Entry to CHEM 115: Chemistry I

(required for Chemistry, Biology and Neuroscience Majors and Minors, and health professions)

Entering first-year students interested in chemistry (CHEM 115: Chemistry I) must take the Science Placement Assessment before registering for classes. This test consists of 20 basic algebra and spatial visualization problems, and is an established measure of readiness and likelihood of success in Chemistry I. In addition to the assessment, your high school transcript and standardized test scores will be used to determine the most appropriate starting place in chemistry for you. You will be placed in Chemistry I in the Fall Semester or in CHEM 114: Foundations of Chemistry in the Spring Semester of your first year. The Chemistry Major can be completed in four years through either of the sequences described below.

Students wishing to enter CHEM 115 in the fall of their second year and who have not completed CHEM 114 must take the Science Placement Assessment in the spring of their first year and appropriate placement will be made. Note that it is not possible to complete a Chemistry Major in three years starting with CHEM 114 in the second year.

Consult your advisor or the Chair of the Chemistry Department for further explanation.

Major and Minor in Chemistry

The Major in Chemistry requires eight chemistry courses, two courses in calculus, and two courses in physics, for a total of 12 credits required for the completion of this major. The Minor in Chemistry requires a minimum of six credits, including five chemistry courses and their pre-/co-requisites. To complete the Minor, one 300-level course must be completed on campus.

Courses taken Pass-NoPass may not count towards the major in chemistry. Because of post-graduation evaluation by professional schools, employers, etc., all courses required for completion of the major must be recorded as grades on the transcript, including math and physics. Minors and non-majors may take chemistry courses Pass-NoPass. Note: several sequential courses in chemistry have minimum grade requirements for prerequisite courses whether taken Pass-NoPass or not; please see course descriptions for details.

The Chemistry Department will evaluate the suitability of prerequisites that students wish to satisfy via courses transferred to the College. In these cases the department may conduct a placement assessment that will be used to evaluate students’ mastery of prerequisite material. If sufficient mastery is not demonstrated, students may need to repeat the prerequisite course at the College, before continuing through the course sequence.

CHEM - CHEMISTRY

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