Getting Started

College: CNS

 (Revised Spring 2019)  

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses.  More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses.  Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements.  Guidelines for students are available at www.umass.edu/gened.  Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

Social World/Diversity courses are recommended.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

FIRST YEAR: Required prerequisite/predictor courses including recommended sequence:

Bachelor of Science    
Fall:   Spring:
CHEM 121H* (Honors Gen Chem) or CHEM 111 [4 cr]   CHEM 122H* (HonorsGen Chem) or CHEM 112 [4 cr]
MATH 131 (Calculus I) [4cr]   MATH 132 (Calculus II) [4cr]
BIOLOGY 151 (Intro to Biology I) or Spring   PHYSICS 151 (General Physics I and Lab) [4cr]
     
Bachelor of Arts    
Fall:   Spring:
CHEM 121H* (Honors Gen Chem) or CHEM 111 [4cr]   CHEM 122H* (Honors Gen Chem) or CHEM 112 [4cr]
MATH 127 [3cr] or MATH 131 (Calculus I) [4cr]   MATH 128 [3cr] or MATH 132 (Calculus II) [4cr]
BIOLOGY 151 (Intro to Biology I) or Spring   PHYSICS 131 or 151 (General Physics I and Lab) [4cr]

* Recommended course

Advanced Placement score of 4 or 5: Students planning to major in Chemistry should take the two-term general chemistry sequence: CHEM 121H/122H and should NOT accept AP credit for CHEM 111. Any questions should be addressed to any of the Chemistry advisors listed below.

Math Placement Requirements: Minimum Scores
CHEM 111: 20 on Part A
CHEM 121H: 23 on Part A and 5 on Part B

Minimum grade in prerequisite courses: A minimum grade of “C-” in prerequisite course(s), or permission of the instructor, is required for enrollment in all Chemistry courses.

How to Declare/Change into the Major

For current student & admitted:  This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major.  Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting. 

Students should see a Chemistry advisor early in their program to be sure they are on schedule and able to take the appropriate courses for timely completion of either the B.A. or the B.S. degree. This is especially true for transfers with Sophomore/Junior standing.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

The student chooses either the B.A. or the B.S. curriculum and may select from a wide range of courses within each option. 

Is there a minor? Yes - A minor is available!  Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more.  

For further information, contact:
Chief Undergraduate Advisor, Chemistry
Prof. Ruthanne Paradise, rparadise@chem.umass.edu

Undergraduate Program Office 545-2580
341 Integrated Sciences Building (ISB)
Undergraduate Program Director
Prof. Michael Knapp, mknapp@chem.umass.edu

Website: https://www.umass.edu/chemistry/undergraduate-students