The Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry prepares students for careers as professional chemists and serves as a foundation for careers in other fields such as biology and medicine. The curriculum offers a thorough fundamental knowledge of the major fields of chemistry, covering the general areas of inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, plus many more specialized courses including analytical, nuclear, and biophysical chemistry and chemical biology. Students gain laboratory experience in inorganic and organic synthesis, analytical methods, physical chemical measurements, spectroscopy, biochemical engineering, and chemical methods in nuclear technology. Undergraduates are encouraged to take full advantage of the scientific opportunities available in the department by joining a research group.
In addition, the department offers a Materials Chemistry concentration intended for students interested in the application of basic chemical principles to the discovery, design, and characterization of materials.
Transfer students normally begin the upper division Chemistry program after having completed courses equivalent to Chemistry 1A, 1AL, 1B, 3A, 3AL, 3B, 3BL; Math 1A, 1B, 53; Physics 7A; English R1A, R1B; and most of the Breadth requirement.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
| Junior Year Course | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry 96 (F) -- Intro to Research | 1 | - |
| Chemistry 104A (F), 104B (S) -- Inorganic | 3 | 3 |
| Chemistry 120A** | - | 3 |
| Allied Subject | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| Physics 7B / Math 54§ | 4 | - |
| American Cultures | 3-4 | |
| Research, other | 3-4 | |
| Total Units | 14-16 | 13 units min. |
| Senior Year Course | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry 105 (ok F or S) | 4 | or 4 |
| Chemistry 120B (F)** | 3 | |
| Chem 125 (F) or Chem C182 (S) -- Physical Chemistry Lab | 3 | or 3 |
| Chemistry elective (ok for F or S)/th> | 3-4 | or 3-4 |
| Allied Subjects (needs to add up to 12 units total) | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| Research, other | 3-4 | 3-5 |
| Total Units | 13 units min. | 13 units min. |
F= Fall
S = Spring
*Chem 105 is required for students who did not satisfy the analytical chemistry requirement before transferring to Berkeley. It may be used to satisfy both the analytical chemistry requirement and the upper division lab requirement.
**Chemistry 120A and 120B should be taken in sequence. Note that Math 54 and Physics 7B are prerequisites for the 120 series.
§ Physics 89 may be substituted for Math 54