The following courses must be taken for a letter grade: 

1. General Chemistry (CHEM 6A, 6B & 6C or 6AH, 6BH & 6CH)
2. General Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 7L or CHEM 7LM)
3. Physics (PHYS 2A, 2B & 2C or 2D)
4. Physics Laboratory (PHYS 2BL, 2CL or 2DL) 
5. Calculus (MATH 20A, 20B, 20C & 20D)
6. Organic Chemistry (CHEM 40A, 40B & 40C or 40AH, 40BH & 40CH)
7. Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 43A or 43AM)

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)
   • 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): These electives are defined as a four-unit (minimum) upper division undergraduate course 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.

• 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
• 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.
• A minimum 2.0 major GPA is required for graduation.
• No more than one (1) "D" grade is allowed in upper-division coursework
• 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

• 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.
• The quarter in which a course is offered is subject to change based on space and instructor availability.  Please check the department website (https://chemistry.ucsd.edu/ext/ugcourses.html?year=2019-2020) each academic year to see a projection of classes offered by quarter.
• 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.

Chemistry Major 4-Year Plan (Printer Friendly PDF)