The Major

The student chooses either the B.A. or the B.S. curriculum and may select from a wide range of courses within each option. Both provide the opportunity for the pursuit of coursework in other academic areas, the B.A. more than the B.S. It is expected that, by the end of the first year, students, in consultation with a faculty adviser, will select the curriculum most suitable to their goals. A B.S. graduate whose program includes instrumental analysis, a full year of inorganic chemistry, and CHEM 423 or BIOCHEM 523, will be certified to the American Chemical Society.

Chemistry may be elected as the area of primary concentration in the Science major, an interdepartmental program administered by the Arts and Sciences Advising Services. The program of a student who wishes to major in Science/Chemistry must be approved by the Chemistry Department Chief Undergraduate Adviser. This major is acceptable for secondary school teaching.

Bachelor of Science Curriculum
The B.S. curriculum requires the courses noted below. The upper-level chemistry requirements include an independent project following the guidelines of the Undergraduate Program Director, plus a minimum of twelve credits of upper-level lecture and laboratory courses from those given on the B.S. curriculum list available from the department. Students who complete this curriculum will be certified by the American Chemical Society if their program includes CHEM 513 Instrumental Analysis, CHEM 546 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, and CHEM 423 or BIOCHEM 523.

PHYSICS 181, 182, 183 and 184 may be substituted for PHYSICS 151, 152, 153 and 154, a substitution encouraged for students interested in chemical physics. A student who elects the PHYSICS 181-184 sequence should take PHYSICS 181, 183 in the first semester of the freshman year.

Freshman
Fall
CHEM 121H Honors General Chemistry
MATH 131 Calculus I
Spring
CHEM 122H Honors General Chemistry
MATH 132 Calculus II
PHYSICS 151 General Physics I with lab

Sophomore
Fall
CHEM 265/267 Organic Chemistry I with lab
CHEM 291A Undergraduate Seminar
MATH 233 Multivariate Calculus
PHYSICS 152 General Physics II with lab
Spring
CHEM 266/268 Organic Chemistry II with lab
CHEM 315 Quantitative Analysis

Junior
Fall
CHEM 341 Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 391A Writing in Chemistry
CHEM 475/477 Physical Chemistry I with lab
Spring
CHEM 342 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 476 Physical Chemistry II

Senior
CHEM 388 or CHEM 499Y/T  Independent Research
Upper-level chemistry courses**
**A total of at least 12 credits of upper-level chemistry courses must be taken during the junior and senior years. The independent project is not included in this total.

Note: CHEM 388 must be taken for a B.S. degree.
CHEM 499Y and 499T may be substituted for CHEM 388.
CHEM 496 cannot be substituted for CHEM 388.

Bachelor of Arts Curriculum
The B.A. curriculum offers increased flexibility in the choice of electives. Where options exist, the option recommended is noted by an asterisk (*).

Freshman
Fall
CHEM 121H Honors General Chemistry or 111 General Chemistry
MATH 127 or 131 Calculus I
Spring
CHEM 122H Honors General Chemistry or 112 General Chemistry
MATH 128 or 132 Calculus II
PHYSICS 131 or 151 Introductory Physics I with lab

Sophomore
Fall
CHEM 265/267 Organic Chemistry I with lab
CHEM 291A Undergraduate Seminar
PHYSICS 132 or 152 Introductory Physics II with lab
Spring
CHEM 266/268 Organic Chemistry II with lab
CHEM 315 Quantitative Analysis

Junior
Fall
CHEM 341 Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 391A Writing in Chemistry
CHEM 471 Elementary Physical Chemistry or CHEM 475 Physical Chemistry I and CHEM 476 offered spring semester
Spring
CHEM 342 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 476 Physical Chemistry II if CHEM 475 taken previously
Electives**
**Nine credits of elective courses, a minimum of 3 credits from a Group A list provided by the Chemistry Department and a minimum of 3 credits from a Group B departmental list. Other electives not on this departmental list, by petition.

Senior
Fall and Spring
Electives**

© 2013 University of Massachusetts AmherstSite Policies
This page is maintained by the Center for Educational Software Development