BS in Chemistry

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Chemistry degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
Requirements for the Curriculum120
Total Hours120

Requirements for the Curriculum

The requirements for the curriculum include the courses necessary to complete the General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline requirements described in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section.

Required Courses
ENGL 160Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts3
ENGL 161Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research3
Foreign language (the equivalent of two years of a single language at the college level)0-16
Exploring World Cultures course a3
Understanding the Creative Arts course a3
Understanding the Individual and Society course a3
Understanding the Past course a3
Understanding U.S. Society course a3
MATH 180Calculus I b,c4
MATH 181Calculus II c4
MATH 210Calculus III c3
PHYS 141General Physics I (Mechanics) c4
PHYS 142General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) c4
Select one of the following sequences in general and analytical chemistry:10-14
CHEM 116
Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry I c,d
CHEM 118
Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry II c,d
OR
CHEM 122
Matter and Energy e
CHEM 123
Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I c,e
CHEM 124
Chemical Dynamics e
CHEM 125
Foundations of Chemical Inquiry II c,e
CHEM 222
Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 232Structure and Function3
CHEM 233Synthesis Techniques Laboratory2
CHEM 234Chemical Synthesis3
CHEM 235Advanced Synthesis Techniques2
CHEM 314Inorganic Chemistry4
CHEM 342Physical Chemistry I3
CHEM 343Physical Chemistry Laboratory f3
CHEM 346Physical Chemistry II3
CHEM 402Chemical Information Systems2
CHEM 421Instrumental Analysis3
CHEM 452Biochemistry I4
Select one of the following advanced lecture courses:2
CHEM 414
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 432
Advanced Organic Chemistry
CHEM 444
Spectroscopy in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Select one of the following advanced laboratory courses:3
CHEM 415
Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 455
Biochemistry Laboratory
CHEM 499
Supervised Research
Electives at the 300 level or above in the natural sciences or mathematics, as approved by the departmental advisor3
Electives7-27
Total Hours120
a

Students should consult the General Education section of the cata­log for a list of approved courses in this category.

b

MATH 180 fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning requirement.

c

This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.

d

CHEM 116 and CHEM 118 are recommended.

e

Each of the following pairs will be considered one course in meeting the General Education requirements: CHEM 122/CHEM 123; CHEM 124/CHEM 125.

f

CHEM 343 fulfills the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.

Recommended Plan of Study

Chemistry is a highly structured discipline. Because most advanced courses require physical chemistry as a prerequisite, which in turn requires prerequisites of general chemistry, physics, and mathematics, careful course planning is essential. It is best to start with mathematics and general chemistry in the first year, followed by organic chemistry and physics in the second year, and physical chemistry in the third year. Consult the Biochemistry section for more information on the BS in Biochemistry.

Note: Students who are not ready to start with MATH 180 and CHEM 122/CHEM 123 should expect to take summer session courses and/or take longer than four years to graduate.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
MATH 180 Calculus I 4
Select one of the following: 5
CHEM 116
 Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry I a  
CHEM 122
& CHEM 123
 Matter and Energy
and Foundations of Chemical Inquiry I		  
General Education Requirement course 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
MATH 181 Calculus II 4
Select one of the following: 3-5
CHEM 118
 Honors and Majors General and Analytical Chemistry II b  
CHEM 124
& CHEM 125
 Chemical Dynamics
and Foundations of Chemical Inquiry II		  
CHEM 232
 Structure and Function  
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours13-17
Second Year
Fall Semester
Select one of the following: 3-5
CHEM 124
& CHEM 125
 Chemical Dynamics
and Foundations of Chemical Inquiry II		  
CHEM 232
 Structure and Function  
CHEM 233 Synthesis Techniques Laboratory 2
PHYS 141 General Physics I (Mechanics) 4
General Education Requirement course 4-6
 Hours13-17
Spring Semester
CHEM 222 Analytical Chemistry c 4
CHEM 234 Chemical Synthesis 3
CHEM 235 Advanced Synthesis Techniques 2
PHYS 142 General Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism) 4
Foreign Language 4
 Hours17
Third Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 314 Inorganic Chemistry 4
CHEM 342 Physical Chemistry I 3
MATH 210 Calculus III c 3
Foreign Language 4
 Hours14
Spring Semester
CHEM 346 Physical Chemistry II b 3
CHEM 452 Biochemistry I 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
Foreign Language 4
 Hours17
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CHEM 343 Physical Chemistry Laboratory d 3
CHEM 402 Chemical Information Systems 2
CHEM 414
or CHEM 432
or CHEM 444
 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
or Advanced Organic Chemistry
or Spectroscopy in Chemistry and Biochemistry
 2
Foreign Language 4
Electives 4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CHEM 421 Instrumental Analysis 3
CHEM 415
or CHEM 455
or CHEM 499
 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
or Biochemistry Laboratory
or Supervised Research
 3
Electives at the 300 level in the natural sciences or mathematics, as approved by the departmental advisor 3
General Education Requirement course 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours120
a

CHEM 116 and CHEM 342 are offered fall semester only.

b

CHEM 118 and CHEM 346 are offered spring semester only.

c

Students who take CHEM 116 and CHEM 118 to fulfill the general chemistry requirement do not need to take CHEM 222.

d

CHEM 343 fulfills the LAS Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.