The Department of Chemistry offers several degree programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. The curriculum leading to the A.B. degree offers a substantive program in chemistry while allowing students the freedom to take more courses in other disciplines and pursue a broad liberal arts education. Students who have a deeper interest in chemistry normally elect one of the several programs leading to the B.S. degree. The general B.S. program, which is accredited by the American Chemical Society, is appropriate for students who are interested in chemistry as a profession. The other B.S. programs provide emphasis in three areas of applied chemistry: Chemical Physics, Environmental Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. These emphases are slightly less intense in chemistry, and draw on significant course materials from areas that are relevant to the particular emphasis but outside of a classical chemistry degree. Students following the A.B or one of the B.S. programs may consider taking advantage of the Education Abroad Program. Faculty advisors can assist students in planning a curriculum while abroad that assures regular progress in the major. A minor program in chemistry is also available.

Chemistry graduates with bachelor’s degrees are employed extensively throughout various industries in quality control, research and development, production supervision, technical marketing, and other areas. The types of industries employing these graduates include chemical, energy, pharmaceutical, genetic engineering, biotechnology, food and beverage, petroleum and petrochemical, paper and textile, electronics and computer, and environmental and regulatory agencies. The bachelor’s programs also provide chemistry graduates with the rigorous preparation needed for an advanced degree in chemistry and various professional schools in the health sciences.

The major requirements and a sample schedule that shows one option for the required courses are available for the general B.S., the B.S. with emphasis in Chemical Physics, the B.S. with emphasis in Environmental Chemistry, the B.S. with emphasis in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, the A.B., and the minor programs. Also available are listings of acceptable elective courses in chemistry for the general B.S., acceptable elective courses in chemistry for the A.B., and acceptable elective courses in other departments for the A.B. degree. The UCD General Catalog describes all chemistry courses offered by the Department.

If you wish further information concerning the major and minor programs in chemistry, please see the secretary in Room 108 Chemistry or one of the faculty advisers. These faculty members are quite willing and able to help you in problems related to your choice of a major and planning your program of study. We wish our advising program to be an active one and strongly request that each chemistry major consult with his or her advisor at least once during the academic year, either late in Spring or at the beginning of Fall, to plan the year's program and subsequently to report changes in the planned program to his or her advisor.

Students who choose to major in chemistry are an important part of the Department. We encourage each student to take every opportunity to become acquainted with other chemistry majors, the chemistry academic peer adviser and the faculty of the Department, and to participate in the activities of our Student Chemistry Club.