
    Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirement. Students must have scored 11 or higher on the GWAR Placement Examination or completed the necessary portfolio course that is a prerequisite for a GWAR Writing Intensive Capstone.
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM 220A.
  • CHEM 371A Physical Chemistry (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 111B, MATH 123, PHYS 152 (all with a grade of "C" or better).
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 224.
  • CHEM 371B Physical Chemistry (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 111B, MATH 123, PHYS 152 (all with a grade of "C" or better).
    Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 224.
  • CHEM 373. Physical Chemistry Laboratory (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 361, CHEM 371A or 377A, and CHEM 371B or 377B, all with a grade of “C” or better.
  • CHEM 431 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3)
    Prerequisite(s): CHEM 331, with a grade of "C" or better.
    Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): CHEM 371B.
  • CHEM 441A Biological Chemistry (3) or CHEM 448 (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 220B and either CHEM 320L or CHEM 223B all with a grade of "C" or better; a biology or microbiology course is recommended.
  • CHEM 451 Instrumental Methods of Analysis (5)
    Prerequisites: PHYS 152, CHEM 361; CHEM 371B or CHEM 377B; all with a grade of "C" or better.
  • CHEM 461 Chemistry Capstone (1)
    Prerequisite: Department consent.

Take one of the following:

  • CHEM 420 Advanced Organic Chemistry Lab (3)
    Prerequisites: CHEM 220B or CHEM 320L and either CHEM 361 or CHEM 466. (all with a grade of C or better).
  • CHEM 498 Senior Thesis (3)
    Prerequisites: Major GPA 3.0 or higher, 3 units of CHEM 496 with a grade of "A", consent of instructor.

Take an additional 3 units of upper division chemistry electives including at least one unit of CHEM 496. CH E 330, CH E 430, or CH E 475 may be used as chemistry electives.

Students are also advised to take one or more additional courses in mathematics, such as MATH 247, MATH 364A, MATH 370A, MATH 380.

To meet prerequisite standards for courses in this program's requirements, a "C" or better is necessary in the following: BIOL 211, CHEM 111A, CHEM 111B, CHEM 112A, CHEM 220A, CHEM 220B, CHEM 320L, CHEM 331, CHEM 361, CHEM 371A, CHEM 371B, MATH 122, MATH 123, PHYS 151, PHYS 152.


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