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Chemistry (CH25)

CHEMISTRY (CH25)

The Chemistry major provides a broad introduction for the biochemistry, organic, physical, or inorganic student as well as those who prefer not to specialize. This major will enable a student to pursue further studies in chemistry or in related fields of science, medicine, or engineering. Click here to read more about the Learning Objectives for the Chemistry major.

Note: Degree requirements have been updated for FA24 and beyond. Please see below for FA23 or earlier admits or contact us directly.

Lower-Division Requirements

The following courses must be taken for a letter grade: 

  1. General Chemistry (CHEM 6A or 6AH, 6B or 6BH, and 6C or 6CH)
  2. General Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 7L or CHEM 7LM)
  3. Physics (PHYS 2A, 2B & 2C or 2D)
  4. Physics Laboratory (PHYS 2BL OR 2CL OR 2DL) 
  5. Calculus (MATH 20A, 20B, 20C & 20D)
  6. Linear Algebra (MATH 18)
  7. Organic Chemistry (CHEM 41A, 41B & 41C)*
  8. Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 43A or 43AM)

*If you have questions about the new organic chemistry restructuring or the honors sequence, please see our FAQ page

Upper-Division Requirements

The following courses must be taken for a letter grade: 

  1. Physical Chemistry (CHEM 130, 131 & 132)
  2. Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 120A & B)
  3. Biochemical Structure and Function (CHEM 114A)
  4. Required Laboratory Courses (must take all 3):  
    1. Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM100A)
    2. Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (CHEM143B)
    3. Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM105A)
  5. Laboratory Elective (Select 2 of the following courses): 
    • Instrumental Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 100B)
    • Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 105B)
    • Protein Biochemistry Laboratory (CHEM 108)
    • Recombinant DNA Laboratory (CHEM 109)
    • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 123)
      • Please note that this lab is reserved primarily for our Molecular Synthesis students. If there are any seats left after those students enroll, we can offer them to our other majors. Students who are interested are encouraged to contact us during enrollment but also to plan a back-up lab as there are often no seats available. 
    • Organic Chemistry Laboratory III (CHEM 143C)
    • Molecular Design and Synthesis (CHEM 143D)
    • Reading and Research (CHEM 199): 8 units with of research with the same instructor may be petitioned to fulfill one elective lab. See details here.
  6. Additional Electives (Select 3 electives that match the following description):
    1. These electives are defined as a four-unit (minimum) upper division undergraduate course (numbered 100-191) offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and taken for a letter grade.  4 units of non-letter graded courses such as CHEM 199, may be petitioned to fulfill 1 Elective.
      NOTE: Neither CHEM 126A nor 126B are allowed to fulfill an elective for CH25 majors. You will not receive credit for CHEM 126A or 126B once you have completed the CHEM 130 series. 
Non-Course Requirements
  • All courses for the major, lower-division and upper-division, must be taken for a letter grade.
    • This excludes Special Studies courses, like CHEM 199, which only allow P/NP grading option
  • All lower division coursework for the major must be completed with a "D" grade or higher 
  • All upper division coursework for the major must be completed with a "C-" grade or higher 
    • You may graduate with only one "D" in upper division coursework so long as your GPA remains in good standing. No more than one (1) "D" grade is allowed in upper-division coursework.  Given extenuating circumstances, a petition may be submitted to graduate with 2 "D" grades if one of them occurs in your graduating quarter. 
  • A minimum 2.0 major GPA is required for graduation
  • To receive a Bachelor of Science from UC San Diego, all students must complete 48 or more units of upper-division course work within the major
  • All Chemistry/Biochemistry majors are required to complete at least six (6) upper-division courses within the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department

It is the students' responsibility to read and understand all policies listed here, and if any confusion occurs, to contact their advisors immediately. 

Example Academic Plan

IMPORTANT NOTES:
 

  • Courses listed above and on the long-term plan below only include major requirements. Speak with your college advisor for planning completion of general education and university requirements.
  • Elective labs chosen from CHEM 100B, 105B, 108, 109, 123, 143C or 143D. Units vary by lab chosen. 
  • It is unlikely to obtain a seat in CHEM 123, as we reserve seats in this course for Molecular Synthesis graduating seniors. Please have a back-up lab elective planned, but get in contact with Student Affairs before enrollment if you are interested. 
  • The quarter in which a course is offered is subject to change based on space and instructor availability.  Please check our course offerings page each academic year to see a projection of classes offered by quarter. Other departments have their own pages hosted on their department's website so be sure to check those as well. 
  • The best time to study abroad is Fall quarter of Sophomore or Junior Year. Education Abroad Program deadlines for upcoming year vary by country. See EAP website. See the Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Advisor for assistance in planning to study abroad.
Sample Academic Plan for the CH25 Major
FALLWINTERSPRING
FRESHMAN YEAR  
CHEM 6ACHEM 6BCHEM 6C
MATH 20AMATH 20BMATH 20C
  CHEM 7LM or 7L
SOPHOMORE YEAR  
CHEM 41ACHEM 41BCHEM 41C
MATH 18CHEM 43AM or 43APHYS 2BL, 2CL or 2DL
PHYS 2APHYS 2BPHYS 2C or 2D
  MATH 20D
JUNIOR YEAR  
CHEM 120ACHEM 120BCHEM 105A
CHEM 130CHEM 131CHEM 132
CHEM 100ACHEM 143B 
SENIOR YEAR  
CHEM 114AChemistry ElectiveChemistry Elective
Chemistry Elective LabChemistry Elective LabChemistry Elective

Chemistry Major 4-Year Plan: Fall 2024 and Later (Printer Friendly PDF)

Chemistry Major 2-Year Plan: Fall 2024 and Later (Printer Friendly PDF)

Major Requirements for FA23 and Earlier Admits

All courses must be taken for a letter grade:

Lower-Division Requirements

  1. General Chemistry (CHEM 6A or 6AH, 6B or 6BH, and 6C or 6CH)
  2. General Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 7L or CHEM 7LM)
  3. Physics (PHYS 2A, 2B & 2C or 2D)
  4. Physics Laboratory (PHYS 2BL OR 2CL OR 2DL) 
  5. Calculus (MATH 20A, 20B, 20C & 20D)
  6. Organic Chemistry (CHEM 41A, 41B & 41C)*
  7. Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 43A or 43AM)

*If you have questions about the new organic chemistry restructuring or the honors sequence, please see our FAQ page

Upper-Division Requirements

  1. Physical Chemistry (CHEM 130, 131 & 132)
  2. Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 120A & B)
  3. Biochemical Structure and Function (CHEM 114A)
  4. Required Laboratory Courses (must take all 3):  
    1. Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM100A)
    2. Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (CHEM143B)
    3. Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM105A)
  5. Laboratory Elective (Select 2 of the following courses): 
    • Instrumental Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 100B)
    • Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 105B)
    • Protein Biochemistry Laboratory (CHEM 108)
    • Recombinant DNA Laboratory (CHEM 109)
    • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 123)
      • Please note that this lab is reserved primarily for our Molecular Synthesis students. If there are any seats left after those students enroll, we can offer them to our other majors. Students who are interested are encouraged to contact us during enrollment but also to plan a back-up lab as there are often no seats available. 
    • Organic Chemistry Laboratory III (CHEM 143C)
    • Molecular Design and Synthesis (CHEM 143D)
    • Reading and Research (CHEM 199): 8 units with of research with the same instructor may be petitioned to fulfill one elective lab. See details here.
  6. Additional Electives (Select 3 electives that match the following description):
    1. These electives are defined as a four-unit (minimum) upper division undergraduate course (numbered 100-191) offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and taken for a letter grade.  4 units of non-letter graded courses such as CHEM 199, may be petitioned to fulfill 1 Elective.
      NOTE: Neither CHEM 126A nor 126B are allowed to fulfill an elective for CH25 majors. You will not receive credit for CHEM 126A or 126B once you have completed the CHEM 130 series. 
Sample Academic Plan for the CH25 Major
FALLWINTERSPRING
FRESHMAN YEAR  
CHEM 6ACHEM 6BCHEM 6C
MATH 20AMATH 20BMATH 20C
  CHEM 7LM or 7L
SOPHOMORE YEAR  
CHEM 41ACHEM 41BCHEM 41C
MATH 20DCHEM 43AM or 43APHYS 2BL, 2CL or 2DL
PHYS 2APHYS 2BPHYS 2C or 2D
JUNIOR YEAR  
CHEM 120ACHEM 120BCHEM 105A
CHEM 130CHEM 131CHEM 132
CHEM 100ACHEM 143B 
SENIOR YEAR  
CHEM 114AChemistry ElectiveChemistry Elective
Chemistry Elective LabChemistry Elective LabChemistry Elective

Chemistry Major 4-Year Plan: Fall 2023 and Earlier (Printer Friendly PDF)

Chemistry Major 2-Year Plan: Fall 2023 and Earlier (Printer Friendly PDF)