Chemistry Major

The Chemistry Department offers a flexible curriculum for those who wish to acquire a knowledge of chemistry within the environment of a liberal arts college.

Ten 1-semester courses are required for the Major in Chemistry plus five co-requisites from other departments. Under the new credit-based system (starting with the class of 2014), the course requirements for the Major in Chemistry remain the same. The ten 1-semester courses amount to 37 credits, and the co-requisite courses amount to 22 credits. Students who wish to prepare for graduate school in Chemistry should seek the advice of a department faculty member.

Learning Outcomes

Advice regarding introductory chemistry courses

General Chemistry I-II (CH109-110 plus lab) is recommended for the majority of beginning students.

Honors Modern Chemistry I-II (CH117-118 plus lab) is recommended for
students who have taken and performed well in an advanced level
chemistry course in high school, such as AP, IB or British A levels.

Honors Modern Chemistry I-II constitutes the first year of the two year Honors Program in Chemistry. It moves at an accelerated pace, skipping basic principles from general chemistry that our honors students already know. This makes it possible to begin the study of Organic Chemistry in the second semester of the course, CH118.

Students who are interested in the Honors Program should contact a chemistry department advisor (see below).

Course-based Chemistry Major	Credit-based Chemistry Major
CH109-110 General Chemistry I-II	General Chemistry I-II (6 credits)
plus	plus
CH111-112 General Chemistry Laboratory I-II	General Chemistry Laboratory I-II (2 credits)
OR	OR
CH117-118 Honors Modern Chemistry I-II	Honors Modern Chemistry I-II (6 credits)
plus	plus
CH119-120 Honors Modern Chemistry Laboratory I-II	Honors Modern Chemistry Laboratory I-II (6 credits)
CH222 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry	Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits)
plus	plus
CH224 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory	Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
CH231-232 Organic Chemistry I-II	Organic Chemistry I-II (6 credits)
plus	plus
CH233-234 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I-II	Organic Chemistry Laboratory I-II (2 credits)
OR	OR
CH241-242 Honors Organic Chemistry I-II	Honors Organic Chemistry I-II (6 credits)
plus	plus
CH243 Honors Organic Chemistry Laboratory and CH234 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II	Honors Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit) and CH234 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
CH351 Analytical Chemistry	Analytical Chemistry (4 credits)
plus	plus
CH353 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory	Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (0 credit)
CH575-576 Physical Chemistry I-II	Physical Chemistry I-II (6 credits)
CH557 Advanced Methods in Chemistry I	Advanced Methods in Chemistry I (4 credits)
plus	plus
CH554 Advanced Methods in Chemistry Laboratory I	Advanced Methods in Chemistry Laboratory I (0 credits)
CH461 Introduction to Biochemistry	Introduction to Biochemistry (3 credits)

The co-requisites are:

MT102-103 Calculus for Math/Science Majors I-II*	Calculus for Math/Science Majors I-II (8 credits)*
MT202 Multivariable Calculus	Multivariable Calculus (4 credits)
PH209-210 Introductory Physics I-II	Introductory Physics I-II (8 credits)
plus	plus
PH203-204 Introductory Physics Laboratory I-II	Introductory Physics Laboratory I-II (2 credits)

*Other options exist that will satisfy the Calculus requirement. See advisor.

If you have questions about the Chemistry major, please call Prof. David McFadden, Merkert Center 222, x 2-3614. Please also see below for a suggested sequence of courses.

(Updated 4/25/12)


The preceding fulfills the Boston College requirements for a B.S. degree in chemistry. For this degree to be also certified by the American Chemical Society, two additional chemistry laboratory electives are required, usually CH 591-592, Intro. to Chemistry Research.

The department strongly recommends that students take additional advanced chemistry electives (courses numbered CH 500 or higher).

Students are also strongly urged to engage in a research project under the direction of a faculty member, particularly if the student is planning to attend graduate school. Juniors who show exceptional ability may engage in an independent research project and receive academic credit by registering for CH 391-392, Undergraduate Research I and II. Students who wish to pursue research in their senior year should register for CH 591-592, Introduction to Chemical Research. Students who intend to complete a Scholar of the College thesis should register for CH 495-496, Advanced Research in Chemistry I and II. Consult a faculty advisor concerning these research options. See also Undergraduate Research.

The following is the sequence of courses recommended by the department. However, it is possible to take courses out of sequence in many cases if conflicts arise in your program or if you do not begin your major in the freshman year. Consult your faculty advisor concerning the best program for you.

Recommended sequence of courses

First Year

Fall

CH 109 General Chemistry I or
CH 117 Honors Modern Chemistry I
CH 111 General Chemistry Laboratory I or
CH 119 Honors Modern Chemistry Laboratory I
PH 209 Intro to Physics I
PH 203 Physics Laboratory I
MT 102 Calculus I

Spring

CH 110 General Chemistry II or
CH 118 Honors Modern Chemistry II
CH 112 General Chemistry Laboratory II or
CH 120 Honors Modern Chemistry Laboratory II
PH 210 Intro. to Physics II
PH 204 Physics Laboratory II
MT 103 Calculus II

Second Year

Fall

CH 231 Organic Chemistry I (pre-requisites: CH 109-110) or
CH 241 Honors Organic Chemistry I (pre-requisites: CH 117-118)
CH 233 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (pre-requisites: CH 111-112) or
CH 243 Honors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (pre-requisites: CH 119-120)
CH 351 Analytical Chemistry (pre-requisites: CH 109-110 or 117-118)
CH 353 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
MT 202 Calculus III (pre-requisites: MT 101, 103 or 105)

Spring

CH 232 Organic Chemistry II (pre-requisite: CH 231) or
CH 242 Honors Organic Chemistry II (pre-requisite: CH 241)
CH 234 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
CH 222 Intro. Inorganic Chemistry (pre-requisites: CH 109-110)
CH 224 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

Third Year

Fall

CH 575 Physical Chemistry I (pre- or co-requisites: MT 202, PH 209-210)
Chemistry Electives (recommended)

Spring

CH 576 Physical Chemistry II (pre-requisite: CH 575)
CH 557 Advanced Methods in Chemistry I (pre-requisites: CH 351, CH 575)
CH 554 Advanced Methods in Chemistry Laboratory I

Fourth Year

Fall

CH 461 Introduction to Biochemistry (pre-requisites: CH 231-232 or 241-242)
Chemistry Electives (recommended)

Spring

Chemistry Electives (recommended)

For additional information, contact Professor Lynne O'Connell, Merkert 125D,
ext. 2-3626, oconnell@bc.edu.

•The Honors Program

•Study Abroad

•Secondary Education/Chemistry Majors