B.S. in Chemistry: Option in Materials Science, 2021-2022 Catalog

Four Year Degree Worksheet

This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years. This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. Students should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.

Please note that your Major Specific Requirements (MSRs) are bolded in the document and are also listed as an "MSR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSR suites.

Pre-chemistry and pre-biochemistry first-time freshmen must complete CHEM 111A and MATH 122 or higher within one year of matriculation and must complete CHEM 111B and CHEM 220A within 2 years of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.

CSULB Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.

Year 1 - Semester 1

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 1
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 111A General Chemistry (5) CPT score of 24 or higher, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95 if needed MSR
MATH 122
(area B4)
Calculus I (4) MATH 111 and either MATH 112B or 113 MSR
GE (area A2) Written Communication (3)   MSR
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
NSCI-190A Experience Success Program 1 (1)   Fall only

Year 1 - Semester 2

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 2
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 111B General Chemistry (5) CHEM 111A or 112A, MATH 112B or higher MSR
MATH 123
(area B4)
Calculus II (4) MATH 122 MSR
GE (area A1) Oral Communication (3)   MSR
GE (area A3) Critical Thinking (3)   MSR

Year 2 - Semester 3

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 3
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 220A Organic Chemistry I (3) CHEM 111B  
PHYS 151 Mechanics and Heat (4) MATH 122,123, or 224  
MATH 224 Calculus III (4) MATH 123  
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
Elective Elective Requirement (1)    

Year 2 - Semester 4

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 4
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 220B Organic Chemistry II (3) CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 223B or 320L  
CHEM 320L Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 220B  
PHYS 152 Electricity and Magnetism (4) PHYS 151  
CHEM 361 Chemical Communications (3) GE Foundation, GWAR score of 11 or higher GE AREA B-UD
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    

Year 3 - Semester 5

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 5
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 331 Inorganic Chemistry (3) CHEM 111B or 112B Fall
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
CHEM 385 Material Science (3) CHEM 111A or 112A, 111B or 112B, PHYS 152 Fall
BIOL 200;
OR
BIOL 205;
OR
BIOL 207;
OR
BIOL 211
General Biology (4);
OR
Human Biology (4);
OR
Human Physiology (4);
OR
Intro. to Evolution and Diversity (4)
GE Foundation;
OR
GE Foundation;
OR
GE Foundation;
OR
Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111A or 112A
211 needs 212 after
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    

Year 3 - Semester 6

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 6
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 371B Physical Chemistry (3) CHEM 111B or 112B, MATH 123, PHYS 152 Spring only
CHEM 385C Materials Science Colloquium (1) CHEM 111A or 112A and 111B or 112B, PHYS 152 Spring only
CHEM 385L Materials Science Laboratory (2) CHEM 111A or 112A and 111B or 112B, PHYS 152 Spring only
CHEM 431 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3) CHEM 331, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 371B Spring only
CHEM 332 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (2) CHEM 331  
GE Upper Division (AREA C-UD, D-UD) Upper Division (3) GE Foundation  

Year 4 - Semester 7

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 7
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 371A Physical Chemistry (3) CHEM 111B or 112B, MATH 123, PHYS 152 Fall only
CHEM 373 Phys. and Inorganic Chem. Lab. (3) CHEM 361, either 371A or 377A, and either 371B or 377B. Can take concurrently with 371A with permit.  
CHEM 485 Special Topics in Materials Science (3) CHEM 220B, 331, and 385 Consult advisor for upcoming schedule.
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3) GE (area C, D, and E)  
GE Upper Division (C-UD, D-UD) Upper Division (3) GE Foundation  

Year 4 - Semester 8

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 8
Course # Course Title (Units) Prerequisites Notes
CHEM 451 Instrumental Methods of Analysis (5) CHEM 361 and 371B, PHYS 152  
CHEM 461 Chemistry Capstone (1) Take in final semester, file to graduate to get permit  
CHEM 496 Undergraduate Directed Research (1-3) instructor consent  
CHEM 441A;
OR
CHEM 448
Biological Chemistry (3);
OR
Fund. of Biological Chemistry (3)
CHEM 220B and 320L; BIOL 212;
OR
CHEM 220B
 
GE (area C,D,E,F) Other Exploration (3)    
BIOL 212
(if 211 taken)
Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4) BIOL 211, CHEM 111A or 112A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B or 112B