The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

This academic program was approved effective Fall 2009. Note: The highlighted is different from what appears in the printed catalog. What is displayed is current and correct.

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major advisor or view it and other current advising information at http://em.csuchico.edu/aap/ProgramSearch.

This degree is appropriate for students pursuing single subject matter preparation in science with a concentration in chemistry. This degree is also an excellent preparation for students considering chemistry-related interdisciplinary fields. Students who choose this program should consult with their major advisor.

Please see General Education, Diversity, U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals, and Literacy Requirements under the BS in Chemistry.

Course Requirements for the Major: 58-64 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.

Lower-Division Requirements: 32-36 units

6 courses required:

CHEM 111 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 112 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111 with a grade of C- or higher.
CHEM 270 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
MATH 120 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
MATH 121 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 120.
MATH 220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121.

2-3 courses selected from:

PHYS 202A General Physics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).
PHYS 202B General Physics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A.

Or the following group of course requirements may be substituted for the above:

PHYS 204A Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Mechanics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of MATH 121 (second semester of calculus) or equivalent.
PHYS 204B Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Electricity and Magnetism 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.
PHYS 204C Physics for Students of Science and Engineering: Heat, Wave Motion, Sound, Light, and Modern Topics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.

Note: One full sequence (PHYS 202AB or PHYS 204ABC) must be completed.

Upper-Division Requirements: 26-28 units

8 courses required:

CHEM 320 Quantitative Analysis 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112 with a grade of C- or higher..
CHEM 331 Physical Chemistry 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, MATH 220; PHYS 202A & PHYS 202B OR PHYS 204A, PHYS 204B, & PHYS 204C.
CHEM 361 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, MATH 220; PHYS 202A & PHYS 202B or PHYS 204A, PHYS 204B, & PHYS 204C.
CHEM 370 Organic Chemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 270 with a grade of C- or higher.
CHEM 370M Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 370.
CHEM 381 Integrated Chemistry Laboratory I 3.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, CHEM 270, CHEM 331 (may be taken concurrently), CHEM 361 (may be taken concurrently).
CHEM 400 Senior Seminar in Chemistry 1.0 SP
CHEM 451 Biochemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370 with a grade of C- or higher.

1 course selected from:

CHEM 332 Physical Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 331.
CHEM 362 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 361.
CHEM 452 Biochemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 451.
CHEM 455L Biochemistry Laboratory 2.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, CHEM 451; CHEM 370L or CHEM 370M; or faculty permission.

1 course selected from:

CHEM 411 Chemistry Teaching Methods 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 112, CHEM 270. CHEM 320 is recommended.
CHEM 440 Environmental Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.

Note: With permission of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, other courses may be substituted.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.