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Option Requirements for Undergraduate Chemistry

Ch Option Requirements (non-Biochemistry)

  1. Ch 14, Ch 21abc, Ch 41abc, Ch 90, Ma 2, and Ph 2a. Ma 3 is recommended but not required. Students may make the following substitutions: For Ch14 (ESE/Ge 142); for Ch 21a (Ph 2b, Ph 12b, Ch 125a or Ph 125a); for Ch 21c (Ph 2c, Ph 12c, ChE/Ch 164 or Ph 127a). 100-level courses used in substitution for these option requirements may not also be counted towards the five terms of advanced electives. The Ch option requires Ch 90, Oral Presentation. Ch 91 is required to meet the Institute Core Requirement for Scientific Writing. The senior thesis can be used to satisfy the minimum requirement if the third term is taken for grades and a thesis is approved. Ch 91 is not required for students in the Biochemistry Track.
  2. A minimum of five terms of laboratory work chosen from Ch 4ab, Ch 5ab, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 11, and Ch 15. One non-chemistry laboratory course may be used, chosen from MS 90, Ph 6 and Ph 7, or an alternative with sufficient Chemistry content, by approval of the Option Representative. One term of research, either 10 c (if taken during first or second year) or one term of Ch 82 (Senior Thesis), if taken for grades as the third and final term, may count for one of the five laboratory courses.
  3. A minimum of five terms of advanced chemistry electives (which must total at least 45 units) from chemistry course offerings numbered 102 or higher, including cross-listed offerings but excluding Ch 180 and Ch 280. Students may petition to substitute up to but no more than one 100-level elective from another option, if the substituted course has substantial chemistry content. Ch 101 cannot be used to meet the five term requirement but can be used to meet the 45 unit requirement for advanced electives.

The chemistry option strongly encourages students to engage in academic year research, and up to 27 units each of Ch 80 and Ch 82 can count toward the 486-unit requirement.

Biochemistry Track Requirements

  1. Ch 14, Ch 21abc, Ch 41abc, Ch 90, Ma 2, Ph 2a (required for the Ch option), Bi 8 (which can be taken instead of Bi1 to satisfy Core requirements), Bi 9, and Ch/Bi 110ab (Biochemistry) are required. Ma 3 is recommended but not required. Students may make the following substitutions: For Ch14 (ESE/Ge 142); for Ch 21a (Ph 2b, Ph 12b, Ch 125a or Ph 125a); for Ch 21c (Ph 2c, Ph 12c, ChE/Ch 164 or Ph 127a). 100-level courses used in substitution for these option requirements may not also be counted towards the required terms of advanced electives.
  2. Four required laboratory courses: Ch 4a, Bi 10, and Ch11 (Biochemistry Lab), and one other laboratory course from Ch4b, Ch6ab, Ch15, Ch7, BMB/Ch 230 (crystallography), or ChE130 (biomolecular engineering lab).
  3. In addition to Ch/Bi 110ab, a minimum of four terms of advanced electives (which must total at least 36 units) from biology or chemistry course offerings numbered 102 or higher, including cross-listed offerings but excluding research, chosen in consultation with their academic advisor. Students are strongly encouraged to take electives from the biomolecular and molecular cell biology areas. Ch 101 cannot be used to meet the four-term requirement but can be used to meet the unit requirement for advanced electives.
  4. Senior Thesis (three terms) as described above.