67 credits are required for the major.
Each of the following core courses (except, either CHEM 123 or CHEM 124) (33 credits):
- CHEM 123: Principles of Chemistry I & Lab
- CHEM 124: Principles of Chemistry I with Problem Solving and Lab
- CHEM 128: Principles of Environmental Chemistry and Lab · not offered in 2024-25
- CHEM 224: Principles of Chemistry II & Lab
- CHEM 233: Organic Chemistry I & Lab
- CHEM 234: Organic Chemistry II and Lab
- CHEM 301: Chemical Kinetics Laboratory
- CHEM 343: Chemical Thermodynamics
One of the following quantitative courses (6 credits):
One of the following electives (6 credits):
- BIOC 301: Survey of Biochemistry
- CHEM 348: Introduction to Computational Chemistry
- CHEM 351: Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 353: Organic Chemistry III · not offered in 2024-25
- CHEM 354: Spectroscopic Applications in Chemistry · not offered in 2024-25
- CHEM 360: Chemical Biology · not offered in 2024-25
- CHEM 361: Materials Chemistry · not offered in 2024-25
- CHEM 362: Chemistry at the Nanoscale
- CHEM 363: Materials Chemistry for a Sustainable Energy Economy · not offered in 2024-25
Two of the following elective lab courses (4 credits):
- BIOC 311: Biochemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 300: Chemistry Research
- CHEM 300: Chemistry Research
- CHEM 302: Quantum Spectroscopy Laboratory
- CHEM 306: Spectrometric Characterization of Chemical Compounds
- CHEM 331: Instrumental Chemical Analysis Laboratory
- CHEM 338: Computer-Assisted Experimentation for Chemists
- CHEM 349: Computational Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 352: Laboratory in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Additional requirements:
- Physics: two three-credit courses or one six-credit course from courses 131-165 (6 credits)
- Mathematics: MATH 120 or MATH 211 (6 credits)
- One additional 200-level physics course is strongly recommended (PHYS 228 or PHYS 235)
Chemistry 400 is required of all majors (6 credits). In addition to six credits of comps (see CHEM 400 description), Chemistry majors will be required to attend at least 10 seminars between the term in which they declare and the end of winter term of their senior year to ensure breadth in the exposure to the ways chemists approach their work.
Major under Combined Plan in Engineering
In addition to completing the requirements for the Chemistry major listed above, the student should also take the following courses required for admission to the engineering schools: PHYS 165 or PHYS 228, MATH 241, and CS 111. At the discretion of the department, one advanced course may be waived in some instances to allow the student more latitude in selection of courses.
Students Considering Graduate Studies in Chemistry-Related Fields
The minimal set of courses required for a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry at Carleton is intended as a basic educational experience for all types of chemistry students with varying professional goals, including the medical profession, business, or any other career that requires an educational background that includes the development of quantitative and qualitative problem-solving skills. Students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in a chemistry-related field (chemistry, biochemistry, materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, etc.) should take additional chemistry, physics, and mathematics courses beyond the minimum to properly prepare for the rigors of graduate study. When making the decision about which additional courses to take, it is best to consult with your chemistry adviser. However, some general advice is offered below:
- Ph.D. in Chemistry: Take both CHEM 330/331 and CHEM 344/302, as well as BIOC 301/311 and CHEM 351/352. Consider taking additional physics and/or mathematics courses. Consider completing the American Chemical Society Certified Chemistry Major.
- Ph.D. in Biochemistry: Take either CHEM 330/331 or CHEM 344 plus another 300-level two-credit chemistry laboratory. Consider completing the Biochemistry Minor.