Chemistry, Basic, B.S.

Requirements for the Basic Chemistry Major:

Additional Requirements

plus mathematics through MTH 115  and two terms of introductory physics (PHY 110  and PHY 111  or  PHY 120  and PHY 121 ). Chemistry majors may fulfill their WS requirement through a two- or three-term senior research thesis under the supervision of a faculty member in the Chemistry Department (CHM 491 , CHM 492 , CHM 493 ), through performing thesis research in another department (if a double major or ID major), or through an additional writing component added to an upper-level chemistry course (with permission of the instructor and the chair of the Chemistry Department). Knowledge of a foreign language is strongly encouraged but not required. *Students without sufficient preparation for CHM 110H  may substitute the two-course CHM 101 /CHM 102  sequence.

Requirements for Honors:

Candidates for honors in chemistry must have a cumulative index of at least 3.3 and an index of at least 3.3 in the courses of their major, excluding cognates, and must have at least three A or A- grades in such courses (not including any given in connection with the writing of their Senior Thesis). They must submit evidence of independent work in chemistry of substance and distinction in the form of a thesis that shall have been awarded a grade of at least A-. Candidates must fulfill the College-wide criteria for honors and they must be formally nominated by the Chemistry Department.

Course Selection Guidelines

Placement: Any student interested in taking introductory chemistry is required to take a placement examination to determine the appropriate course. Exception: a student wishing to take chemistry who has scored 4 or 5 on the AP chemistry exam will be automatically placed into CHM 110H  and cannot take CHM 101 . Students who have scored 4 or 5 on the AP chemistry exam or who successfully complete CHM 110H  will also receive AP credit for CHM 101 . CHM 110H  is offered only in the fall term. [Note: occasionally a student who places out of CHM 101  may find it more appropriate to take CHM 102  instead of CHM 110H . This decision must be made in consultation with the chair of the Chemistry Department.]

Common Curriculum Courses: CHM 050 , CHM 060  and CHM 080  and CHM 090  are designed for the general college community. They do not count toward the chemistry major nor for interdepartmental majors that include chemistry. Only students with majors in Division I and II departments or psychology can count one chemistry Common Curriculum course toward the minor in chemistry, and only if it is their first course in the minor. CHM 101 , CHM 102 , and CHM 110H   are also appropriate courses for students wishing to complete their Common Curriculum requirements.

Prerequisites: There is a strict prerequisite structure for the chemistry curriculum, so it is very important to review individual course descriptions when planning when to take the various courses. Every 200-level course has at least one 100-level chemistry course prerequisite, and some have other 200-level chemistry courses and/or cognate courses as prerequisites. Every 300-level course has at least one 200-level chemistry course prerequisite, and some have other 300-level chemistry courses and/or cognate courses as prerequisites.

Repeating Chemistry Courses: Chemistry courses may be repeated according to the college policy, if space permits, with the following exception: a student cannot repeat a chemistry course that is a prerequisite for another chemistry or biochemistry course that the student has successfully completed.

Chemistry Secondary School Certification

Requirements for Secondary School Certification: PSY 246 , EDS 500A, EDS 500B and at least one year of a foreign language. Chemistry requirements are identical to those of the chemistry major. All science majors are encouraged to seek certification in more than one science. To be certified in any science requires a complete major in that science. Students wishing to add certification in general science must include at least two courses each from the areas of biology (BIO 101 and 102), physics (PHY 120 , PHY 121 , or PHY 210 ), and earth science (any GEO course or AST 200 ).

Chemistry interdepartmental majors seeking secondary school certification must choose all departments from among the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics. Interdepartmental majors completing an 8-6 or 8-4-4 interdepartmental program in which the eight or six courses are in chemistry would take the chemistry courses specified for interdepartmental majors. Students with chemistry as a four-course minor element in an 8-4-4 interdepartmental major, would include at least CHM 101  and CHM 102  or CHM 110H , CHM 231 , and CHM 232 .