The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 128 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 on the CSU, Chico Web.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

See "General Education Requirements" in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings. The course requirements marked below with an asterisk (*) may also be applied toward General Education.

BIOL 151 may be used to fulfill General Education Breadth Area B2 for the Option in Biochemistry.

Cultural Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See "Cultural Diversity" in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.

American Institutions Requirement: 6 units

See the "American Institutions Requirement" under "Bachelor's Degree Requirements." This requirement is normally fulfilled by completing HIST 130 and POLS 155. Courses used to satisfy this requirement do not apply to General Education.

Literacy Requirement:

See "Mathematics and Writing Requirements" in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a C- or better before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 70-78 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.

The Option in Professional Chemistry: 70-72 units The Option in Biochemistry: 76-78 units

Major Core Program: 53 units

Lower-Division Core: 36 units

Mathematics Requirement: 12 units

3 courses required:

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.

Physics Requirement: 12 units

3 courses required:

PHYS 204A 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 Electricity and Magnetism 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.
PHYS 204C Heat/Wave Motion/Sound/Light 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121, PHYS 204A with a grade of C- or higher.

Lower-Division Chemistry Requirement: 12 units

3 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.
CHEM 270 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.

Upper-Division Core: 17 units

7 courses required:

CHEM 300 The Chemical Literature 1.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, CHEM 270.
CHEM 320 Quantitative Analysis 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
CHEM 331 Physical Chemistry 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, MATH 220, PHYS 204B, PHYS 204C.
CHEM 332 Physical Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 331.
CHEM 370 Organic Chemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
CHEM 370M Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 370.
CHEM 400 Senior Seminar in Chemistry 1.0 SP

Major Option Course Requirements: 17-25 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.

The Option in Professional Chemistry: 17-19 units

8 courses required:

CHEM 361 Intermediate Inorganic Chem 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, MATH 220, PHYS 204B, PHYS 204C.
CHEM 362 Intermediate Inorganic Chem 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 361.
CHEM 381 Integrated Chemistry Lab I 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 331 and CHEM 361.
CHEM 382 Integrated Chemistry Lab II 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 331, CHEM 361, CHEM 381; concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 331. Corequisites: CHEM 382R.
CHEM 382R Integrated Chem Discussion 1.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 331, CHEM 361, CHEM 381; concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 332.
CHEM 420 Instrumental Analysis 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 332, CHEM 382. Corequisites: CHEM 420L.
CHEM 420L Instrumental Analysis Lab 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 381, CHEM 382. Corequisites: CHEM 420.
CHEM 451 Biochemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370.

1-3 units selected from:

CHEM 398 Special Topics 1.0 -3.0 FS
CHEM 399 Special Problems 1.0 -3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112, faculty permission.
CHEM 435 Chemical Thermodynamics 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 332.
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.
CHEM 473 Synthetic Organic Chemistry 1.0 -3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 370; CHEM 370L or CHEM 370M.
CHEM 474 Physical Organic Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 332, CHEM 370.
CHEM 475 Advanced Organic Laboratory 2.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370.
CHEM 477 Seminar Organic Spectroscopy 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 370.
CHEM 490 Research in Chemistry 1.0 -2.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 332.
CHEM 491 Research Project 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Open by invitation to chemistry majors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; faculty permission.
CHEM 492 Research Project 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 491. Not open to students who have completed CHEM 499H; faculty permission.
CHEM 495 Selected Topics in Chemistry 1.0 -3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 332, CHEM 361, CHEM 382, CHEM 420.
CHEM 496 Selected Topics in Chemistry 1.0 -3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 331, CHEM 370, CHEM 451.
CHEM 499H Honors Research Project 3.0 FS WP
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, CHEM 320, CHEM 331, CHEM 332, CHEM 370M, MATH 220, PHYS 204A, PHYS 204B, PHYS 204C; faculty permission.

The Option in Biochemistry: 23-25 units

6 courses required:

BIOL 151 Prin of Cell and Molec Biology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 211 Allied Health Microbiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: A college course in biology and in general chemistry.
BIOL 360 Genetics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 153 or permission of instructor.
CHEM 451 Biochemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370.
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:

BIOL 350 Fundamentals of Ecology 3.0 FS WP
Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or faculty permission. Some taxonomic background is recommended.
BIOL 411 Cell Biology 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 153, BIOL 360.
BIOL 412 Bacterial Physiology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, BIOL 360, CHEM 270. CHEM 451 is recommended.
BIOL 414 Plant Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 108 or BIOL 153; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270; or faculty permission.
BIOL 416 Vertebrate Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, BIOL 153; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270.
BIOL 417 Cell Physiology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 153; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270.
BIOL 464 Medical Genetics 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 360.
BIOL 466 Immunology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 153.
BIOL 470 Medical Bacteriology 5.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, BIOL 466, CHEM 270. Immunization against tetanus and diphtheria required.
BIOL 472 Microbial Genetics 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 360. BIOL 321 is recommended.
BIOL 474 Food and Industrial Microbio 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, CHEM 270.
BIOL 476 General Virology 4.0 F2
Prerequisites: BIOL 153. Recommended: BIOL 321.

CHEM 347 and CHEM 425 are strongly recommended as additional electives.

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.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your department chair or undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It involves 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and later professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are

1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. At least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.

2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.

3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.

4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.

5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.

6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.