Department Requirements

Department Requirements

Major Requirements

CHEMISTRY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The required courses are Chemistry 102 or 109, 210, 225, 240, 251, 252, and 205 or 226; and any two upper level electives including Chemistry 232, any Chemistry course at the 300 level, and one semester of 400-level independent study in Chemistry.  In addition to these chemistry courses, chemistry majors also are required to take Physics 103 and 104 and Mathematics 161 and 171.

INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJORS

The Chemistry Department parcticipates in formal interdisciplinary programs in biochemistry and chemical physics. The following interdisciplinary major programs do not require the approval of the Recording Committee because the departments concerned have formalized their requirements.

BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

All majors must complete the following courses: Biology 102 or 109, Biology 224, Chemistry 102 or 109, 225, 226, 232, 251; Mathematics 161, 171; and Physics 103, 104. Students are encouraged to complete the required biochemistry core courses by the end of their junior year. Majors must also complete two (2) elective courses from the following: Biology 210 (same as Environmental Studies 210), 212, 214, 217, 218, 253, 257, 266, 304, 306, 307, 314, 317, 333, Biochemistry 400-404 (Independent Study); Chemistry 210, 240, 252, 305 (same as Environmental Studies 305), 306 (same as Enviornmental Studies 306), 325, 326, 331, 401-404; Physics 223, 401-404. Students may include as electives up to two 400-level courses.

Because new courses may be added to the curriculum, students should consult with the Biochemistry Committee concerning possible electives not listed here. Moreover, you may have tested out of some of the core courses and therefore do not need to take them. If you are not sure, consult with a member of the Committee on Biochemnistry.

Those planning to engage in independent study in biochemistry should complete at least one of the following courses: Biology 212, 218, 263; Chemistry 210, 240. Students taking independent study courses for the biochemistry major should register for Biochemistry 401-404.

CHEMICAL PHYSICS REQUIREMENTS

Majors must complete the following courses: (1) Chemistry 102 or 109, 251; Mathematics 161, 171, and 181; Physics 103, 104, 223, and 229. (2) Either Chemistry 252 or Physics 310, and (3) Two courses from Chemistry 310, 340, or approved topics in 401 or 402; Physics 251, 300, 320, 357 (same as Environmental Studies 357 and Geology 357), or approved topics in 401, 402, 451,452. At least one of these must be at the 300 level or above.  Other possible electives may be feasible; interested students should check with the departments.

Students are expected to maintain a minimum level of academic performance in the courses offered for the Chemistry and Biochemistry majors.

D Policy:  Only one D is allowed in courses required for the major. This D must be offset by an A or a B in another course also required for the major.

Cr/D/F Policy:  Generally, courses for the major must be taken on a graded basis.  Under special circumstances, however, a student may petition the Department Chair to take one required chemistry course and/or one other course required for the major (Math 161, Math 171, Physics 103, or Physics 104) on a non-graded, Cr/D/F basis.