B.S. in Chemistry, 2024-2025 Catalog
Four Year Degree Worksheet for: B.S. in Chemistry - CSULB Catalog (2024-2025)
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.
CSULB Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.
Major-Specific Degree Requirements
Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" 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 MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for CSULB Students.
Pre-Chemistry 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.
Additional Notes
Students should take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) after Year 1.
Year 1 - Semester 1
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 111A | General Chemistry (5) | Appropriate Placement, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95 if needed | MSDR |
| MATH 122 (area B4) | Calculus I (4) | Appropriate Placement, MATH 111 and either 112B or 113 | MSDR |
| GE (area A2) | Written Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| NSCI 190A | Experience Success Program 1 (1) | Fall only |
Year 1 - Semester 2
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 111B | General Chemistry (5) | CHEM 111A, MATH 112B or higher | MSDR |
| MATH 123 (area B4) | Calculus II (4) | MATH 122 | MSDR |
| GE (area A1) | Oral Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area A3) | Critical Thinking (3) | MSDR |
Year 2 - Semester 3
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 220A | Organic Chemistry I (3) | CHEM 111B | |
| CHEM 251 | Quantitative Analysis (4) | CHEM 111B | |
| MATH 224 | Calculus III (4) | MATH 123 | |
| PHYS 151 | Mechanics and Heat (4) | MATH 122, 123, or 224 |
Year 2 - Semester 4
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 220B | Organic Chemistry II (3) | CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 320L | |
| CHEM 320L | Organic Chemistry Lab (2) | CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 220B | |
| CHEM 361; OR ENGR 361 | Chemical Communications (3); OR Scientific Research Communications (3) | GE Foundation, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220A; GWAR score of 11 or higher; OR GE Foundation, GWAR score of 11 or higher | |
| PHYS 152 | Electricity and Magnetism (4) | PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) |
Year 3 - Semester 5
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 331 | Inorganic Chemistry (3) | CHEM 111B | |
| CHEM 420; OR GE (area C,D,E,F) | Advanced Organic Chemistry Lab (3); OR Other Exploration (3) | CHEM 320L, 220B, and CHEM 361 or ENGR 361; OR (and take CHEM 496 now, and take CHEM 498 in last semester) | |
| CHEM 496 (if CHEM 420 not taken) | Undergraduate Directed Research (1 of 3 or 1 + 2 units Chem Elective) | Instructor consent | |
| BIOL 200; OR BIOL 205; OR BIOL 207; OR BIOL 211 | General Biology (4); OR Human Biology (4); OR Human Physiology (4); OR Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4) | GE Foundation; OR GE Foundation; OR GE Foundation; OR CHEM 111A (and BIOL 212 after) | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) |
Year 3 - Semester 6
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 371B | Physical Chemistry (3) | CHEM 111B, MATH 123, PHYS 152, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 224 | Spring only |
| CHEM 441A; OR CHEM 448 | Biological Chemistry (3); OR Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3) | BIOL 212, CHEM 220B, either CHEM 320L or 223B; OR CHEM 220B | |
| CHEM 496; OR CHEM Upper Division Elective | Undergraduate Directed Research (1 of 3 units); OR Elective (2) | Instructor consent | |
| CHEM 332; OR BIOL 212 (if 211 taken) | Inorganic Chemistry Lab (2); OR Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4) | CHEM 331; OR BIOL 211, CHEM 111A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division | Upper Division (3) |
Year 4 - Semester 7
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 332 (if not yet taken); OR CHEM Upper Division Elective | Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (2); OR Elective (3) | CHEM 111B | |
| CHEM 371A | Physical Chemistry (3) | CHEM 111B, MATH 123, PHYS 152, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 224 | Fall only |
| CHEM 496 | Undergraduate Directed Research (1 of 3 units) or 2 units of CHEM UD elective | Instructor consent | |
| CHEM Upper Division Elective | Elective (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division | Upper Division (3) |
Year 4 - Semester 8
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 373 | Physical Chemistry Lab (3) | CHEM 361, 371A, and 371B | |
| CHEM 431 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3) | CHEM 331, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 371B | Spring only |
| CHEM 451 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis (5) | PHYS 152, CHEM 361 or NSCI 361, and CHEM 371B or 377B | |
| CHEM 461 | Chemistry Capstone (1) | Must take in final semester, department consent required | |
| CHEM 498 (if CHEM 420 taken) | Senior Theses (3) | Three units of CHEM 496, instructor consent, major GPA of 3.0 or higher. Counts as UD elective in the major | |
| GE Upper Division | Upper Division (3) |
