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Choosing a Major Timeline
Below are common course timelines for students who wish to major in Chemistry. The following Chemistry major pathways consider students with advanced placement in Chemistry and Math courses who later wish to complete the traditional pathway and the biological chemistry pathway, each followed by an accelerated schedule.
Traditional Chemistry Pathway
| first year | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Chemical Principles I (CHEM31A) | 5 | ||
| Calculus (MATH19) | 3 | ||
| Chemical Principles II (CHEM31B) | 5 | ||
| Calculus (MATH20) | 3 | ||
| Programming Methodology (CS106A) | 5 | ||
| Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (CHEM33) | 5 | ||
| Calculus (MATH21) | 4 | ||
| Year Total: | 8 | 13 | 9 |
| SECOND YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (CHEM121) | 5 | ||
| Mechanics (PHYSICS41) | 4 | ||
| Classical Mechanics Laboratory (PHYSICS42) | 1 | ||
| Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (MATH51) | 5 | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry I (CHEM151) | 4 | ||
| Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (CHEM131) | 5 | ||
| Foundations of Physical Chemistry (CHEM171) | 4 | ||
| Year Total: | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| THIRD YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Biochemistry I (CHEM181) | 4 | ||
| Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (CHEM123) | 3 | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM124) | 3 | ||
| Synthesis Laboratory (CHEM126) | 3 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism (PHYSICS43) | 4 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism Lab (PHYSICS44) | 1 | ||
| Year Total: | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| fourth year | units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Physical Chemistry II (CHEM173) | 3 | ||
| Electrochemical Measurements Lab (CHEM174) | 3 | ||
| Physical Chemistry III (CHEM175) | 3 | ||
| Spectroscopy Laboratory (CHEM176) | 3 | ||
| Capstone: Biophysical Chemistry Seminar (CHEM185) | 3 | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry II (CHEM153) | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 94 | ||
Accelerated Traditional Chemistry Pathway
| first year | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Chemical Principles: From Molecules to Solids (CHEM31E) | 5 | ||
| Programming Methodology (CS106A) | 5 | ||
| Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (CHEM33) | 5 | ||
| Mechanics (PHYSICS41) | 4 | ||
| Classical Mechanics Laboratory (PHYSICS42) | 1 | ||
| Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (CHEM121) | 5 | ||
| Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (MATH51) | 5 | ||
| Year Total: | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| SECOND YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Biochemistry I (CHEM181) | 4 | ||
| Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (CHEM123) | 3 | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM124) | 3 | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry I (CHEM151) | 4 | ||
| Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (CHEM131) | 5 | ||
| Foundations of Physical Chemistry (CHEM171) | 4 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism (PHYSICS43) | 4 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism Lab (PHYSICS44) | 1 | ||
| Year Total: | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| THIRD YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Physical Chemistry II (CHEM173) | 3 | ||
| Electrochemical Measurements Lab (CHEM174) | 3 | ||
| Synthesis Laboratory (CHEM126) | 3 | ||
| Physical Chemistry III (CHEM175) | 3 | ||
| Spectroscopy Laboratory (CHEM176) | 3 | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry II (CHEM153) | 3 | ||
| Capstone: Biophysical Chemistry Seminar (CHEM185) | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 79 | ||
Biological-Chemistry Pathway
| first year | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Chemical Principles I (CHEM31A) | 5 | ||
| Calculus (MATH19) | 3 | ||
| Chemical Principles II (CHEM31B) | 5 | ||
| Calculus (MATH20) | 3 | ||
| Programming Methodology (CS106A) | 5 | ||
| Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (CHEM33) | 5 | ||
| Calculus (MATH21) | 4 | ||
| Year Total: | 8 | 13 | 9 |
| SECOND YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (CHEM121) | 5 | ||
| Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (MATH51) | 5 | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry I (CHEM151) | 4 | ||
| Mechanics (PHYSICS41) | 4 | ||
| Classical Mechanics Laboratory (PHYSICS42) | 1 | ||
| Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (CHEM131) | 5 | ||
| Foundations of Physical Chemistry (CHEM171) | 4 | ||
| Year Total: | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| THIRD YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Biochemistry I (CHEM181) | 4 | ||
| Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (CHEM123) | 3 | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM124) | 3 | ||
| Synthesis Laboratory (CHEM126) | 3 | ||
| Cell Biology (BIO86) | 4 | ||
| Biological Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM184) | 3 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism (PHYSICS43) | 4 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism Lab (PHYSICS44) | 1 | ||
| Year Total: | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| fourth year | units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Physical Chemistry II (CHEM173) | 3 | ||
| Spectroscopy Laboratory (CHEM176) | 3 | ||
| Biochemistry II (CHEM183) | 3 | ||
| Biophysical Chemistry (CHEM185) | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 95 | ||
Accelerated Biological-Chemistry Pathway
| first year | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Chemical Principles: From Molecules to Solids (CHEM31E) | 5 | ||
| Programming Methodology (CS106A) | 5 | ||
| Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (CHEM33) | 5 | ||
| Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (MATH51) | 5 | ||
| Mechanics (PHYSICS41) | 4 | ||
| Classical Mechanics Laboratory (PHYSICS42) | 1 | ||
| Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (CHEM121) | 5 | ||
| Year Total: | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| SECOND YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (CHEM123) | 3 | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM124) | 3 | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry I (CHEM151) | 4 | ||
| Physiology (BIO84) | 4 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism (PHYSICS43) | 4 | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism Lab (PHYSICS44) | 1 | ||
| Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (CHEM131) | 5 | ||
| Foundations of Physical Chemistry (CHEM171) | 4 | ||
| Year Total: | 6 | 9 | 13 |
| THIRD YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
COURSES | AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING |
| Physical Chemistry II (CHEM173) | 3 | ||
| Biochemistry I (CHEM181) | 4 | ||
| Synthesis Laboratory (CHEM126) | 3 | ||
| Spectroscopy Laboratory (CHEM176) | 3 | ||
| Biochemistry II (CHEM183) | 3 | ||
| Biological Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM184) | 3 | ||
| Biophysical Chemistry (CHEM185) | 3 | ||
| Year Total: | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 80 | ||
These course schedules are just examples and not the only pathways available. If you have any questions or concerns about designing your timeline to fit your needs, please visit our Advising Page to get in touch with undergraduate peer advisors, the student services manager, or the Undergraduate Studies committee.