Major Requirement – 67 Total Credits
Core Courses – Required 33 credits
Each of the following core courses (except, either CHEM 123: Principles of Chemistry I & Lab or CHEM 124: Principles of Chemistry I with Problem Solving and Lab):
- CHEM 123: Principles of Chemistry I & Lab
- CHEM 124: Principles of Chemistry I with Problem Solving and Lab
- 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
Quantitative Course – Required 6 credits
Elective Course – Required 6 credits
- BIOC 301: Biochemistry
- CHEM 348: Introduction to Computational Chemistry (not offered 2025-26)
- CHEM 351: Inorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 353: Organic Chemistry III
- CHEM 354: Spectroscopic Applications in Chemistry (not offered 2025-26)
- CHEM 358: Organometallic Chemistry (not offered 2025-26)
- CHEM 361: Materials Chemistry
- CHEM 362: Chemistry at the Nanoscale (not offered 2025-26)
- CHEM 364: Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Elective Lab Courses – Required 4 credits
- BIOC 311: Biochemistry Laboratory
- 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 (not offered 2025-26)
- CHEM 349: Computational Chemistry Laboratory (not offered 2025-26)
- CHEM 352: Laboratory in Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Other STEM Course Requirements – Required 12 Credits
Physics Courses – (6 credits)
- Two three-credit PHYS courses from courses 131-165
OR One six-credit PHYS course from courses 131-165
One additional 200-level physics course is strongly recommended (PHYS 228: Atomic and Nuclear Physics and Lab or PHYS 235: Electricity and Magnetism and Lab)
Mathematics Courses – (6 credits)
An AP Calculus BC exam score of 4 and above does not meet the Math requirement, because it does not include multivariable calculus. Take MATH 211: Introduction to Multivariable Calculus (or MATH 120: Calculus 2 with permission from the Math Department, and forgo six AP credits) before enrolling in CHEM 343: Chemical Thermodynamics.
Senior Integrative Exercise – Required 6 credits
- CHEM 400: Integrative Exercise
In addition to six credits of comps (see CHEM 400: Integrative Exercise 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.
Additional Departmental Notes
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: Introduction to Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics and Lab or PHYS 228: Atomic and Nuclear Physics and Lab, MATH 241: Ordinary Differential Equations, and CS 111: Introduction to Computer Science. 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.