Chemistry | Academic Advising Handbook

General Chemistry I & II 

Students planning a major in Chemistry or Environmental Science with Chemistry & Toxicology emphasis should take General Chemistry I & II as freshmen. Students planning a major in Biology are very strongly encouraged to take General Chemistry I & II as freshmen. 

For students planning a career in Medicine, Optometry, Physician Assistant Studies, Pharmacy or Physical Therapy it is recommend that they take General Chemistry I & II as either freshmen or sophomores. The minimum math prerequisite is Math 122 for the first semester and Math 125 for the second semester. Students placing into Math 125 must take it. Other students are highly recommended to take a math course.

*Sometimes a student begins the term enrolled in Chem 220 and Math 125, but then discovers that Math 122 is the more appropriate level. Dropping back to Math 122 can be done and should be done if the student is overwhelmed by the math, but be advised: this student will not be allowed to continue on to Chem 230 because the prerequisite for Chem 230 is Math 125.

Non-Science Majors

Non-Science majors who do not expect to use science in their career but wish to have an overview of the discipline of chemistry should take: Chem 110 Chemistry and Your Environment (2 credits) (no prerequisites).

AP Chemistry

Students with an AP Chemistry test score of 4 or 5 will receive credit for General Chemistry I and should plan to enroll in General Chemistry II in the spring semester.

Students considering a major in chemistry

• Students showing an interest in a chemistry major should take General Chemistry and begin their math sequence their first year in order to avoid very complex scheduling in their last two years.
• The major can be completed in 3 years, but to do so is difficult and would not leave much room for other courses.
• Chemistry majors are required to complete the math sequence through Calculus II (Math 227), but a third semester of calculus and differential equations are recommended for admission to the best graduate programs.
• Also, in order to be able to take physical chemistry before the spring of their Senior year, students should enroll in physics* no later than their Sophomore year. Typical four-year schedules are tabulated below along with options for different career goals.

Four Year Guarantee and the Chemistry Major:

For a freshman to complete the chemistry major in four years under the four-year guarantee, in addition to meeting requirements in both the guarantee program and for the major, the student must complete the following three major requirements within the given timeframes:

1. Complete CHEM 220 and CHEM 230 with a C or better no later than the spring of the sophomore year.
2. Complete the prerequisite for senior capstone by the end of the junior year.
3. Complete at least two of the following courses by the end of the junior year: CHEM 300, CHEM 330, CHEM 340, CHEM 370, CHEM 380

Specific chemistry courses are not offered each semester or even each year.  It is therefore important for a chemistry major to communicate regularly with their academic advisor and to work with the advisor to plan their academic schedules.

Typical four-year schedule

 * Workshop (calculus-based) physics is recommended, especially for students who might consider graduate school.
** Not required but recommended.

Possible Chemistry major four year schedule with Pre-Pharmacy

 * A good elective for pre-pharmacy, but taught every other year. So it might not be available. The student interested in this elective should consider taking Quantitative Analysis in their Junior year if this course will not be offered in their

Senior year.

Possible four-year schedule with Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dental

Revised 2020