Chemistry B.A.

Information and Policies

The requirements for the bachelor of arts (B.A.) in chemistry have been kept to a minimum so that students may tailor their program to their own purposes (for example: to pursue a double major, to pursue more independent research, to complete major requirements late in their college career, to take more physical and biological science courses outside of chemistry to enter an interdisciplinary area such as health sciences or education, or to take more courses in other arts and sciences disciplines). While more flexible, the degree is still suitable for students who intend to pursue graduate studies or careers in chemistry.

Academic Advising for the Program

The chemistry and biochemistry advisors provide counsel to undergraduate majors. Students are encouraged to seek out advising and assistance in planning their academic careers to ensure completion of their major in a timely manner. For advising assistance, please contact chemistry and biochemistry advising at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu or visit the department's advising webpage. All students interested in the chemistry B.A. should read this catalog to learn more details about the major.

Program Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes summarize the most important knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes that students are expected to develop over the course of their studies.

Students graduating with a B.A. in chemistry should be able to:

• demonstrate mastery of a broad set of chemical knowledge concerning the fundamentals in the basic areas of the discipline (organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry).

• solve area-specific problems by identifying the essential parts of a problem, formulating a strategy for solving the problem, applying appropriate techniques to arrive at a solution, testing the correctness of the solution, and interpreting their results.

• use modern library search tools (such as SciFinder, PubMed, or Web of Science) to locate and retrieve scientific information about a topic, chemical, chemical technique, or an issue relating to chemistry.

• know and follow the proper procedures and regulations for safe handling and use of chemicals.

• understand the objective of their chemical experiments, properly carry out the experiments, and appropriately record and analyze the results.

• use computers in data acquisition and processing, and use available software as a tool in data analysis.

• use standard laboratory equipment, modern instrumentation, and classical techniques to carry out experiments.

• communicate the concepts and results of their laboratory experiments through effective writing and/or oral communication using the discipline standards for reporting and citation.

• collaborate effectively as part of a team to solve problems, debate different points of view, and interact productively with a diverse group of team members.

Getting Started in the Major: Frosh

This major is highly course intensive and sequential; students who intend to pursue this major must begin taking classes for the major in their first quarter at UC Santa Cruz.

Prospective chemistry majors should have a solid foundation in high school mathematics; familiarity with algebra, logarithms, trigonometry, and analytic geometry is particularly required. Incoming students in the chemistry major should complete the Math Placement process as early as possible, so that the placement is posted before enrollment begins. For more information, please review the Math Placement website.

Students taking chemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz, begin with CHEM 3A, CHEM 3B, CHEM 3C and associated labs, CHEM 3BL and CHEM 3CL. Alternatively, students with an exceptionally strong background in high school chemistry, equivalent to AP chemistry, may begin with CHEM 4A/CHEM 4B and associated labs CHEM 4AL and CHEM 4BL (Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity—see the “Qualifying for the Advanced General Chemistry series” section below).

Both the CHEM 3A/CHEM 3B/CHEM 3C series (with associated labs CHEM 3BL/CHEM 3CL) and the Advanced CHEM 4A/CHEM 4B series (with associated labs CHEM 4AL/CHEM 4BL) fully satisfy the general chemistry prerequisites of any major declaration or required/elective classes for programs in the Physical and Biological Sciences (PBSci) Division.

Qualifying for the Advanced General Chemistry series

CHEM 4 is an accelerated two-quarter series intended for students who enter UC Santa Cruz with excellent preparation in high school chemistry. Students in this series will learn fundamental concepts in chemistry at a faster pace than our traditional general chemistry series (CHEM 1 or CHEM 3), with emphasis on quantum theory, molecular structure, and chemical driving forces. Students with an exceptionally strong background in high school chemistry are especially encouraged to begin with CHEM 4A (Advanced General Chemistry: Molecular Structure and Reactivity) instead of CHEM 3A.

All students who want to enroll in the accelerated series must complete an online learning module and assessment administered by the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, regardless of high school AP scores. Once the online learning module and assessment is started (by completing the initial knowledge check), students may request enrollment in CHEM 4A and then will have six weeks to complete the online learning module and assessment. Students who complete the online learning module and assessment and submit their proof of completion by the established deadline are eligible to remain enrolled in CHEM 4A. Students can access the full CHEM 4A qualification instructions and the online learning module by joining this Canvas Class. 

If you have questions about this process, please contact chemistry advising at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu.

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

General information about transferring to UC Santa Cruz can be found on the transfer preparation advising website. Students planning to transfer to UC Santa Cruz from a California community college should reference assist.org to determine which courses are equivalent to required and recommended pre-transfer courses.

The following courses or their equivalents are required prior to transfer, by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall.

Plus one of the following options:

Students must complete the above courses or their equivalents, with a grade of C or better, and have a cumulative GPA in these courses of 2.5 or greater. 

Note: CHEM 8A/CHEM 8L are additional pre-transfer requirements for students planning to enter UCSC in the winter. CHEM 8A/CHEM 8L are still recommended for fall transfer admits, as listed below.

Recommended pre-transfer courses

Completion of the following courses is highly recommended before the transfer to ensure timely graduation. Students who only complete the minimum required transfer coursework for the major prior to transfer will likely need more than two years to complete the chemistry B.A.:

Prospective students are encouraged to prioritize required and recommended major preparation, and may additionally complete courses that articulate to UC Santa Cruz general education requirements as time allows.

For more information on qualifying for the major as a transfer applicant, see the Getting Started as a Transfer Student in Chemistry webpage.

Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students

Transfer students are strongly encouraged to meet with the chemistry academic advisor in their first quarter. For assistance with advising, please contact chemistry advising at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu. More information specific to transfer students may also be found on the Getting Started as a Transfer Student in Chemistry webpage.

Transfer students entering at the junior level who have satisfied the screening requirements can declare their major any time after coming to UC Santa Cruz but are required to be declared in a major by the declaration deadline in their second term at UC Santa Cruz. Any student who fails to meet these requirements may file an appeal for admission to the major, but admission is not guaranteed.

Transfer students who are proposed in a different major (other than chemistry) and have advanced standing when they come to UC Santa Cruz require permission from the department to change into the major. Admission to the major is not guaranteed.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification

Students must complete the following qualification courses, or their equivalents, each with a grade of C or better and with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or greater in these required courses:

Plus one of the following options:

And one of the following options:

Determining qualification for the major

When pursuing major qualification, students should keep the following details in mind:

• All courses must be taken for a letter grade. See the Letter Grade Policy below.

• For courses required to qualify for the major that have been satisfied with advanced placement (AP) credit based on an AP examination score (See Admissions AP Chart), students may substitute a grade of A for each course when calculating their GPA.

• UC Santa Cruz native students with two or more grades of NP, C-, D+, D, D-, or F in courses required to qualify for the major are not eligible to declare.

Transfer students should also consult the Transfer Information and Policy section above.

How to Declare a Major

Students may declare a major as early as they would like if they have decided which major to pursue and have satisfied prerequisites or qualification requirements for the major.

Per the UC Santa Cruz major declaration policy, students who enter UCSC as frosh are required to be formally declared in a major by the campus deadline in their 6th quarter and before enrolling in their third year (or equivalent). Upper-division junior transfer students are required to be declared in a major by the deadline in their second term at UCSC.

Students should petition to declare a chemistry major once they have completed all qualification courses and met the GPA requirements and have an official, signed, department-approved academic plan on file.

The Petition for Major/Minor declaration form can be accessed by going to MyUCSC and navigating to the Student Homepage and selecting the Undergraduate Student eForms tile > Petition for Major/Minor.

Students petitioning when the campus declaration deadline is imminent (i.e., in their sixth quarter, for students admitted as frosh, second quarter for junior transfer students), will either be approved, denied, or provided with conditions (e.g., completion of final qualification courses with certain grades), but will not be declared until all requirements have been met and satisfactory grades have been posted.

Each major/minor advising office has a process for declaring. For assistance with declaring the chemistry major, please contact chemistry and biochemistry advising at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu.

Appeal Process

Students may appeal to the major either prior to or after submitting a petition to declare and being denied (in the latter case, appeals must be submitted within 15 days from the date the denial notification was sent). Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal being submitted, the department will notify the student and their affiliated college of the decision.

To appeal to declare a chemistry major, submit a letter to the chemistry advisor at chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu.

All appeals must contain the following information at the top of the appeal letter:

• Full name

• Student ID number

• Major you wish to declare

In the body of your appeal letter, explain the extenuating circumstances that influenced your academic performance. Identify solutions/resources you are using or intend to use to improve your academic performance in the future. Include anything else you feel is relative to explaining your circumstance. 

Note: The information you share in your appeal or with your advisors will be kept confidential and shared only with campus officials as required to serve you in an advising capacity or process your appeal. However, in limited circumstances, including those related to potential harm to yourself or others, sexual assault, and abuse, we may be required by law to report incidents you disclose to other need-to-know offices on campus such as the Title IX Office and/or University of California Police Department. If you are in need of support for any issues, please see the list of confidential and/or support resources.

Letter Grade Policy

For all students entering UCSC in fall 2001 and later, all courses used to satisfy degree requirements in any of the chemistry and biochemistry majors must be taken for a letter grade.  Additionally, letter grades of C or higher must be attained to meet major and minor requirements for graduation.

Course Substitution Policy

At least half of the upper-division courses (CHEM 100–CHEM 199) required for any chemistry major must be taken through the chemistry program at UCSC, not as transfer credits from another department or institution. Students are advised to contact the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department undergraduate advising office before enrolling in any chemistry or biochemistry upper-division courses at other institutions to verify articulation.

Independent Study Policy

Students may take up to 5 credits of individual studies coursework per quarter. 

There are two different independent studies options in chemistry and biochemistry: CHEM 199 and CHEM 195. CHEM 199 Independent Research is for any student working on an independent research project under the guidance of UCSC faculty. Independent research can be taken for 5 credits (CHEM 199) or 2 credits (CHEM 199F). CHEM 195 Thesis Research is for students performing independent research under the guidance of UCSC faculty AND who will complete a final thesis.

Throughout their undergraduate career at UCSC, students may take up to 15 credits total of CHEM 199 (either CHEM 199 or CHEM 199F). For example, a student could take three quarters of CHEM 199, up to seven quarters of CHEM 199F, or some combination of CHEM 199 and CHEM 199F (so long as the total is not more than 15 credits).

Throughout their undergraduate career at UCSC, students may take up to 15 credits total of CHEM 195. CHEM 195 credits can be taken in addition to up to 15 credits of CHEM 199/CHEM 199F. Note that there are three different CHEM 195 courses (CHEM 195A, CHEM 195B, and CHEM 195C) that should be taken in order. The expectation for CHEM 195 is that satisfactory completion of the course is contingent on submission of a final thesis that meets the faculty sponsor's approval. If there is doubt that a thesis could be completed, CHEM 199 Independent Research is a more appropriate course.

Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy

Pursuing a double major that includes a chemistry major is a highly individual decision and should be based on a student’s educational and career goals. Because the chemistry major itself is a rigorous, it should be noted that completing a double major involving chemistry is difficult (though possible).

To declare a double major program, a student must obtain an academic plan showing that they are able to complete both degrees within the maximum number of quarters of enrollment available at UC Santa Cruz. Therefore, the steps for a student to pursue chemistry as a second major are as follows:

1. Create and review a major academic plan for your first major and have it signed by the appropriate UCSC major advisor.

2. Make an appointment with the chemistry major advisor and send the link to your signed academic planning form to chemistryadvising@ucsc.edu.

3. The chemistry major advisor will review your major academic plan and will add the chemistry major courses to your plan, as necessary, and if it is viable to do so per double unit counting, enrollment limitations, and time-to-degree guidelines.

4. The chemistry major advisor will discuss the double major plan with you during your appointment. If the plan is viable, it will be approved and signed by both yourself and the chemistry major advisor.

5. Once you have an approved and viable double major plan, petition to declare chemistry as a second major using the Petition for Major/Minor form in MyUCSC.

Honors

Department honors in the majors are awarded to graduating students whose academic performance demonstrates excellence at a GPA of 3.5 or above in required major coursework. Department highest honors are awarded to those students whose performance demonstrates the highest level of excellence and results in a GPA of 3.8 or above in required major coursework.

Materials Fee

Chemistry students should be aware of the materials fee required for some courses. The fee is billed to the student’s account for specific laboratory materials purchased by the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department through the university. Students may incur additional expenses for individual supplies.

Program for Students of the Health Sciences

Students intending to enter medical, dental, or another health science professional school can satisfy entrance requirements with a major program in chemistry supplemented with further courses, especially in biology, as specified by the admissions requirements of the school where they intend to apply. Students are strongly encouraged to review the Pre-Health section of the Career Success website to review preparation recommendations, prerequisite and other information about professional health education programs (medical school, dental school, etc.), and more important information to assist in preparation for a career in health sciences.

Students are urged to contact Career Success for assistance with the application process.

Requirements and Planners

Course Requirements

Lower-Division Courses

General Chemistry:

Calculus:

Choose one of the following options:

Multivariable Calculus:

Physics:

Choose one of the following options:

Organic Chemistry:

Upper-Division Courses

Intermediate Organic Chemistry:

Inorganic Chemistry:

Physical Chemistry:

One of the following laboratory courses:

Electives

At least two from the following:

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement. The DC Requirement for the bachelor of arts degree in chemistry is satisfied by completing:

Plus one of the following courses:

Comprehensive Requirement

The comprehensive requirement is a part of all UCSC degrees. For the chemistry B.A., this requirement can be satisfied by receiving a passing grade in the upper-division labs listed below. These courses provide modern, individualized training in the discipline thus serving as relevant capstone experiences.

Plus one of the following courses:

Planners

The sample academic plans below are for the chemistry major. They serve informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See the Undergraduate Graduation Requirements section of the catalog for more information.

This is the ideal academic plan for those pursuing a chemistry B.A. major. If needed, the plan can be arranged differently. Please meet with an academic advisor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department to review your individualized official academic plan.

* CHEM 146A is offered in fall quarter; CHEM 146B and CHEM 146C are offered in spring quarter. Only ONE advanced lab (CHEM 146A, CHEM 146B, or CHEM 146C) is required for degree completion. Alternatively, students can take the CHEM 160 or CHEM 161 series: CHEM 160J/CHEM 161J, CHEM 160K/CHEM 161K, and CHEM 160L/CHEM 161L, which are offered in the fall, winter, and spring, respectively.

** WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year. Questions about WRIT coursework or any other non-Chemistry major requirements should be directed to college advising. 

Two of the required general education requirements will be fulfilled by the major requirements listed in the above planner (MF & SI). In addition to the specific courses shown in these planners, a student will also need to complete courses satisfying the following general education requirements: Cross-Cultural Analysis, Ethnicity & Race, Interpreting Arts & Media, Statistical Reasoning, Textual Analysis & Interpretation, Perspectives, and Practice. 

Sample Transfer Two-Year Planner

This is a sample academic plan for students who have transferred in with both the required and highly recommended pre-transfer courses. 

Note: Students who did not complete both the required and highly recommended courses prior to transfer will need to follow a different academic plan and may require additional time to degree. 

Please meet with an advisor from the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department to create and review your individualized official academic plan.

* CHEM 146A is offered in fall quarter; CHEM 146B and CHEM 146C are offered in spring quarter. Only ONE advanced lab (CHEM 146A, 146B, or 146C) is required for degree completion. Alternatively, students can take the CHEM 160 series: CHEM 160J/CHEM 161J, CHEM 160K/CHEM 161K, and CHEM 160L/CHEM 161L, which are offered in the fall, winter, and spring, respectively.