Department of Chemistry Undergraduate Degree Requirements

The University of Rochester offers the following programs in Chemistry

B.A. Program
B.S. Program
Minor in Chemistry
Double Degrees (B.A. and B.S.)

Five-Year M.S. Program
Ph.D. Program

The Advising Committee maintains a list of primary contacts for various advising activities. Please refer to the Undergraduate Advising Committee Assignment List to obtain the name of the appropriate person to contact.

B.A. Program in Chemistry

The B.A. program makes fewer specifications at the advanced level than the B.S. degree and encourages a wide range of elective courses. It is particularly suitable for students with interdisciplinary scientific interests in the health professions, biology, physics, geological sciences, engineering, or education. B.A. students may elect advanced courses in chemistry, including independent research, and can, thereby, create a curriculum best suited to their individual interests.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE B.A. IN CHEMISTRY

• CHM 131 (or equivalent AP credit)
• CHM 171Q/203, 172Q/204, 173Q/207
• Three of the following: CHM 132, 211, 251, 252
• Two of the following: CHM 210, 231, 232, 234
• Two additional 200-level or higher chemistry courses or other science courses approved by the Undergraduate Advising Committee. No more than 4 credits may be from laboratory courses, and no credits can be from independent research. Examples of courses from other departments that may be used are available here:
     (200 level courses from other departments)
  and from the Chemistry Undergraduate Studies Committee.
• Satisfaction of the Upper-Level Writing Requirement (see below)

• MTH 161 and 162
• MTH 163/165 or a course in computer science (CSC 170, 171) or statistics (STT 201, 211, 212)
• PHY 113–114. Students wishing a more rigorous background in physics are advised to take PHY 121–123, or 121 and 142–143, instead of 113–114

• Additional courses in physics, mathematics, and other sciences such as biology, geology, etc., may be taken as part of the concentration.

B.A. candidates considering employment in the chemical profession or graduate work in chemistry should include CHM 210, 211, 231, 232, 251, and 252 in their curriculum.

B.S. Program in Chemistry

The B.S. program is designed primarily for students who anticipate professional careers in chemistry and related science. The program provides the range of knowledge, skills, and experience required for work as a professional chemist or for entry into graduate studies in chemistry. The fundamental work is completed by the end of the third year, leaving the senior year free for graduate-level coursework and a full year of independent research with one of the department faculty. The B.S. program meets all of the requirements for an American Chemical Society approved degree.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE B.S. PROGRAM IN CHEMISTRY

• Either the series CHM 131 (or equivalent AP credit), 132, 203, 204, 207, and 210
     or the series
  CHM 131 (or equivalent AP credit), 171Q, 172Q, 173Q, 210, and
     BIO/CHM 250 or CHM 262 (Biochemistry) or CHM 132 or an approved 200/400-level science course
• CHM 211, 251 and 252
• CHM 231, 232, 234¹
• CHM 393 (senior research, 8 credits total)²
• 400-level chemistry course³
• Satisfaction of the Upper-Level Writing Requirement (see below)

• MTH 161, 162, 163/165, plus one additional course in mathematics (MTH 164 or a 200-level mathematics course), computer science (CSC 170, 171) , or statistics (STT 201, 211, 212)
• PHY 121–123, or 121 and 142–143

While the required courses leading to a B.S. in chemistry may be scheduled with some flexibility (e.g., the mathematics and physics courses), the following program is suggested:

Notes:
Students who complete CHM 171Q/172Q courses during their first year should consult with a chemistry advisor to plan the remainder of their program.

1. CHM 234 may be replaced by an approved laboratory course in another science department.
2. Eight credit hours of CHM 393 (senior research) are required for a B.S. degree. Students must prepare a senior research thesis, and have the thesis read and approved by the research adviser and a second faculty member in Chemistry.
3. Four credits of a 400-level chemistry course may be taken anytime during the junior or senior year.
4. Students must select one course from the following:
   • mathematics (MTH 164 or a 200-level mathematics course), or
   • computer science (CSC 170, 171), or
   • statistics (STT 201, 211, 212)
5. Careful consultation with faculty is necessary to choose an appropriate program. Students are urged to include advanced work in related sciences consistent with their professional aims, such as more mathematics and physics for graduate work in physical chemistry, biology for graduate work in biochemistry, etc.
6. B.S. chemistry majors who complete CHM 171Q and CHM 172Q must include either CHM/BIO 250 or CHM 262 (Biochemistry) or CHM 132 or an approved 200/400-level science course.

UPPER-LEVEL WRITING REQUIREMENT

All chemistry majors are required to complete two upper-level writing courses ("W" courses). At least one of these courses must be a chemistry department course selected from the list below. In each chemistry writing course students are required to submit a total of four writing requirement laboratory reports. Two types of reports are required in each course: one report is written so that a well-educated non-scientist is able to understand the content; the second report is written as a formal scientific presentation with appropriate literature references. The writing requirement may be satisfied in the following courses: CHM 210W, 231W, 232W, 234W, 393W. Students may use one writing course from another department for one of the two required writing courses.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN CHEMISTRY

• Any 6 courses (4 units or greater) in Chemistry.

Courses at the 400-level may be included with the permission of the instructor. Prerequisites for advanced courses, such as prior chemistry courses or the mathematics and physics prerequisites for courses in physical chemistry, must be taken in addition to the six required chemistry courses.

Each minor will be assigned a faculty advisor who must approve the student’s proposed program, normally at the end of the sophomore year. Particular attention should be given to the intellectual coherence of the program in terms of the student’s goals. Two courses with substantial overlap of content should not be included in a program.

Double Degrees (B.A. and B.S.)

The University policy for double degrees is given below for reference. The Chemistry Faculty will recommend a double degree only for those students who elect to augment the minimum B.A. program by satisfying the following two requirements:

1. Completion of Chemistry 211, 251 and 252
2. Completion of at least two of the following laboratory courses:
   Chemistry 231, 232 and 234

Double Degrees

(From the University of Rochester Official Bulletin (1997-99):

Students who plan a program leading to more than one baccalaureate degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science, are required to meet all requirements for each degree and to augment the minimum number of courses or credits usually required for either degree. The amount of augmentation will be determined individually by faculty members and deans in each area, taking into account the quality of work submitted. The approval forms are available in each academic dean's offices. Students who wish to complete work in two areas of concentration as part of a single degree need only obtain approval for each concentration and for the double major.

Five-Year M.S. Program

For more information on the Five-Year M.S. Program, please click here.