Requirements

Entry to CHEM 115: Chemistry I

(required for Chemistry, Biology and Neuroscience Majors and Minors, and health professions)

Entering first-year students interested in chemistry (CHEM 115: Chemistry I) must take the Science Placement Assessment before registering for classes. This test consists of 20 basic algebra and spatial visualization problems, and is an established measure of readiness and likelihood of success in Chemistry I.  In addition to the assessment, your high school transcript and standardized test scores will be used to determine the most appropriate starting place in chemistry for you. You will be placed in Chemistry I in the Fall Semester or in CHEM 114: Foundations of Chemistry in the Spring Semester of your first year. The Chemistry Major can be completed in four years through either of the sequences described below.

Students wishing to enter CHEM 115 in the fall of their second year and who have not completed CHEM 114 must take the Science Placement Assessment in the spring of their first year and appropriate placement will be made. Note that it is not possible to complete a Chemistry Major in three years starting with CHEM 114 in the second year. 

Consult your advisor or the Chair of the Chemistry Department for further explanation.

Major and Minor in Chemistry

The Major in Chemistry requires eight chemistry courses, two courses in calculus, and two courses in physics. The Minor in Chemistry requires a minimum of six credits, including five chemistry courses and their pre-/co-requisites. To complete the Minor, one 300-level course must be completed on campus. 

Courses taken Pass-NoPass may not count towards the major in chemistry. Because of post-graduation evaluation by professional schools, employers, etc., all courses required for completion of the major must be recorded as grades on the transcript, including math and physics. Minors and non-majors may take chemistry courses Pass-NoPass. Note: several sequential courses in chemistry have minimum grade requirements for prerequisite courses whether taken Pass-NoPass or not; please see course descriptions for details.

The Chemistry Department will evaluate the suitability of prerequisites that students wish to satisfy via courses transferred to the College. In these cases the department may conduct a placement assessment that will be used to evaluate students’ mastery of prerequisite material. If sufficient mastery is not demonstrated, students may need to repeat the prerequisite course at the College, before continuing through the course sequence.

Requirements for the Major:

• Chemistry 115: Chemistry I
• Chemistry 116: Chemistry II
• Chemistry 220: Organic Chemistry I
• Chemistry 221: Organic Chemistry II
• Chemistry 320: Physical Chemistry I
• Chemistry 321: Physical Chemistry II
• 1 additional chemistry course selected from CHEM 300: Biochemistry, CHEM 340: Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 430: Advanced Organic Chemistry, CHEM 494: Senior Thesis in Chemistry
• 2 courses in calculus: MATH 110 (Calculus I) and MATH 111 (Calculus II)
• 2 courses in physics:  PHYS 110 (Introductory Physics I) and PHYS 111 (Introductory Physics II), or PHYS 120 (General Physics I) and PHYS 121 (General Physics II)
• Senior Studies, which may be satisfied  by Chemistry 410: Instrumental Analysis, or Chemistry 494: Senior Thesis in Chemistry.

Minor in Chemistry

• Chemistry 115: Chemistry I
• Chemistry 116: Chemistry II
• Chemistry 220: Organic Chemistry I
• Chemistry 221: Organic Chemistry II
• Chemistry 300: Biochemistry (prerequisite BIOL 120) or CHEM 320: Physical Chemistry I (prerequisite:  MATH 110, MATH 111, and one year of physics – either PHYS 110 and PHYS 111, or PHYS 120 and PHYS 121)

Recommended Chemistry major course sequences

Beginning with CHEM 115 in Fall of the first year

First Year
Fall: CHEM 115: Chemistry I
Spring: CHEM 116: Chemistry II
(MATH 110: Calculus I and MATH 111: Calculus II to be completed by the end of the second year, encouraged in first year.)

Second Year
Fall: CHEM 220: Organic Chemistry I
Spring: CHEM 221: Organic Chemistry II

Third Year
Fall: CHEM 320: Physical Chemistry I, CHEM 300: Biochemistry (optional)
Spring: CHEM 321: Physical Chemistry II, CHEM 340: Inorganic Chemistry (optional)
(Introductory Physics – PHYS 110 and PHYS 111, or General Physics – PHYS 120 and PHYS 121 to be completed by end of third year)

Fourth Year
Fall: CHEM 410: Instrumental Analysis, CHEM 300: Biochemistry (optional)
Spring: CHEM 340: Inorganic Chemistry (optional), CHEM 430: Advanced Organic Chemistry (optional), CHEM 494: Senior Thesis in Chemistry (optional)

Note: O nly one of the optional courses listed above is required, all are encouraged.

Beginning with CHEM 114 in Fall of the 1st year or CHEM 115 in Fall of the second year

First Year
Fall: CHEM 114: Foundations of Chemistry
Spring: no requirements for chemistry major
(MATH 110: Calculus I and MATH 111: Calculus II to be completed by the end of the third year, encouraged as early as possible.)

Second Year
Fall: CHEM 115: Chemistry I
Spring: CHEM 116: Chemistry II
(Introductory Physics – PHYS 110 and PHYS 111, or General Physics – PHYS 120 and PHYS  121 to be completed by end of fourth year, but recommended in second year.)

Third Year
Fall: CHEM 220: Organic Chemistry I
Spring:CHEM 221: Organic Chemistry II

Fourth Year
Fall: CHEM 320: Physical Chemistry I, CHEM 410: Instrumental Analysis, CHEM 300: Biochemistry (optional)
Spring: CHEM 321: Physical Chemistry II, CHEM 340: Inorganic Chemistry (optional) CHEM 430: Advanced Organic Chemistry (optional), CHEM 494: Senior Thesis in Chemistry (optional)

Note:  Only one of the optional courses listed above is required, all are encouraged.