Majors/Minor Pathways
So you want to be a chem major
Or at least, you're thinking about it. First off, congratulations! You couldn't have chosen a more interesting discipline. While the chemistry curriculum can be demanding, this guide is here to show you the ins and outs of planning for your future classes. Because there are so many different pathways (and so many different chemistry students), we've separated the course work into a series of decisions that you should start thinking about as soon as possible. If you're planning for next semester's courses, it might be good to read through with a pen and notebook in hand to mark down what you'll need to be taking. Let's get started!
The Undeclared Underdog
This is where it all begins! There aren't many hard choices to make here, but you should start thinking about what type of chemistry major you're interesting in being: ACS, Non-ACS, Biochemistry concentrator, or Biochemistry + ACS. An ACS (American Chemical Society) certified major is primarily for those planning to do graduate work or enter the science job market right after graduation, but will affect the courses you take throughout your major. If you're interested in coding (or computing), check out the scientific computing concentration, which is a little more complex than the other routes. Your first and second years is where you'll be building the foundation for your major specialization to come. It's a good idea to plan what courses you want to have taken by the end of your sophomore year (see major tracks below) and then fit them into your first four semesters. Take heart! The first couple years can be a grind, with larger class sizes and a ton of material, but you're building the knowledge base you need to start doing some really exciting work.
First Year
Your first year of chemistry will naturally start in general chemistry (Chem 111 or 113 in the fall and Chem 112, 114, or 104 in the spring), but this is also a great time to knock out some of the prerequisites to higher level courses. Most chemistry students will be taking Chem 304 (physical chemistry) in junior year, which requires at least Math 118 (Calc II) or placement into Math 121 (multivariable calculus). Math 121 is still HIGHLY recommended for Chem 304, and can be taken during the first year. In addition, ACS majors will need to complete a year of physics (Phys 101, 102 or Phys 105, 106), as will chemistry majors not planning to take biology, which can be done during your first or second year. Optionally, students can chose to take Math 215 (linear algebra) which will help them understand the mechanisms behind what they learn in Chem 305 (quantum chemistry), but this is by no means required. In short:
You must take:
Structure and bonding (Chem 111 or 113)
Chemical Dynamics (Chem 112, 114, or 104)
You can take:
Math 118 (Required for Chem 304, which most students take in their junior year (completed if placed into Math 121))
Math 121 (HIGHLY recommended for Chem 304, and thus most chemistry majors)
Math 215 (Optional for Chem 305, helpful to understand the math behind the mechanics)
Phys 101, 102 or 105, 106 (Required for ACS majors , pre-health students, and majors not planning to take biology)
CMSC H105 and CMSC H106, or CMSC B110 and CMSC B206, or CMSC H107 (Year-long introduction to programming, required for scientific computing concentrators (CMSC H107 is semester long and can be placed into or taken after CMSC H104 or CMSC B115))
Second Year
You've got a year of chemistry under your belt and have arrived at your first major decision: Bio 200 (intro to bio), Chem 222 (biological organic chemistry) or both. You must take Chem 222 (and second semester, Chem 225, synthetic organic chemistry) if you want to continue to be a chemistry major. On the other hand, you must take Bio 200 if you want to be a biology major, biochemistry concentrator, or are on the pre-health track. If you received < 3.0 in Chem 112, it is suggested you either choose one, or seek the advice of either the biology or chemistry chair (or both!). Other than that, you should look over the optional courses mentioned in the first year section to complete what you can before going into your junior year.
At the end of your sophomore year, you should have completed:
Mandatory:
Structure and bonding (Chem 111, 113)
Chemical dynamics (Chem 112, 114, 104))
Biological organic chemistry (Chem 222)
Synthetic organic chemistry (Chem 225)
Conditional:
One year of physics (Phys 101, 102 or Phys 105, 106, necessary for ACS majors, pre-health students, and majors not planning to take biology)
One year of bio (Bio 200 and 201, for pre-health students, biochemistry concentrators, majors not planning on taking physics)
Math 118 (Most chemistry majors, those planning to take Chem 304 (ACS majors and the majority of non-ACS)
Math 121 (Highly recommended for those planning to take Chem 304)
Math 215 (For those wanting to understand the mathematical mechanics behind Chem 305 (quantum chemistry))
CMSC H105 and CMSC H106, or CMSC B110 and CMSC B206, or CMSC H107 (Year-long introduction to programming, required for scientific computing concentrators (CMSC H107 is semester long and can be placed into or taken after CMSC H104 or CMSC B115))
So, You're a Major
What now? A lot, actually. By now you've likely decided whether you're an ACS major, biochemistry concentrator, pre-health, or just a good old fashioned chemistry major. If you haven't you really should. Like right now. Because from now on, what courses you take heavily depend on what track you're shooting for. An American Chemical Society (ACS) certified major requires additional coursework and is recommended for students interested in pursuing graduate study in science and engineering, or who wish to directly enter the job market in a chemistry-related field after graduation. However, not all students who graduate with a chemistry degree go into industry/academia. For those students, pursuing a non-ACS major may give their schedule the added flexibility needed to explore and build upon other interests.
ACS Chemistry Major
Want to go to grad school? Get a job as a laboratory assistant straight out of graduation? Go on to work in the sciences? The ACS major is probably the way to go. This will leave you with a solid foundation in all things chemistry and well on your way to working in the field!
By now you should have taken:
At least Math 118 (Calc II) (Math 121 (Multivariable Calc) suggested)
Physics 101/102 (one year of intro) or 105/106 (one year of intro for majors)
You still need to take:
Physical Chemistry (Chem 304)
Quantum Chemistry (Chem 305)
Two semesters of Superlab (Chem 301, 302)
Two quarters of Inorganic Chemistry (Chem 320 (Intro to inorganic) and Chem 32x (Inorganic elective)
One semester of biochem (either bio 200 or two half credit biochem electives (Chem 351/2/7/9)
Two quarters of Chemistry Electives (Chem 35x)
Senior Seminar (Year long, half credit course in your senior year, Chem 391)
Two semesters of research (Done with your thesis advisor for your senior thesis, Chem 36x)
Non-ACS Chemistry Major
You like chemistry, but maybe academia isn't for you. You're interested in patent law, scientific communication, all manner of non-research based jobs. Maybe you've just decided this whole science thing is neat, and you'd like to major, but you'll be moving on after that. The non-ACS major may be for you!
Note: if you are planning to pursue graduate level work scientific work or enter the chemistry job market immediately after graduation, an ACS (American Chemistry Society certified) major is likely better for you.
By now you should have taken:
At least Math 118 (Calc II) (Math 121 (Multivariable Calc) suggested)
Either one year of biology (Bio 200) or one year of physics (Phys 101/102 or 105/106)
You still need to take:
One semester of physical chemistry (Either Chem 304 (Pchem, recommended) or Chem 305 (Qchem, harder))
Two semesters of superlab (Chem 301, 302)
Two quarters of inorganic chemistry (Chem 320 (Intro to inorganic) and Chem 32x (Inorganic elective))
Two quarters of chemistry electives (Chem 35x)
Senior seminar (year long, half credit course in your senior year, Chem 391)
Two semesters of research (done with your thesis advisor for your senior thesis, Chem 36x)
BioChemistry Concentration
You're a bold and brash chemistry student who wants to work at the interface of chemistry and biology, understand how biological systems work from a granular chemical perspective. Or perhaps you're already pre-health, so this is a fairly easy concentration to fulfill. Either way, get ready to culture some cells, breed some insects, or whatever else it is those mad scientists get up to in your very own biochem superlab! Be sure to check out the department's dedicated homepage as well.
Note: if you are planning to pursue graduate level work scientific work or enter the chemistry job market immediately after graduation, an ACS (American Chemistry Society certified) major is likely better for you.
By now you should have taken:
At least Math 118 (Calc II) (Math 121 (Multivariable Calc) suggested)
One year of biology (Bio 200)
One year of physics (Phys 101/102 or 105/106)
You still need to take:
One semester of physical chemistry (Either Chem 304 (PChem, recommended) or Chem 305 (Qchem, harder))
One semester of chemistry superlab (Chem 301)
One semester of biochemistry superlab (Chem 302)
Two quarters of inorganic chemistry (Chem 320 (Intro to inorganic) and Chem 351 (bioinorganic elective)
One quarter of chemistry electives (Chem 35x) -- must have biochem content
Two quarters of biology electives (Bio 3xx) -- must have biochem content
Senior seminar (year long, half credit course in your senior year, Chem 391)
Two semesters of research (done with your thesis advisor for your senior thesis, Chem 36x)
Biochemistry Concentration + Acs Major
So you're really into this whole biochem thing, huh? You really want to study biochemistry as a job? Go to grad school? Maybe work as a research assistant at the interface of chemistry and biology, understand how biological systems work from a granular chemical perspective? Break into one of the fastest growing scientific industries? Yeah that sounds pretty cool. And this is part of how you'll so it. Be sure to check out the department's dedicated homepage as well.
By now you should have taken:
At least Math 118 (Calc II) (Math 121 (Multivariable Calc) suggested)
One year of biology (Bio 200)
One year of physics (Phys 101/102 or 105/106)
You still need to take:
Two semesters of physical chemistry (Chem 304 (Physical Chemistry) and 305 (Quantum Chemistry))
One semester of chemistry superlab (Chem 301)
One semester of bio or biochemistry superlab (Chem 303 or Bio 301/2)
Two quarters of inorganic chemistry (Chem 320 (intro to inorganic) and Chem 351 (bioinorganic elective))
One quarter of chemistry electives (Chem 35x) -- must have biochem content
Two quarters of biology electives (Bio 3xx) -- must have biochem content
Senior seminar (year long, half credit course in your senior year, Chem 391)
Two semesters of research (done with your thesis advisor for your senior thesis, Chem 36x)
Scientific Computing Concentration
For those interested in taking a computational approach to chemistry, the scientific computing concentration can be a nice tassel to put in your graduation cap. The concentration requires a number of classes outside of a normal chemistry education, however, so it would be good to plan ahead. Because so many courses span so many disciplines, a comprehensive roadmap would be impossible. Instead, we'll go through the requirements, show you which are typically completed on a "standard" chemistry track, and explain which requirements you'll still have to fulfill outside of the chemistry department's curriculum. A link to all courses involved in scientific computing (as well as full explanation of the concentration) can be found here.
Requirements:
The requirements are split into "categories" A, B, C, and D. Don't let that overwhelm you, it's just a way of grouping courses from a wide array of disciplines. They are not meant to be chronological (see timeline section below)
Requirement A: Year-long introduction to Computer Science
CMSC H105 and CMSC H106, or CMSC B110 and CMSC B206, or CMSC H107 (CMSC H107 is semester long and can be placed into or taken after CMSC H104 or CMSC B115))
(Plays no role in a chemistry major plan)
Requirement B: One course involving regular programming assignments
Almost all chemistry majors will take either CHEM H304 (Physical chemistry) or CHEM H305 (Quantum chemistry) (or both!) which will complete this requirement
Requirement C: three credits worth of electives in which real-world phenomena are investigated using computation
A whole senior thesis can count for one credit if it has a computational element (this would almost always require doing work under a professor who focuses on computational work)
At least one of these courses must be a 300 level (excluding your thesis)
CHEM 104 (Computational lab) can fulfill this requirement but note you will still need a 300 level course
CHEM B322 (Advanced Physical Chemistry: Mathematical Modeling & Natural Processes) can be taken to fulfill both requirement C and two "quarters" of chemistry electives
Any other courses that fulfill this requirement are outside of the chemistry major and can be found on the main website (see link above)
Requirement D: a project-based experience in which computation is applied to investigate a real-world phenomenon
A whole computational senior thesis counts for this
If no computational thesis, a summer research opportunity can also fulfill this requirement
Also a multi-week project for a course that may (or may not) be one of the three electives that fulfill requirement C
Timeline:
Because there are many chemistry requirements to fulfill in your later years (junior and senior year), it's best to get a head start on some of the courses you can take as a freshman and sophomore. Below is a general timeline that can be tweaked to each student's personal situation.
First Year
CMSC H105 and CMSC H106, or CMSC B110 and CMSC B206, or CMSC H107 (CMSC H107 is semester long and can be placed into or taken after CMSC H104 or CMSC B115)) will fulfill requirement A
CHEM 104 (substitute for CHEM 112) is a great way to knock out a requirement C course early on
Sophomore Year
Some requirement C courses are 200 level and easily accessible to sophomores. If you're interested, it's highly advisable to take at least one before junior year
Junior Year
CHEM H304 or CHEM H305 (or both) will fulfill requirement B
By now you should definitely plan on taking your requirement C courses
Senior Year
Finish requirement C courses
Computational senior thesis will fulfill requirement D
If you have any questions or to clear up an ambiguity it is always advisable to consult the chemistry department chair.
Ok, but can I study abroad?
Yes! Many chemistry students have successfully been able to study, albeit it does require some planning. As most students choose to study in the fall or spring of their junior year, it's important to consult with the chemistry chair or you advisor about how to complete your superlab requirement. Some students can get a quarter credit of superlab by taking a lab intensive class abroad, while other choose to take a semester in their senior year.
Below are some of the programs students have best support them abroad in completing chemistry major requirements:
Chemistry, general
University College London (UCL), UK
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Queens University, Belfast, Ireland
The National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Environmental Science/Chemistry
University of the West Indies, Barbados
University of Cape Town, South Africa
University of Stockholm, Sweden
Denmark
Biochemistry concentration
Melbourne, Australia
University of Lund, Sweden
It is possible to study abroad elsewhere and not take Chemistry classes, though this requires careful planning.
If you're thinking about studying abroad, it's best to reach out the the chemistry chair and/or Rebecca Avery (director of study abroad) to help you plan your junior and senior year!
But wait! I want to be a chemistry minor
Oh cool, thanks for scrolling down this far. That's actually pretty easy. Assuming you made it through up until junior year and completed all the core chemistry classes (both semesters of general chemistry and organic chemistry), you will only need to complete:
One semester of physical chemistry (Chem 304 or 305) (Note: This requires at least Math 118 and recommended Math 121)
One semester (or two quarters) of advanced chemistry courses (Chem 301-369)
Chemistry Courses FAQ
Note: While this section serves as a guide for common questions, it is always best to consult with your advisor or the chem department chair to account for individual circumstances
Q: Can I be a chemistry major if I didn't take any chemistry courses in freshman year?
It is very difficult, but not impossible, to be a chemistry major with a "late start". Taking approved courses elsewhere over the summer can help to "catch up" (i.e. taking the equivalent of two semesters of organic chemistry), but that should be done with lots of discussion and pre-planning with the department. The prerequisite structure means that many 300-level classes would end up on top of each other (and on top of senior research) during the senior year if you were still taking 200-level courses as a junior. But the Biochemistry concentration (as a Biology major) and Chemistry minor are still definitely open to students who start Chemistry later, and it is also very possible to get involved in Chemistry research without being a declared Chemistry major.
Q: Do I have to complete a research based thesis to be a Chemistry major?
No! While you do have to complete a thesis to graduate at Haverford, students have in the past opted to do a one semester literature review instead of a classical research thesis. It would be best to talk with your advisor/the department chair to see if this is the right decision for your circumstance and future career goals.
Q: How do I decide between chemistry and biology?
This is a hard one and in the end is up to you alone. Have you taken both organic chemistry and intro to biology to compare your academic experiences and excitement? Have you looked at the research professors in both departments are doing to see what most excites you? Have you considered your long-term plans and how chemistry or biology would fit into them? These are all good ways of gathering information to make the best personal decision. In addition, the biochemistry concentration is a great way to work at the interface of these two disciplines. In the end it's up to you, but you can be sure you have all the info at your fingertips, and do be afraid to reach out to professors/advisors for help!
Q: Help! I failed a core class for chemistry? How do I make this up?
Courses can be re-taken and the passing grade then substitutes for the lower grade on your transcript. Students are encouraged to consult with the department to make a plan for moving forward in this scenario, which could involve a number of different timing strategies (including doubling up on classes and/or waiting on specific classes until better grades are in hand): the department is very open to working with students who might struggle early to make their Chemistry experience as full as possible.
Page created by Corey Model '21 -- Fall 2020