Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry provides an excellent breadth and depth of preparation in Chemistry suitable for obtaining a position at a chemical or pharmaceutical industry, or for admission to graduate school in Chemistry or Biochemistry. Students may select either the general Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or the Biochemistry Option within the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. The Biochemistry Option overlaps substantially with the requirements for the minor in Biology and students are encouraged to obtain the Biology minor in addition to the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Biochemistry Option.

Skip to Proposed Course of Study Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science 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 (22 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 373 Physical Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 460 Biochemistry I (4)
CHEM 499 Chemistry Colloquium (2)

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

Upper Division Chemistry Electives (20 units)

A total of twenty units of electives from those listed below are needed, including a minimum of three 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 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 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)
Other Courses in GE Categories A-E (39)
Electives in Any Discipline (5 units)

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Proposed Course of Study Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

First Year (30 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; GE A3 (3)

Spring (16 units)

CHEM 122 General Chemistry II (4)
MATH 151 Calculus II (4)
Foreign Language Requirement; GE C3a (3)
University Elective or ENGL 103 (3)
University Elective (2)

Second Year (29 units)

Fall (14 units)

CHEM 311 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 312 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
Oral Communication (3); GE A1
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 (31 units)

Fall (15 units)

CHEM 305 Computer Applications in Chemistry (1); GE B4
CHEM 371 Physical Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 372 Physical Chemistry Laboratory (1)
CHEM 460 Biochemistry I (4)
Life Science, GE Requirement (3)*; GE B2
Social Science, GE Requirement (3); GE D

Spring (16 units)

CHEM 373 Physical Chemistry II (3)
Chemistry Elective Laboratory (4)
Human Physiological and Psychological Perspectives GE Requirement (3)*; GE E
Social Science GE Requirement (3)*; GE D
Multicultural GE Requirement (3)*; GE C3b

Fourth Year (30 units)

Fall (17 units)

American Institutions Requirement (3)
Chemistry Elective, Laboratory (4)
Chemistry Elective, Laboratory (4)
Literature, GE Requirement (3)*; GE C2
Social Science, GE Requirement (3)*; GE D

Spring (13 units)

CHEM 499 Chemistry Colloquium (2)
Chemistry Elective, Laboratory (4)
Chemistry Elective, Laboratory (4)
Visual & Performing Arts, GE Requirement. (3)*; GE C1

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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