Undergrad Degree Requirements

BS Chemistry Degree

The BS degree in chemistry offers in-depth coverage of all major areas of chemistry, featuring challenging advanced coursework for our majors. Students who earn a BS in chemistry are equipped with skills that enhance their marketability to a wide variety of employers in technology and science and are well-prepared to enter graduate school in chemistry or professional school such as medical, dental, or pharmacy school. Our BS degree is certified by the American Chemical Society, the largest professional scientific organization in the world.  Our major guide illustrates how the degree can be finished in four years.

Handouts:
2024 BS Chemistry Flow Chart (2024-2025 Catalog Year)
Chemistry (BS) 2024-2025 (2024-2025 Catalog Year)

BA Chemistry Degree

The BA degree in chemistry provides excellent grounding in chemistry principles, including specially focused 3000-level coursework. Students who earn a BA in chemistry have a broad education in chemistry and are equipped with skills that enhance their marketability to a wide variety of scientific companies, and are well-prepared to enter professional school such as medical, dental, or pharmacy school. With a BA in chemistry and two semesters of laboratory-based biology courses, pre-medical students will have satisfied the course requirements for application to most US medical schools. This major guide below leaves room in the 4-year plan for exploring other interests and is a popular major to pair with other majors (see Double Major below).

Handouts:
2024 BA Chemistry Flowchart (2024-2025 Catalog Year)
Chemistry (BA) 2024-2025 (2024-2025 Catalog Year)

BS Biochemistry (Chemistry Track) Degree

The bachelor of science in biochemistry degree offers a rich combination of chemistry and biology studies at the undergraduate level.  The chemistry track for the BS degree is rooted in structural biochemistry and emphasizes the dynamics of biochemically important systems.  As with the other degrees offered in the Department of Chemistry, the study of biochemistry can prepare students for work in the pharmaceutical and drug discovery industry, and serve as a foundation for graduate study in chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmacology, and more.  It is also an exceptional choice for pre-medical, pre-dental, and other pre-professional students.  The major guide helps you generate a 4-year plan that works for you.

Biochemistry (BS) with Chemistry Concentration 2024-2025 (2024-2025 Catalog Year)

Double Major

If you are interested in pursuing two majors, there are a lot of choices that can complement chemistry.  For example, it is very common for BS Biology majors to add a second major in chemistry; they need to take just three more chemistry lectures/labs in the BA Chemistry curriculum (CHEM 3250/3251, 3450/3451, and 3850/3851), to earn the second major. Four levels of a foreign language are not required when students pursue a double major and the BS degree is their primary major. With careful planning, the three additional chemistry courses can be completed in a single academic year. For students working toward a BS degree in biochemistry with a concentration in biology, only CHEM 3450/3451 and 3850/3851 are required to add the second major.

Examples of Double Majors