Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

Graduates from the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry will receive an excellent preparation for securing entrance to a professional program (i.e., medical, veterinary, dentistry, or pharmacy), to graduate school in Chemistry or Biochemistry, and for employment in the academic, private, or public sector as chemists, biochemists, forensic scientists, and materials scientists.

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry is designed to provide a broad preparation in the chemical sciences. Required courses prepare students in four of the five traditional sub-disciplines of Chemistry: analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry can also serve as the depth of study necessary for securing a Single Subject Credential in Science for teaching at the high school and middle school level. Additional courses in geology, astronomy, and biology are recommended to meet the breadth requirements for this credential.

Skip to Proposed Course of Study, Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry (120 units)

Lower Division Requirements (28 units)

1. Chemistry
   CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (4)
   CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (4)
   CHEM 250 Quantitative Analysis (2)
   CHEM 251 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (2)
   
   
2. Math
   MATH 150 Calculus I (4)
   MATH 151 Calculus II (4)
   
   
3. Physics
   Choose one of the following:
   PHYS 100 Introduction to Physics I (4)
   PHYS 200 General Physics I (4)
   
   Choose one of the following:
   PHYS 101 Introduction to Physics II (4)
   PHYS 201 General Physics II (4)

Upper Division Requirements (15 units)

CHEM 305 Computer Applications in Chemistry (1)
CHEM 311 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 312 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
CHEM 314 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
CHEM 371 Physical Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 372 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (1)
CHEM 499 Chemistry Colloquium (2)

(Ten units of the above courses will be counted toward lower-division GE categories B1, B3, and B4)

Upper Division Chemistry Electives (12 units)

A total of twelve units of electives from those listed below are needed, including a minimum of two lab courses denoted ^(L):

CHEM 301 Environmental Chemistry (3)
CHEM 313 Organic Chemistry I Learning Community (1)
CHEM 316 Organic Chemistry II Learning Community (1)
CHEM 330 The History of Science: Non-Western Origins and the Western Revolution (HIST) (3) ^I
CHEM 335 The Chemistry of the Kitchen (3) ^{L, I}
CHEM 341 Drug Discovery and Development (BUS/ECON) (3) ^I
CHEM 343 Forensic Science (3) ^{L, I}
CHEM 373 Physical Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 410 Advanced Organic Synthesis (4) ^L
CHEM 415 Molecular Structure Determination (4) ^L
CHEM 420 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3)
CHEM 450 Instrumental Analysis and Laboratory (4) ^L
CHEM 460 Biochemistry ^I (4) ^L
CHEM 461 Biochemistry II (4) ^L
CHEM 465 Bioinorganic Chemistry (4) ^L
CHEM 490 Special Topics in Chemistry (1-3)
CHEM 492 Internship/ Service Learning (1-3) ^{L, R}
CHEM 494 Independent Research (1-3) ^{L, R}
CHEM 497 Directed Studies (1-3)

^I A maximum of three units of upper-division interdisciplinary GE credit (CHEM 330-349 or CHEM 430-449) may be applied as chemistry electives towards the degree.

^R No more than a combined total of six units of CHEM 492, 494, and 497 may be applied as electives. No more than one CHEM 492 or CHEM 494 may be (by petition) considered a laboratory elective.

Required Supporting and Other GE Courses (45 units)

American Institutions Requirement (6 units)
Other Courses in GE Categories A-E (39 units)
Electives in Any Discipline (20 units)

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Proposed Course of Study, Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

First Year (31 units)

Fall (14 units)

CHEM 121 General Chemistry I (4); GE B1
MATH 150 Calculus I (4); GE B3
Composition & Rhetoric (3) (ENGL 102 or 105); GE A2
Critical Reasoning (3); GE A3

Spring (17 units)

CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (4)
MATH 151 Calculus II (4)
Foreign Language Requirement (3); GE C3a
Oral Communication (3); GE A1
University Elective or ENGL 103 (3)

Second Year (29 units)

Fall (14 units)

CHEM 311 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 312 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
American Institutions Requirement (3)
Physics requirement (4) (PHYS 100 or 200)
Social Science, GE Requirement (3); GE D

Spring (15 units)

CHEM 250 Quantitative Analysis (2)
CHEM 251 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory (2)
CHEM 314 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
American Institutions Requirement (3)
Physics requirement (4) (PHYS 101 or 201)

Third Year (30 units)

Fall (14 units)

CHEM 305 Computer Applications in Chemistry (1); GE B4
CHEM 371 Physical Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 372 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (1)
Life Science, GE Requirement (3)*; GE B2
Literature, GE Requirement (3)*; GE C2
Multicultural GE Requirement (3)*; GE C3b

Spring (16 units)

Chemistry Elective, Laboratory (4)
Human Physiological and Psychological Perspectives, GE Requirement (3)*; GE E
Social Science, GE Requirement (3); GE D
University Electives (6)

Fourth Year (30 units)

Fall (16 units)

Chemistry Elective, Laboratory (4)
Social Science, GE Requirement (3)*; GE D
University Electives (6)
Visual and Performing Arts, GE Requirement .(3)*; GE C1

Spring (14 units)

CHEM 499 Chemistry Capstone Colloquium (2)
Chemistry Elective, Laboratory (4)
Social Science, GE Requirement (3); GE D
University Electives (5)

Note to Students: To maximize University Electives, it is recommended that the nine units of upper-division, interdisciplinary GE courses (numbered 330-349 or 430-449) be taken from those courses marked with an asterisk (*), in order to meet simultaneously Categories A-E and the nine units of Upper-Division GE.

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