BS in Chemistry

Two APU chemistry students work in a lab in the Segerstrom Science Center on the university’s West Campus.

68-71 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 department 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 1, 24
BIOL 496Ethics and the Sciences3
CHEM 151General Chemistry I 1, 24
CHEM 152General Chemistry II 24
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 320Instrumental Analysis4
CHEM 401Physical Chemistry I3
CHEM 402Physical Chemistry II3
CHEM 430Physical and Inorganic Chemistry Lab1
CHEM 461Inorganic Chemistry3
Select one course from the following:3-4
BIOC 370
Biomolecular Metabolism
CHEM 394
Directed Research Internship 3
MATH 310
Ordinary Differential Equations
Mathematics
MATH 165Calculus I 24
MATH 166Calculus II 24
MATH 268Multivariable Calculus4
Physics
PHYC 145Physics Laboratory I 11
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 1, 2
PHYC 165
& PHYC 166
Physics for Science and Engineering: Mechanics
and Physics for Science and Engineering: Electricity and Magnetism 1, 2
Total Units68-71
1

Meets the APU Core: Natural Science general education requirement.

2

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

3

If a student selects CHEM 394 to fulfill this requirement, it must be taken for 3 units.