Chemistry

The major in Chemistry is elected by students planning careers in the chemical sciences and frequently also by those whose interests lie in other disciplines such as biology, medicine, public health, earth sciences, ecology, secondary education, business, and law. New freshman and transfer Chemistry students are strongly encouraged to take an orientation seminar, CHEM 11, where they learn about the Chemistry major requirements, the Chemistry Department, and the career options available to students after graduation.

The curriculum of the Department is designed to satisfy the diverse needs of these students and others who may have occasion to study chemistry. The year-long lecture course sequence of CHEM M2A-CHEM M2B-CHEM M2C and laboratory course sequence of CHEM M2LA-CHEM M2LB-CHEM M3LC cover the fundamentals of general and analytical chemistry, and serve as prerequisites to all study in the Department at more advanced levels. The subject matter of these courses also serve as a thorough introduction to the varied aspects of modern chemistry for students who do not wish to pursue their studies beyond the introductory level.

Completion of a one-year sequence in organic chemistry lectures, CHEM 51A-CHEM 51B-CHEM 51C, along with organic chemistry laboratory courses, is required for Chemistry majors and for students of the life sciences. These core organic chemistry courses are typically taken by students in their second year at UCI. All Chemistry students then take inorganic chemistry lecture and laboratory courses, CHEM 107 and CHEM 107L, an advanced instrumental analysis course, CHEM 152, and a three-quarter sequence of physical chemistry, CHEM 132A – CHEM 132B – CHEM 132C. Students will also take a mathematical and computing skill course, CHEM 5, in parallel with CHEM 132A, to help them improve their learning experience in the physical chemistry sequence.

To complete the Chemistry major requirements, the students take a minimum of five upper-division elective courses chosen from a broad menu, which includes graduate level courses. Certain advanced courses required of Chemistry majors may also be of interest to other majors. Many students elect to take a pre-defined set of elective courses in order to fulfill requirements for one of the concentrations and specializations, such as Chemical Biology, Chemistry Education, Environmental Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, or Theoretical and Computational Chemistry and Quantum Science. For example, Chemistry majors who are interested in teaching chemistry at the secondary level often complete the optional concentration in Chemistry Education.

The undergraduate program of the Chemistry Department emphasizes close contact with research, and all Chemistry majors are encouraged to engage in research or independent study under the direction of a faculty member. Research is an integral requirement of the ACS certified degree, and it greatly increases chances for admission into graduate and professional schools. Students have an opportunity to write their research thesis as part of an upper-division writing course CHEM 180W (CHEM H181W in the Honors sequences). Information describing the procedures for arranging an undergraduate research opportunity is available on the Chemistry Department website.

Chemistry majors who plan subsequent study in medical, dental, or other professional schools should request information concerning admission requirements directly from the schools which they seek to enter. Excellent counseling about preparation for a career in the health sciences is provided by the health science advisors in the School of Biological Sciences. Those intending to pursue graduate studies in chemistry should discuss their plans with a research area advisor no later than the fall quarter of their senior year. The current advisors for each research area are listed on the Chemistry Department website.

Admission

Students may be admitted to the Chemistry major upon entering the University as freshmen, via change of major, or as transfer students from other colleges and universities. Information about change of major policies is available in the Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office and at the UCI Change of Major Criteria website. For transfer student admission, preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: one year of general chemistry with laboratory and one year of approved calculus. Completion of one year of organic chemistry is strongly recommended.

Requirements

All students must meet the University Requirements. School Requirements: None.

Departmental Requirements1

1. Courses must be taken for a letter grade.
2. At least three of the courses used to satisfy the Elective Requirement must be courses offered by the Chemistry Department, including at least one lecture course and one laboratory course. A course applied to the Core Requirement section cannot be used for the Elective Requirement section.
3. CHEM 180 and CHEM H180 can be counted toward this requirement no more than once.
4. CHEM 197 must be taken for 4 units and can be counted toward this requirement no more than once.

Optional American Chemical Society Certification

Optional Concentrations and Specializations in Chemistry

The core chemistry curriculum provides the students with the foundational knowledge of the traditional areas of chemistry. In addition, the students have an option to focus their education on one of the following areas of chemistry by completing the chemistry core requirements and strategically choosing their elective requirements as shown below. At least two quarters of undergraduate research (CHEM 180, CHEM H180A, CHEM H180B, CHEM H180C) with a research group chosen in consultation with the faculty advisors are strongly recommended but not required for all the concentrations and specializations listed below. The names of the faculty advisors for each concentration and specialization can be found on the Department of Chemistry website.

Only one specialization or concentration may appear on the transcript. If students simultaneously satisfy requirements for more than one specialization or concentration, they should choose which one will be appearing on their transcript.

Optional Concentration in Chemical Biology

Optional Specialization in Environmental Chemistry

Optional Specialization in Medicinal Chemistry

Optional Specialization in Nuclear and Radiochemistry

Optional Specialization in Synthetic Chemistry

Optional Concentration in Chemistry Education

Optional Concentration in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry and Quantum Science

The concentration in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry and Quantum Science aims to provide a rigorous education for Chemistry majors with special interests in theory and computation and quantum science. Compared to the regular Chemistry major, additional courses in mathematics, physics, and computer science are required, while upper-division laboratory courses are option. Enrolling in this concentration requires approval by a faculty advisor. The advisors will be members of the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry faculty group, and will assist the students in choosing elective courses tailored to the students' interests.

Secondary Teaching Certification Option

With additional course work and field experience offered through the UCI Cal Teach program, students who complete the concentration in Chemistry Education can also earn a California Preliminary Single Subject Teaching Credential. Completing the bachelor’s degree, concentration, and teacher certification in four years is possible with careful, early planning. Additional courses required for teacher certification are:

Successful completion of EDUC 143AW-EDUC 143BW and EDUC 148 will be accepted in lieu of three electives (from the above Elective Requirements list) for students pursuing the concentration in Chemistry Education. To complete the remaining electives, students may choose any combination from the approved list of lectures or laboratories, e.g. two laboratories, or two lectures, or one laboratory and one lecture. For additional information about teacher certification requirements and enrollment procedures, see Preparation for Teaching Science and Mathematics. Interested students are strongly encouraged to contact the Cal Teach Resource and Advising Center or the Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office.

Sample Programs

Sample Program — Chemistry Majors1

Items in parentheses are recommended choices or alternatives.

Freshman

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM M2A& CHEM M2LA	CHEM M2B& CHEM M2LB	CHEM M2C
MATH 2A	MATH 2B	MATH 2D
Lower-division Writing	Lower-division Writing	CHEM M3LC
CHEM 11

Sophomore

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 51A& CHEM M52LA	CHEM 51B& CHEM M52LB	CHEM 51C& CHEM M52LC
CHEM 5	General Education	PHYSICS 7E
PHYSICS 7C& PHYSICS 7LC	PHYSICS 7D& PHYSICS 7LD	General Education

Junior

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 132A	CHEM 132B	CHEM 132C
CHEM 107	Chemistry Elective	CHEM 107L
Chemistry Elective	General Education	Elective
General Education	General Education	General Education

Senior

Fall	Winter	Spring
Elective/Research	CHEM 152	Elective/Research
Upper-division Writing	Elective/Research	Chemistry Elective
Chemistry Elective	General Education	General Education
General Education	General Education

Sample Program - Concentration in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

Items in parentheses are recommended choices or alternatives.

Freshman

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM M2A& CHEM M2LA	CHEM M2B& CHEM M2LB	CHEM M3LC
MATH 2A	MATH 2B	MATH 2D
Lower-Division Writing	Lower-Division Writing	General Education

Sophomore

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 51A& CHEM M52LA	CHEM 51B& CHEM M52LB	CHEM 51C& CHEM M52LC
PHYSICS 7C& PHYSICS 7LC	PHYSICS 7D& PHYSICS 7LD	PHYSICS 7E
MATH 3A

Junior

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 132A	CHEM 132B	CHEM 132C
CHEM 107	PHYSICS 112A	PHYSICS 113A
PHYSICS 111A	General Education	EECS 20
EECS 12	General Education	General Education
PHYSICS 50

Senior

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 150	CHEM 150L	Elective/Research
MATH 105A& MATH 105LA	EECS 22L (MATH 105B - MATH 105LB)	General Education
EECS 22 (STATS 7)	General Education	General Education
Upper-Division Writing	General Education	General Education

Sample program for transfer students entering at the Junior level

Junior

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 132A	CHEM 132B	CHEM 132C
CHEM 107	STATS 7	PHYSICS 50
MATH 105A& MATH 105LA	General Education	EECS 20
EECS 12	General Education	General Education

Senior

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 150	CHEM 150L	PHYSICS 113A
PHYSICS 111A	PHYSICS 112A	EECS 22L
General Education	General Education	General Education
Upper-Division Writing	General Education	General Education

Sample Program — Concentration in Chemistry Education (with Secondary Teaching Certification option)

Items in parentheses are recommended choices or alternatives.

Freshman

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM M2A& CHEM M2LA	CHEM M2B& CHEM M2LB	CHEM M3LC
MATH 2A	MATH 2B	MATH 2D
PHY SCI 5	General Education	General Education

Sophomore

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 51A& CHEM M52LA	CHEM 51B& CHEM M52LB	CHEM 51C& CHEM M52LC
CHEM 5	PHYSICS 7C& PHYSICS 7LC	PHYSICS 7D& PHYSICS 7LD
PHY SCI 105	CHEM 193	LPS 60
(PHYSICS 2)		General Education

Junior

Fall	Winter	Spring
CHEM 132A	CHEM 132B	CHEM 132C
CHEM 107	CHEM 152	CHEM 107L
EDUC 55	EDUC 143AW	EDUC 148
PHYSICS 7E		Chemistry Elective

Senior

Fall	Winter	Spring
Chemistry Elective	General Education	General Education
EDUC 143BW	EDUC 109	EDUC 158
General Education	EDUC 158

Honors

The Honors Program in Chemistry is a research-based program offered to selected Chemistry majors during their final year. Applicants to the program must have completed their junior year with a grade point average of at least 3.3 overall and in their Chemistry courses. They must also have demonstrated the potential of carrying out research of honors quality, as judged by the Chemistry faculty member who will supervise their research. Students in this program enroll in Honors Research in Chemistry (CHEM H180A-CHEM H180B-CHEM H180C) throughout their senior year and submit a formal thesis late in the spring quarter. They also enroll in the Honors Seminar in Chemistry (CHEM H181W), in which they receive instruction in scientific writing and present a formal research seminar. Successful completion of CHEM H181W satisfies the UCI upper-division writing requirement. NOTE: Students enrolled in the Honors Research in Chemistry (CHEM H180A-CHEM H180B-CHEM H180C) do not enroll in CHEM 180 (Undergraduate Research).

Students who complete these requirements, whose grade point average remains above the 3.3 standard, and whose research is judged to be of honors quality will graduate with Departmental Honors in Chemistry.

Additional information is available from the Chemistry Undergraduate Program Office.