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Departmental Requirements

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CHEMISTRY MAJOR (11 units)
To prepare for graduate school in chemistry or related science or for those who plan to work in a chemically-related profession.

Nine units with at least one unit from each of the five branches of chemistry

Chemistry 117 Chemistry (1 unit, offered every semester)
Analytical Chemistry
Chemistry 220 Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry (Q, 1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 225 Topics in Instrumental Analysis (1/2 unit, may be taken more than once)
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 230 Organic Chemistry I (Q, 1 unit, fall)
Chemistry 235 Organic Chemistry II (1 unit, spring)
Physical Chemistry
Chemistry 240 Thermodynamics and Kinetics (1 unit, odd year spring)
Chemistry 245 Molecular Modeling, Visualization, and Computational Chemistry (1 unit, odd year fall)
Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 150 Nanochemistry (1 unit, even year spring)
Chemistry 250 Solid State Chemistry (1 unit, even year fall)
Biochemistry
Chemistry 260 Biochemistry of Metabolism (1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 300 DNA & Protein Biochemistry (1 unit, fall)

Two supporting units

Mathematics 110 or 115: Calculus I or II (1 unit)
Physics 101 or 102: General Physics I or II (1 unit)
Note: To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, a chemistry major must complete at least 4 units in biology, geology, physics, mathematics, or computer science. Students completing the minimum requirements of the chemistry major will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree.

In preparation for graduate study in chemistry, as much mathematics, physics and additional chemistry as possible and at least one summer or semester of full-time research experience are strongly recommended. The department also encourages and supports participation in an international experience.

APPLIED CHEMISTRY MAJOR (11 units)
To prepare for interdisciplinary fields or professional school, combining chemistry with another discipline of your choice.

Seven units with at least one unit from four of the five branches of chemistry

Chemistry 117 Chemistry (W, 1 unit, offered every semester)
Analytical Chemistry
Chemistry 220 Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry (Q, 1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 225 Topics in Instrumental Analysis (1/2 unit, may be taken more than once)
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 230 Organic Chemistry I (Q, 1 unit, fall)
Chemistry 235 Organic Chemistry II (1 unit, spring)
Physical Chemistry
Chemistry 240 Thermodynamics and Kinetics (1 unit, odd year spring)
Chemistry 245 Molecular Modeling, Visualization, and Computational Chemistry (1 unit, odd year fall)
Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 150 Nanochemistry (1 unit, even year spring)
Chemistry 250 Solid State Chemistry (1 unit, even year fall)
Biochemistry
Chemistry 260 Biochemistry of Metabolism (1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 300 DNA & Protein Biochemistry (1 unit, fall)

Four supporting units

Mathematics 110 or 115: Calculus I or II (1 unit)
Physics 101 or 102: General Physics I or II (1 unit)
Two units in a complementary discipline as approved by petition to the department chair. The petition should list the two units and provide a rationale of how those units complement the departmental units with respect to the students future plans:
(1 unit)
(1 unit)
Note: To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, an applied chemistry major must complete at least 4 units in biology, geology, physics, mathematics, or computer science. Students completing the minimum requirements of the applied chemistry major will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree.

At least one summer or semester of full-time experience in a chemistry-related internship or program is strongly recommended. The department also encourages and supports participation in an international experience.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY MAJOR (13 units)
To prepare for interdisciplinary fields or professional school. This strongly interdisciplinary major is intended for students who want to use a background in chemistry to prepare for work or study in environmental science or environmental policy or related fields.

Six units with at least one unit from four of the five branches of chemistry

Chemistry 117 Chemistry (W, 1 unit, offered every semester)
Analytical Chemistry
Chemistry 220 Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry (Q, 1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 225 Topics in Instrumental Analysis (1/2 unit, may be taken more than once)
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 230 Organic Chemistry I (Q, 1 unit, fall)
Chemistry 235 Organic Chemistry II (1 unit, spring)
Physical Chemistry
Chemistry 240 Thermodynamics and Kinetics (1 unit, odd year spring)
Chemistry 245 Molecular Modeling, Visualization, and Computational Chemistry (1 unit, odd year fall)
Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 150 Nanochemistry (1 unit, even year spring)
Chemistry 250 Solid State Chemistry (1 unit, even year fall)
Biochemistry
Chemistry 260 Biochemistry of Metabolism (1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 300 DNA & Protein Biochemistry (1 unit, fall)

Seven supporting units

Mathematics 110 or 115: Calculus I or II (1 unit)
Physics 101 or 102: General Physics I or II (1 unit)
Biology 111 Zoology, or 121 Botany, or 172 topics, or 208 Microbiology, or 372 Ecology (1 unit)
Geology 100: Principles of Geology or Geology 110: Environmental Geology (1 unit)

Three additional units from Economics, Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, or Political Science as approved by petition to the department chair. The petition should list the three units and provide a rationale of how those units apply with respect to the students future plans:
(1 unit)
(1 unit)
(1 unit)

In preparation for graduate study or employment in environmental science, additional science, mathematics, and social science courses and at least one summer or semester of experience in an environmental internship or program are strongly recommended. The department also encourages and supports participation in an international experience.

BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR (11 units)
This major is intended for students who want a strong background in both biology and chemistry, either in preparation for graduate school, medical school or professional school.

Nine departmental units

a. Four core chemistry courses
Chemistry 117 Chemistry (W, 1 unit, offered every term)
Chemistry 220 Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry (Q, 1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 230 Organic Chemistry I (Q, 1 unit, fall)
Chemistry 235 Organic Chemistry II (1 unit, spring)
b. Three core biology courses
Biology 111 Zoology, 121 Botany, 172 Topics, or 208 Microbiology (1 unit)
Biology 247 Biometrics (1 unit)
Biology 237 Cell Biology, 256 Anatomy, 257 Human Physiology, or 289 Genetics and Evolution (1 unit)
c. Two biochemistry courses
Chemistry 260 Biochemistry of Metabolism (1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 300 DNA & Protein Biochemistry (1 unit, fall)

Two supporting units

Mathematics 110 or 115: Calculus I or II (1 unit)
Physics 101 or 102: General Physics I or II (1 unit); or Geology 100, 105, or 110 (1 unit)
(1 unit)
(1 unit)
Students going to graduate school are strongly encouraged to take Chemistry 240.
Students intending to attend medical school are strongly encouraged to take Physics 102 and Mathematics 115.

In preparation for graduate study in biochemistry, as much mathematics, physics and additional chemistry as possible and at least one summer or semester of full-time research experience are strongly recommended. The department also encourages and supports participation in an international experience.

CHEMISTRY MINOR (5 units)
Minor Requirements Checklist

Five units selected from
Chemistry 117 Chemistry (W, 1 unit, offered every term)
Analytical Chemistry
Chemistry 220 Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry (Q, 1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 225 Topics in Instrumental Analysis (1/2 unit, may be taken more than once)
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry 230 Organic Chemistry I (Q, 1 unit, fall)
Chemistry 235 Organic Chemistry II (1 unit, spring)
Physical Chemistry
Chemistry 240 Thermodynamics and Kinetics (1 unit, odd year spring)
Chemistry 245 Molecular Modeling, Visualization, and Computational Chemistry (1 unit, odd year fall)
Inorganic Chemistry
Chemistry 150 Nanochemistry (1 unit, even year spring)
Chemistry 250 Solid State Chemistry (1 unit, even year fall)
Biochemistry
Chemistry 260 Biochemistry of Metabolism (1 unit, spring)
Chemistry 300 DNA & Protein Biochemistry (1 unit, fall)

Experiences that we strongly encourage for all majors: