The major in Chemistry is elected by students planning careers in the chemical sciences and frequently also by those whose interests lie in other disciplines such as biology, medicine, public health, earth sciences, ecology, secondary education, business, and law. New freshman and transfer Chemistry students are strongly encouraged to take an orientation seminar, CHEM 11, where they learn about the Chemistry major requirements, the Chemistry Department, and the career options available to students after graduation.
The curriculum of the Department is designed to satisfy the diverse needs of these students and others who may have occasion to study chemistry. The year-long lecture course sequence of CHEM M2A-CHEM M2B-CHEM M2C and laboratory course sequence of CHEM M2LA-CHEM M2LB-CHEM M3LC (or the Honors sequence of CHEM H2A-CHEM H2B-CHEM H2C and CHEM H2LA-CHEM H2LB-CHEM M3LC) cover the fundamentals of general and analytical chemistry, and serve as prerequisites to all study in the Department at more advanced levels. The subject matter of these courses also serve as a thorough introduction to the varied aspects of modern chemistry for students who do not wish to pursue their studies beyond the introductory level.
Completion of a one-year sequence in organic chemistry lectures, CHEM 51A-CHEM 51B-CHEM 51C, along with organic chemistry laboratory courses, is required for Chemistry majors and for students of the life sciences. These core organic chemistry courses are typically taken by students in their second year at UCI. All Chemistry students then take inorganic chemistry lecture and laboratory courses, CHEM 107 and CHEM 107L, an advanced instrumental analysis course, CHEM 152, and a three-quarter sequence of physical chemistry, CHEM 132A – CHEM 132B – CHEM 132C. Students will also take a mathematical and computing skill course, CHEM 5, in parallel with CHEM 132A, to help them improve their learning experience in the physical chemistry sequence.
To complete the Chemistry major requirements, the students take a minimum of five upper-division elective courses chosen from a broad menu, which includes graduate level courses. Certain advanced courses required of Chemistry majors may also be of interest to other majors. Many students elect to take a pre-defined set of elective courses in order to fulfill requirements for one of the concentrations and specializations, such as Chemical Biology, Chemistry Education, Environmental Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, or Theoretical and Computational Chemistry and Quantum Science. For example, Chemistry majors who are interested in teaching chemistry at the secondary level often complete the optional concentration in Chemistry Education.
The undergraduate program of the Chemistry Department emphasizes close contact with research, and all Chemistry majors are encouraged to engage in research or independent study under the direction of a faculty member. Research is an integral requirement of the ACS certified degree, and it greatly increases chances for admission into graduate and professional schools. Students have an opportunity to write their research thesis as part of an upper-division writing course CHEM 180W (CHEM H181W in the Honors sequences). Information describing the procedures for arranging an undergraduate research opportunity is available on the Chemistry Department website.
Chemistry majors who plan subsequent study in medical, dental, or other professional schools should request information concerning admission requirements directly from the schools which they seek to enter. Excellent counseling about preparation for a career in the health sciences is provided by the health science advisors in the School of Biological Sciences. Those intending to pursue graduate studies in chemistry should discuss their plans with a research area advisor no later than the fall quarter of their senior year. The current advisors for each research area are listed on the Chemistry Department website.