Undergraduate Program
chemistry
Table of Contents
Contacts
- Undergraduate Programs Information: Professor Lynne O’Connell, oconnell@bc.edu, 617-552-3626
- Graduate Programs Information: Dale Mahoney, mahonedf@bc.edu, 617-552-1735
- Department Reception: Terri Wallace, wallactb@bc.edu, 617-552-3605
- www.bc.edu/chemistry
Undergraduate Program Description
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.
Major Requirements
The major in chemistry consists of ten 1-semester courses as follows: two semesters of general chemistry with laboratory (CH 109-110 and CH 111-112 or CH 117-118 and CH 119-120), two semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory (CH 231-232 and CH 233-234 or CH 241-242 and CH 243 and 234), one semester of analytical chemistry with laboratory (CH 351 and CH 353), one semester of inorganic chemistry with laboratory (CH 222 and CH 224), two semesters of physical chemistry (CH 575-576), one semester of advanced methods with laboratory (CH 554 and CH 557), and one semester of biochemistry (CH 461). In addition, the following are required: two semesters of physics with laboratory (PH 209-210 and PH 203-204), and two or three semesters of calculus (MT 102-103 or MT 105, and MT 202).
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 CH 591-592.
The recommended sequence for the Chemistry major is as follows:
First year: CH 109-110 General Chemistry with Laboratory or CH 117-118 Honors Modern Chemistry with Laboratory; two semesters of Physics with Laboratory (PH 209-210 with PH 203-204); Calculus (MT 102-103 or MT 105); Core courses.
Second year: CH 231-232 Organic Chemistry or CH 241-242 Honors Organic Chemistry with Laboratory; CH 351 Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory; CH 222 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory; MT 202 Calculus (MT 305 in second semester is recommended); elective or Core courses.
Third year: CH 575-576 Physical Chemistry; CH 557 Advanced Methods in Chemistry I with CH 554 Advanced Methods in Chemistry Laboratory I; elective or Core courses.
Fourth year: CH 461 Introduction to Biochemistry; elective or Core courses.
Note: All courses numbered 500 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.
Information for First Year Majors
Students who intend to be Chemistry or Biochemistry majors must enroll in CH 109 General Chemistry and CH 111 General Chemistry Laboratory, or CH 117 Honors Modern Chemistry and CH 119 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.
Minor Requirements
The minor in chemistry consists of six courses. Two semesters of general chemistry (CH 109-110 or CH 117-118, 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 125D, 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: CH 102 Intersection of Science and Painting, CH 105 Chemistry and Society I, CH 106 Chemistry and Society II, CH 107 Frontiers in the Life Sciences, or CH 163 Life Science Chemistry. The following research courses cannot be used to complete the minor: CH 391-392 Undergraduate Research I and II, or CH 591-592 Introduction to Chemistry Research I and II.
Information for Study Abroad
Before going abroad, Chemistry majors must have completed the following prerequisites: General Chemistry, CH 109-110 or CH 117-118 and lab; Organic Chemistry, CH 231-232 or CH 241-242 and lab; Analytical Chemistry, CH 351 and lab; Inorganic Chemistry, CH 222 and lab; Calculus, MT 102-103 and MT 202; Physics, PH 209-210 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.
Fulfilling the Core Science Requirement
The requirement of two courses in natural science may be fulfilled by any of the following courses: CH 102, CH 105, CH 106, CH 107, CH 109 with CH 111, or CH 110 with CH 112. The courses specifically intended for students who are not science majors are CH 102, CH 105, CH 106, and CH 107.
Biochemistry Major
Refer to the Biochemistry section for a description of this interdisciplinary major.