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.
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.
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 at this 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 Chemistry and Biochemistry Department welcomes applications from transfer students who are prepared to enter as junior-level chemistry majors. To be considered for admission to UCSC as a chemistry B.A. or B.S. major, transfer students must pass equivalents of the following courses with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher:
| CHEM1A | General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM1B | General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM1C | General Chemistry | 5 |
| MATH22 | Introduction to Calculus of Several Variables | 5 |
Plus one of the following options:
In addition to the required transfer admissions courses, we strongly recommend that all transfer students complete equivalents of the following preparatory courses prior to transfer:
| CHEM8A | Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM8L | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM8B | Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM8M | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| PHYS6A | Introductory Physics I | 5 |
| PHYS6L | Introductory Physics Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS6B | Introductory Physics II | 5 |
| PHYS6M | Introductory Physics Laboratory | 1 |
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.
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.
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 5L and then take and complete PHYS 6B and 6M and PHYS 6C and 6N.
Organic Chemistry:
| CHEM8A | Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM8L | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM8B | Organic Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM8M | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
Upper-Division Courses
Intermediate Organic Chemistry:
| CHEM110 | Intermediate Organic Chemistry with Emphasis on Synthesis and Analytical Methods | 5 |
| CHEM110L | Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
Inorganic Chemistry:
Physical Chemistry:
| CHEM163A | Quantum Mechanics and Basic Spectroscopy | 5 |
| CHEM163B | Chemical Thermodynamics | 5 |
| CHEM164 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
One of the following laboratory courses:
| CHEM146A | Advanced Laboratory in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM146B | Advanced Laboratory in Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM146C | 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 one from the following:
| BIOC100A | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 5 |
| CHEM103 | Biochemistry | 5 |
| CHEM122 | Principles of Instrumental Analysis | 5 |
| CHEM143 | Organic Chemical Structure and Reactions | 5 |
| CHEM144 | Catalysis In Organic Synthesis Using Metals and Metalloids Based Reagents | 5 |
| CHEM151B | Chemistry of the Main Group Elements | 5 |
| CHEM156C | Materials Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM163C | Statistical Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 5 |
| CHEM169 | Chemistry and Biology of Drug Design and Discovery | 5 |
| METX101 | Sources and Fates of Pollutants | 5 |
| METX102 | Cell and Molecular Toxicology | 5 |
| OCEA120 | Aquatic Chemistry: Principles and Applications | 5 |
| OCEA121 | Aqueous Geochemistry | 5 |
| PHYS180 | Biophysics | 5 |
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:
| CHEM146A | Advanced Laboratory in Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM146B | Advanced Laboratory in Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM146C | Advanced Laboratory in Physical Chemistry | 3 |
Comprehensive Requirement
The comprehensive requirement is a part of all UCSC degrees. In the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, there are two options for satisfying this requirement:
Senior thesis:
A senior research project based on original experimental or theoretical research.
At the conclusion of the project, the student submits a formal research paper to the faculty sponsor for review and a revision process. Students arrange for a faculty sponsor by consulting with a relevant faculty member within the chemistry and biochemistry or the biochemistry and molecular biology major programs. In some cases, faculty outside these major programs (for example, in biology, ocean sciences, microbiology and environmental toxicology, or Earth sciences) may be an appropriate sponsor. Students who select a sponsor outside the chemistry or the biochemistry and molecular biology major programs should have the title and description of the proposed thesis reviewed by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate faculty adviser. Students, usually working in the laboratory of the faculty sponsor, acquire experimental and/or theoretical research experience and skills in the laboratory as well as instruction in the writing of a research paper. Students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress and be in good academic standing while they take CHEM 195 courses. Students who achieve excellence in both research and thesis may be awarded honors in the thesis upon graduation. Students are encouraged to apply for research funding opportunities on campus and external to the campus at the Undergraduate Research Opportunities website.
Senior essay:
An essay based on literature research.
Students find a faculty sponsor and agree in advance on an appropriate topic of interest and a format The student submits a draft essay to the sponsor for the revision process. Students arrange for a faculty sponsor by consulting with a relevant faculty member within the chemistry and biochemistry major program. In some cases, faculty outside these major programs (for example, in biology, ocean sciences, microbiology and environmental toxicology, or Earth sciences) may be an appropriate sponsor. Students who select a sponsor outside the chemistry and biochemistry major program should have the title and description of the proposed essay reviewed by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry undergraduate faculty sponsor. Students acquire experience and skills in scientific literature research as well as in the writing of a research paper.
Planners
This is the ideal academic plan for chemistry B.A. majors. If needed, the plan can be arranged differently.
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.
*Recommended Courses: