BS in Chemistry

APU’s chemistry major prepares students for careers and graduate study in chemistry, biochemistry, and environmental studies.

69-71 units

Chemistry is the study of the properties and reactivity of all matter. An understanding of chemistry is fundamental to a variety of fields including but not limited to biology, astronomy, earth science, physics, environmental science, medicine, and pharmacology.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program provides a rigorous curriculum and strong foundation in the five major subfields of chemistry—analytical, organic, inorganic, physical, and biochemistry—as well as in related fields such as biology, physics, and mathematics, providing breadth to their study of chemistry. 
 
This program provides excellent preparation for entry-level positions as a researcher or laboratory technician, in governmental or industrial technical support, in management, or in teaching at the secondary level. It is also excellent preparation for graduate studies in fields such as but not limited to chemistry, biochemistry, environmental studies, forensic science, pharmacology, and biotechnology. Students who attend graduate school and obtain a master’s or doctoral degree may find employment at a university or in the private or government sectors.
 
BS in Chemistry students are strongly encouraged to collaborate with science faculty in a research project or participate in an off-campus internship in industry.
 
Note: Entry requirements differ among graduate schools and jobs. Students are responsible for researching the requirements of graduate programs and professions in which they are interested.

Requirements

All of the following requirements must be met to continue as an allied health, biological sciences, biochemistry, or chemistry major. A student’s failure to maintain these requirements will result in him or her being dropped from the major. Reentry to the major is by petition only.

  • Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all biology, chemistry, biochemistry, math, and physics courses required for the major.
  • Must complete each course required for the major with a C- or higher for the course to meet a degree requirement in the Department of Biology and Chemistry.
  • Any single course within the major can be taken only two times at APU; students must change to a major outside the department after two unsuccessful (below C-) attempts in a single required course.
  • Only two courses total within the major can be repeated; students must change to a major outside the department after unsuccessful (below C-) attempts in any three required courses.
Chemistry
BIOC 270Biomolecular Chemistry4
BIOL 151General Biology I 14
BIOL 496Writing 3: Ethics and the Sciences 23
CHEM 151General Chemistry I 34
CHEM 152General Chemistry II 44
CHEM 251
CHEM 261
Organic Chemistry: Theory I
and Organic Chemistry - Lab
4
CHEM 252
CHEM 262
Organic Chemistry: Theory II
and Organic Chemistry - Lab
4
CHEM 300
CHEM 310
Quantitative Chemical Analysis - Theory
and Quantitative Chemical Analysis - Laboratory
4
CHEM 320
CHEM 330
Instrumental Analysis: Theory
and Instrumental Analysis - Lab 5
4
CHEM 401
CHEM 411
Physical Chemistry I
and Physical Chemistry I Lab
4
CHEM 402
CHEM 412
Physical Chemistry II
and Physical Chemistry II Lab
4
CHEM 461Inorganic Chemistry3
Select at least 6 units from the following:6
Biomolecular Metabolism
Physical Biochemistry
Teaching and Learning in STEM 6
STEM Education Research Seminar 6
STEM Teaching Practicum 6
Directed Research Internship 6
Chemical Science Internship 6
Advanced Organic Chemistry
Advanced Topics in Chemistry
Ordinary Differential Equations
Mathematics
MATH 165Calculus I 43
MATH 166Calculus II 43
MATH 268Multivariable Calculus3
Physics
PHYC 145Physics Laboratory I 31
PHYC 146Physics Laboratory II1
Select one of the following course pairs:6-8
Physics for Life Sciences I
and Physics for Life Sciences II 3
Physics for Science and Engineering: Mechanics
and Physics for Science and Engineering: Electricity and Magnetism 3
Total Units69-71
1

Meets the General Education Natural Sciences requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

3

CHEM 151, PHYC 145, PHYC 155, and PHYC 165 meet the General Education Natural Sciences requirement and may be waived with an appropriate Advanced Placement test score.

4

This course may be waived with an appropriate Advanced Placement test score.

5

CHEM 320 and CHEM 330 meet the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.

6

Up to 3 units combined of CHEM 311, CHEM 312, CHEM 313CHEM 394, and CHEM 395 can be counted toward major elective units.