Table of Contents
- Undergraduate Program Description
- Undergraduate Programs Information: Associate Professor Lynne O’Connell, firstname.lastname@example.org, 617-552-3626
- Graduate Programs Information: Dale Mahoney, email@example.com, 617-552-1735
- Department Reception: Lynne Pflaumer, firstname.lastname@example.org, 617-552-3605
The Chemistry Department offers a comprehensive curriculum to students in the College of Arts and Sciences who wish to acquire a knowledge of chemistry. The Chemistry Department is approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Professional Training. By electing to supplement the degree requirements for the chemistry major with a year of independent research under the direction of a faculty member, the student qualifies for degree certification by the ACS.
The major in chemistry consists of ten 1-semester courses as follows: Two semesters of general chemistry with laboratory (CHEM1109–1110 and CHEM1111–1112 or CHEM1117–1118 and CHEM1119–1120), two semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory (CHEM2231–2232 and CHEM2233–2234 or CHEM2241–2242 and CHEM2243 and CHEM2234), one semester of analytical chemistry with laboratory (CHEM3351 and CHEM3353), one semester of inorganic chemistry with laboratory (CHEM3322 and CHEM3324), two semesters of physical chemistry (CHEM4475–4476), one semester of advanced methods with laboratory (CHEM5552 and CHEM5554), and one semester of biochemistry (CHEM4465). In addition, the following are required: Two semesters of physics with laboratory (PHYS2209–2210 and PHYS2050–2051), and two or three semesters of calculus (MATH1102–1103 or MATH1105, and MATH2202).
The preceding fulfills the Boston College requirements for a B.S. degree in chemistry. For this degree to be certified by the American Chemical Society, two additional chemistry laboratory electives are required, usually CHEM5591-5592.
The recommended sequence for the Chemistry major is as follows:
CHEM1109-1110 General Chemistry with Laboratory or CHEM1117–1118 Honors Modern Chemistry with Laboratory; two semesters of Physics with Laboratory (PHYS2209–2210 with PHYS2050–2051); Calculus (MATH1102–1103 or MATH1105); Core courses.
CHEM2231–2232 Organic Chemistry or CHEM2241–2242 Honors Organic Chemistry with Laboratory; CHEM3351 Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory; CHEM3322 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory; MATH2202 Calculus (MATH3305 in second semester is recommended); elective or Core courses.
CHEM4475–4476 Physical Chemistry; CHEM5552 Advanced Methods in Chemistry I with CHEM5554 Advanced Methods in Chemistry Laboratory I; elective or Core courses.
CHEM4465 Introduction to Biochemistry; elective or Core courses.
Note: All courses numbered 4000 and above have as a prerequisite previous courses in organic, inorganic, and analytical chemistry.
The ten 1-semester chemistry courses that comprise the chemistry major amount to 37 credits. The 5 non-chemistry courses amount to 17 or 22 credits, depending on the selection chosen for Calculus.
Students who intend to be Chemistry or Biochemistry majors must enroll in CHEM1109 General Chemistry and CHEM1111 General Chemistry Laboratory, or CHEM1117 Honors Modern Chemistry and CHEM1119 Honors Modern Chemistry Laboratory. The choice of chemistry or biochemistry as a major requires that certain courses in other disciplines be taken as soon as possible.
The minor in chemistry consists of six courses. Two semesters of general chemistry (CHEM1109–1110 or CHEM1117–1118, with associated laboratories) are required as the introductory courses for the minor. Four additional chemistry courses are chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by the Director of the departmental minor, Professor Lynne O'Connell (Merkert 111, 617-552-3626). Normally, two of the four additional courses would be Organic Chemistry I and II, but other selections might be better choices, depending on the student's objective in attaining the minor. In accordance with university policy, a student may count no more than one course toward both a major and a minor.
The following courses for non-science majors cannot be used to complete the minor: CHEM1102 Intersection of Science and Painting, CHEM1105 Chemistry and Society I, CHEM1106 Chemistry and Society II, CHEM1107 Frontiers in the Life Sciences, or CHEM1163 Life Science Chemistry. The following research courses cannot be used to complete the minor: CHEM4491–4492 Undergraduate Research I and II, or CHEM5591–5592 Introduction to Chemistry Research I and II.
Before going abroad, Chemistry majors must have completed the following prerequisites: General Chemistry, CHEM1109–1110 or CHEM1117–1118 and lab; Organic Chemistry, CHEM2231–2232 or CHEM2241–2242 and lab; Analytical Chemistry, CHEM3351 and lab; Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM3322 and lab; Calculus, MATH1102–1103 and MATH2202; Physics, PHYS2209–2210 and lab. Exceptions must be approved by the department.
In order for a course studied abroad to count for major credit, prior department approval is required for each course. Students must meet with the department study abroad advisor for course approval, advisement, and planning.
The requirement of two courses in natural science may be fulfilled by any of the following courses: CHEM1102, CHEM1105, CHEM1106, CHEM1107, CHEM1109 with CHEM1111, or CHEM1110 with CHEM1112. The courses specifically intended for students who are not science majors are CHEM1102, CHEM1105, CHEM1106, and CHEM1107.
Refer to the Biochemistry section for a description of this interdisciplinary major.