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
BIOC 370
Biomolecular Metabolism
BIOC 390
Physical Biochemistry
CHEM 311
Teaching and Learning in STEM 6
CHEM 312
STEM Education Research Seminar 6
CHEM 313
STEM Teaching Practicum 6
CHEM 394
Directed Research Internship 6
CHEM 395
Chemical Science Internship 6
CHEM 451
Advanced Organic Chemistry
CHEM 495
Advanced Topics in Chemistry
MATH 270
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
PHYC 155
& PHYC 156
Physics for Life Sciences I
and Physics for Life Sciences II 3
PHYC 165
& PHYC 166
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 313, CHEM 394, and CHEM 395 can be counted toward major elective units.