Program: Chemistry Major (BS) [ACS Certified] - University of Massachusetts Boston

Apr 05, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Chemistry Department | College of Science and Mathematics

Program Declaration

At time of admission to the University or by completion of an Undergraduate Program Add/Change form .

Degree Requirements

If this is the student’s only or primary major, the degree requirements below must be completed for graduation. See graduation requirements for more information.

University Requirements

College of Science and Mathematics Requirements for Bachelor of Science

Major Requirements

Complete 83 to 85 credits from 28 courses including 16 required chemistry courses, eight required science courses, two electives, and two capstone courses.

GPA: A minimum GPA of 2.0 for all major requirements.
Pass/fail: No chemistry or biochemistry courses taken pass/fail may be applied to the major. No more than one mathematics or physics course taken pass/fail may be applied to the major.
Residency: A minimum of 16 credits of courses at the 300-level or higher must be completed at UMass Boston.

Course Requirements

Required Chemistry Courses (47 Credits)

CHEM 115 - Chemical Principles I Lecture 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 116 - Chemical Principles II Lecture 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 117 - Chemical Principles I Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
CHEM 118 - Chemical Principles II Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
CHEM 251 - Organic Chemistry I Lecture 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 252 - Organic Chemistry II Lecture 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
CHEM 256 - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
CHEM 311 - Analytical Chemistry 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 312 - Physical Chemistry 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 313 - Analytical Chemistry Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
CHEM 314 - Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
CHEM 354 - Biochemistry 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 369 - Chemical Structure 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 370 - Inorganic Chemistry 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 371 - Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory 2 Credit(s)
CHEM 379 - Chemical Structure Lab 2 Credit(s)

Additional Required Courses (26 Credits)

BIOL 111 - General Biology I 4 Credit(s)
MATH 140 - Calculus I 4 Credit(s)
MATH 141 - Calculus II 4 Credit(s)
PHYSIC 113 - Fundamentals of Physics I 4 Credit(s)
PHYSIC 114 - Fundamentals of Physics II 4 Credit(s)
PHYSIC 181 - Physics Laboratory I 2 Credit(s)
PHYSIC 182 - Physics Laboratory II 2 Credit(s)

Electives (6 to 8 Credits)

Take two 300-level or higher chemistry or biochemistry electives. One must be a laboratory course from the list below.

BIOCHM 385 - Biochemistry Lab I 3 Credit(s)
BIOCHM 386 - Biochemistry Lab II 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 351 - Organic Qualitative Analysis 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 361 - Analytical Instrumentation 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 481 - Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry I 1-4 Credit(s)
CHEM 482 - Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry II 1-4 Credit(s)

Capstone Requirement (4 Credits)

Students majoring in chemistry must, during their final year, register for CHEM 498 - Senior Thesis I and CHEM 499 - Senior Thesis II .

The department encourages its majors to take CHEM 481 - Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry I and CHEM 482 - Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry II in addition to the capstone courses.