Chemistry, BS

This curriculum prepares students for graduate work in chemistry or for responsible positions in industrial or government laboratories. This degree, offered by the Department of Chemistry , meets all requirements for Certification by the American Chemical Society. It does not require a minor, although with judicious choice of electives, a minor may be obtained in biology, mathematics, or physics.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Prerequisite Requirements

Refer to the SJSU Course Catalog for specific information regarding course prerequisites.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division General Education: 12 (16 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 6 (3 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 0 (3 units satisfied by CHEM 100W)

Major Preparation: 28

Major Requirements: 66

Total: 120

2. Major Preparation (28 units)

ENGL 1B - Argument and Analysis 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2) (Or equivalent)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 31 - Calculus II 4 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 32 - Calculus III 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
PHIL 133 - Ethics in Science 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)
PHYS 50 - General Physics I: Mechanics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
PHYS 51 - General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
PHYS 52 - General Physics III: Waves, Light, Heat 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)

3. Major Requirements (66 units)

Science Electives (10 units)

Complete ten units from the courses listed below, 5 of which must be CHEM courses:

Note: A maximum of 4 units of supervisory courses (CHEM 180 , CHEM 181 , CHEM 184 ) can be applied toward the degree.

ASTR 117A - Astrophysics I 3 unit(s)
CHEM 114 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Lab 3 unit(s)
CHEM 118 - Special Topics in Organic Chemistry 1 unit(s)
CHEM 121S - Radiation Safety 1-2 unit(s)
CHEM 126 - Introduction to Nuclear Science 3 unit(s)
CHEM 127 - Nuclear Science Lab 3 unit(s)
CHEM 131A - Biochemistry Lab 2 unit(s)
CHEM 180 - Individual Studies 1-4 unit(s)
CHEM 181 - Advanced Undergraduate Research 1-4 unit(s)
CHEM 191 - Undergraduate Seminar 1 unit(s)
CHEM 213 - Organic Synthesis 3 unit(s)
CHEM 218 - Organotransition Metal Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 236 - Biophysical Methods 3 unit(s)
CHEM 245 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 250 - Current Topics in Analytical Chemistry 3 unit(s)
MATH 112 - Vector Calculus 3 unit(s)
MATH 33LA - Differential Equations and Linear Algebra 3 unit(s)
MATH 39 - Linear Algebra I 3 unit(s)
MATH 33A - Ordinary Differential Equations for SCI & ENGR 3 unit(s)
MATH 138 - Complex Variables 3 unit(s)
MATH 161A - Applied Probability and Statistics I 3 unit(s)
PHYS 122 - Modern Physics 4 unit(s)
PHYS 130 - Mathematical Methods in Physics 3 unit(s)
PHYS 158 - Modern Optics 3 unit(s)
PHYS 160 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 3 unit(s)

About

Chemistry, BS

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Summary of Degree Units

2. Major Preparation (28 units)

3. Major Requirements (66 units)

Core Courses (30 units)

Major Courses (23 units)

Capstone Course (3 units)

Science Electives (10 units)

Total Units Required (120 units)