Chemistry B.A./B.S.

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View information for the Department of Chemistry , including Learning Objectives for the department and its programs.

Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

The Bachelor of Arts degree program is designed for students seeking to enter professions requiring moderate training in chemistry combined with training in other areas. Examples are high school teaching, chemical patent law, library work, and technical sales, as well as health professions such as medicine, optometry, dentistry, medical technology, pharmacy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. Students are advised to take specific courses depending on their field of interest; for example, ZOOL 1050, CHEM 4020, 4400, and ZOOL 3130 or ZOOL 3150, or both, in preparation for dental, medical, or veterinary medical schools.

Further information on the health professions area can be obtained from the Pre-Health Professional Program .

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

The Bachelor of Science degree program is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and provides comprehensive training in chemistry for students wishing to become professional chemists in industry or government, or who plan to attend graduate school. Students wishing to receive a degree accredited by the ACS must complete CHEM 4400, CHEM 4610, and either MATH 2530 or MATH 2460, in addition to the Bachelor of Science degree requirements listed. Students obtaining an accredited degree are eligible to join the ACS immediately upon graduation.

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Requirements

1. Complete University General Education requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

(51 units minimum)

Click here to view General Education requirements.

2. Complete the following prerequisites to the major:

CR grades will not be accepted for chemistry course prerequisites.

a. Complete the following required courses in the major field:

(14 units)

b. Bachelor of Arts students complete the following required courses in supporting fields:

(21 units)

i.

CS 1500 - Computer Programming I
or equivalent by advisement

ii.

iii.

c. Bachelor of Science students complete the following required courses in supporting fields:

(25 units)

3. Complete a major.

Of not less than 24 upper-division units as specified for the Bachelor of Arts degree, or 31 upper-division units as specified for the Bachelor of Science degree; of these, no more than eight units of CR-graded coursework in courses graded exclusively CR/NC may apply toward the major. Transferred lower division courses (such as community college courses) may be used to fulfill subject requirements, but these will not count towards the minimum number of upper-division units in the major.

4. Completion of a minor is not required.

The Bachelor of Arts Major

(24 units)

1. Complete the following courses:

(17 units)

2. Select a minimum of seven credit hours from the following courses:

Bachelor of Science Major

(31 units)

1. Complete the following courses:

(25 units)

2. Select a minimum of six credit hours from the following courses:

(6 units)

Note: The following are required for an ACS-accredited degree.

(7-8 units)

a.

CHEM 4400 - Biochemistry I

b.

CHEM 4610 - Computer Methods in Chemistry

c.

Environmental Sciences Concentration

A Chemistry major may complete additional requirements in the sciences and mathematics to qualify for a concentration in Environmental Sciences. This program requires study in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physical sciences, along with an environmental seminar and investigation of an environmentally related problem. Further details are found in the Environmental Sciences section of this catalog.