Information and Policies
The requirements for the bachelor of arts (B.A.) in chemistry have been kept to a minimum so that students may tailor their program to their own purposes, for example, to pursue a double major, to complete major requirements late in their college career, or to concentrate on a specific branch of chemistry. The minimum requirements (including prerequisites) constitute 54 percent of a student’s total undergraduate program; consequently, there is ample time to explore and discover other interests within the university. To plan wisely, students are advised to refer to each course description for a detailed listing of prerequisites. Students who decide they want a professional career in chemistry are advised to meet with the chemistry undergraduate faculty adviser.
Academic Advising for the Program
The chemistry and biochemistry adviser provides counsel to undergraduate majors. Students are encouraged to seek out advising and assistance in planning their academic career to ensure completion of their major in a timely manner. For assistance, please contact Chemistry Advising at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu or visit our department website. Transfer students should also consult the Transfer Information and Policy Section below.
Getting Started in the Major
High School Preparation
Prospective chemistry majors should have a solid foundation in high school mathematics; familiarity with algebra, logarithms, trigonometry, and analytic geometry is particularly required. Students taking chemistry at UCSC begin with CHEM 1A or CHEM 1B, both of which require a strong background in high school chemistry.
Prerequisites
In order to determine what preparation may be needed to succeed in the general chemistry sequence , CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, and CHEM 1C, students are encouraged to take the Chemistry Self-Assessment Examination.
Program Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes summarize the most important knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes that students are expected to develop over the course of their studies.
The program learning outcomes clearly communicate the faculty’s expectations to students, provide a framework for faculty evaluation of the curriculum based on empirical data, and help improve and measure the impact of implemented changes.
Students graduating with a B.S. or B.A. in chemistry or a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology should be able to:
- demonstrate mastery of a broad set of chemical knowledge concerning the fundamentals in the basic areas of the discipline (organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry);
- solve area-specific problems by identifying the essential parts of a problem, formulating a strategy for solving the problem, applying appropriate techniques to arrive at a solution, testing the correctness of the solution, and interpreting their results;
- use modern library search tools (such as SciFinder, PubMed, or Web of Science) to locate and retrieve scientific information about a topic, chemical, chemical technique, or an issue relating to chemistry;
- know and follow the proper procedures and regulations for safe handling and use of chemicals;
- understand the objective of their chemical experiments, properly carry out the experiments, and appropriately record and analyze the results;
- use computers in data acquisition and processing, and use available software as a tool in data analysis;
- use standard laboratory equipment, modern instrumentation, and classical techniques to carry out experiments;
- communicate the concepts and results of their laboratory experiments through effective writing and/or oral communication using the discipline standards for reporting and citation; and
- collaborate effectively as part of a team to solve problems, debate different points of view, and interact productively with a diverse group of team members.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
Students must complete the following qualification courses, or their equivalents, each with a grade of C (2.0) or better and with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or greater in these six required courses:
Plus one of the following options:
And one of the following options:
Determining qualification for the major
When determining qualification to declare the major:
- All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
- For courses required to qualify for the major that have been satisfied with AP credit based on an AP examination score of 5 (for CHEM 1A), and an AP Calculus BC examination score of 4 or 5 (for MATH 11A or MATH 19A), students may substitute a grade of A for each course when calculating their cumulative GPA.
- Students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in courses required to qualify for the major are not eligible to declare.
Transfer students should also consult the Transfer Information and Policy Section below.
Appeal Process
Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare the major may appeal by submitting a letter to the chemistry adviser, chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu within 15 days from the date the notification was sent. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and their affiliated college of the decision. For more information about the appeal process, see the Appeal Process on the chemistry website.
How to Declare a Major
You may declare a major as early as you would like, if you have decided which major to pursue and have satisfied prerequisites or qualification requirements (if any) for the major.
Students who enter UC Santa Cruz as frosh are required to be formally declared in a major before enrolling in their third year (or equivalent). Upper-division transfer students are required to be declared in a major by the deadline in their second term at UCSC.
Each major/minor advising office has a process for declaring. To initiate the process to declare, please complete the online declaration petition located on the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department website. For assistance, please contact Chemistry Advising at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu.
Students enrolled in their final qualification policy course at the major declaration deadline may submit the petition, but will not be declared until satisfactory grades have been posted.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
The following courses or their equivalents are required prior to transfer, by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall.
Plus one of the following options:
Students must complete the above courses, or their equivalents, with a grade of C or better and have a cumulative GPA in these courses of 2.5 or greater.
For more information on qualifying for the major as a transfer applicant, see the Transfer Students webpage.
In addition, the following courses are recommended prior to transfer to ensure timely graduation:
Prospective students are encouraged to prioritize required and recommended major preparation, and may additionally complete courses that articulate to UC Santa Cruz general education requirements as time allows.
Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student
Transfer students are highly encouraged to meet with the chemistry academic adviser in their first quarter. For assistance with advising, please contact Chemistry Advising at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu. More information specific to transfer students may also be found at our department website.
Students who have satisfied the screening requirements can declare their major any time after coming to UC Santa Cruz but are required to be declared in a major by the applicable deadline; in their second term at UCSC for students entering at the junior level.
Transfer students who are proposed in a different major (other than chemistry) and have advanced standing when they come to UC Santa Cruz require permission from the department to change into the major. Admission to the major is not guaranteed.
Letter Grade Policy
For all students entering UCSC in fall 2001 and later, all courses used to satisfy degree requirements in any of the chemistry and biochemistry majors must be taken for a letter grade. Additionally, letter grades of C or higher must be attained to meet major and minor requirements for graduation.
Course Substitution Policy
At least half of the upper-division courses (CHEM 100– CHEM 199) required for any chemistry major must be taken through the chemistry program at UCSC, not as transfer credits from another department or institution. Transfer students are advised to contact the department undergraduate adviser before enrolling in any upper-division courses at other institutions to verify articulation. For more information on transferring courses to UCSC, please consult the Transfer Preparation website.
CHEM 199, Independent Study Course, may not be taken more than once per quarter and may be repeated no more than three times during an undergraduate career.
Honors
Honors in the chemistry major requires a 3.5 or higher GPA in all chemistry courses; highest honors requires a 3.8 or higher GPA in all chemistry courses for the major. Students may also receive honors for a senior research thesis.
Materials Fee
Chemistry students should be aware of the materials fee required for some courses. The fee is billed to the student’s account for specific laboratory materials purchased by the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department through the university. Fees generally range from $18 to $75 per course. Students may incur additional expense for individual supplies.
Program for Students of the Health Sciences
Students intending to enter medical, dental, or another health science professional school can satisfy entrance requirements with a major program in chemistry supplemented with further courses, especially in biology, as specified by the admissions requirements of the school where they intend to apply. Students are urged to contact the Career Center for assistance with the application process.
Requirements and Planners
Course Requirements
Lower-Division Courses
General Chemistry:
Calculus:
Choose one of the following options:
A student may combine the MATH 11 series with the MATH 19 series to complete this portion of the major requirement(s). For example, a student can take and complete MATH 19A and then take and complete MATH 11B.
Multivariable Calculus:
Physics:
Choose one of the following options:
A student may combine the PHYS 5 series with the PHYS 6 series to complete this portion of the major requirement(s). For example, a student can take and complete PHYS 5A and PHYS 5L and then take and complete PHYS 6B and 6M and PHYS 6C and 6N.
Organic Chemistry:
Upper-Division Courses
Intermediate Organic Chemistry:
| CHEM 110 | Intermediate Organic Chemistry with Emphasis on Synthesis and Analytical Methods | 5 |
| CHEM 110L | Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
Inorganic Chemistry:
Physical Chemistry:
One of the following laboratory courses:
| CHEM 146A | Advanced Laboratory in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 146B | Advanced Laboratory in Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 146C | Advanced Laboratory in Physical Chemistry | 3 |
Students currently conducting senior thesis research are strongly encouraged to choose an advanced laboratory in the CHEM 146 series that is outside their research area.
Electives
At least two from the following:
Students cannot receive elective credit toward the major for both BIOC 100A and CHEM 103. Students may also satisfy the elective requirement by completing a chemistry graduate course with permission of the instructor and department. Please consult with the department undergraduate adviser prior to enrolling.
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement. The DC Requirement for the bachelor of arts degree in chemistry is satisfied by completing:
Plus one of the following courses:
| CHEM 146A | Advanced Laboratory in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 146B | Advanced Laboratory in Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 146C | Advanced Laboratory in Physical Chemistry | 3 |
Comprehensive Requirement
The comprehensive requirement is a part of all UCSC degrees. For the Chemistry B.S., this requirement can be satisfied by receiving a passing grade in the upper-division labs listed below. These courses provide modern, individualized training in the discipline thus serving as relevant capstone experiences.
Plus one of the following courses:
| CHEM 146A | Advanced Laboratory in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 146B | Advanced Laboratory in Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 146C | Advanced Laboratory in Physical Chemistry | 3 |
Planners
This is the ideal academic plan for chemistry B.A. majors. If needed, the plan can be arranged differently.
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Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
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| 1st (frosh) |
MATH 19A or MATH 11A |
MATH 19B or MATH 11B |
CHEM 1C & CHEM 1N |
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| CHEM 1A |
CHEM 1B & CHEM 1M |
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| 2nd (soph) |
CHEM 8A & CHEM 8L |
CHEM 8B & CHEM 8M |
CHEM 110 & CHEM 110L |
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| PHYS 6A & PHYS 6L |
MATH 22 |
PHYS 6B & PHYS 6M |
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| 3rd (junior) |
CHEM 163A |
CHEM 163B |
CHEM elective |
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| PHYS 6C & PHYS 6N |
CHEM 151A & CHEM 151L |
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| 4th (senior) |
CHEM elective or CHEM 146 Lab |
CHEM 164 |
CHEM elective or CHEM 146 Lab |
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Two of the required general education requirements will be fulfilled by the major requirements listed in the above planner (MF & SI). In addition to the specific courses shown in these planners, a student will also need to complete courses satisfying the following general education requirements: Cross- Cultural Analysis, Ethnicity & Race, Interpreting Arts & Media, Statistical Reasoning, Textual Analysis & Interpretation, Perspectives, and Practice
Sample Transfer Two-Year Planner
For students who have transferred in with the recommended courses. Note: Failure to do so may require additional time to degree. Please refer to the following academic planners that detail student plans with only the minimum transfer requirements completed.
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Fall |
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Winter |
Spring |
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| 1st (junior) |
CHEM 163A |
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CHEM 163B |
CHEM 110 & CHEM 110L |
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| PHYS 6C & PHYS 6N |
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CHEM 151A & CHEM 151L |
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Fall |
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Winter |
Spring |
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| 2nd (senior) |
CHEM elective or CHEM 146 Lab |
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CHEM 164 |
CHEM elective or CHEM 146 Lab |
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*Recommended Courses:
- General chemistry (full sequence with lab) CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B & CHEM 1M and CHEM 1C & CHEM 1N
- Organic chemistry (full sequence with lab) CHEM 8A & CHEM 8L, CHEM 8B & CHEM 8M
- Calculus-based physics PHYS 6A & PHYS 6L, PHYS 6B & PHYS 6M
- Single variable calculus (full sequence) MATH 11A, MATH 11B
- Multivariable calculus (one semester course) MATH 22