Discover the Chemistry Curriculum
Chemistry at USD provides a strong foundation in the principles and practices of modern chemistry within the framework of a liberal arts education. Our program is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS), a national organization that develops and administers guidelines defining high-quality undergraduate programs. The major is designed to give students both the theoretical bases of the discipline and extensive hands-on experience testing theories in the laboratory. We also offer courses that fulfill the science and technology portion of the core curriculum requirements.
Major
Chemistry majors earn an ACS-certified degree. Students have opportunities to take advanced, "special topics" courses, including NMR spectroscopy, environmental, computational and medicinal chemistry and more.
Minor
The chemistry minor provides foundational offerings in chemistry concepts and a range of elective courses.
Explore Chemistry Courses
Read descriptions of our current chemistry courses on our Courses page!Not all courses offered below will be available every semester. Make sure to check course offerings on the registration portal for each upcoming semester.
Program Requirements
Each student declares their major(s) and minor(s) under a single catalog of record that is identified on the student's degree audit (available on Degree Works).
The program requirements below are based on the current course catalog and may not be applicable if a student is declared in an earlier catalog.
Find all previous course catalogs under on our Archived Catalogs of Record page.
59.5 units
Major
18 units
Minor
Major unit estimates include preparation for the major course units as well as major requirements.
- Major
- Minor
- Learning Outcomes
Chemistry BS Major
The chemistry major is designed to qualify students for admission to graduate school in chemistry, positions as chemists; admission to medical, dental, and pharmacy schools; or secondary teaching.
The Major
In addition to 32.5 units of upper-division work in chemistry, students must complete of 100 hours of faculty-directed research and CHEM 396. Electives may be chosen from other chemistry and biochemistry courses for which prerequisites have been met. Students completing the chemistry major curriculum also earn an American Chemical Society-certified degree.
CHEM 496 or CHEM 498 may not be applied toward the 32.5 unit requirement. Those planning for graduate work in chemistry are recommended to take additional upper-division electives in chemistry, mathematics or physics depending on the area of interest.
Preparation for the Major
CHEM 151 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
CHEM 151L | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 152 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM 152L | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM 220 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
MATH 150 | Calculus I | 4 |
MATH 151 | Calculus II | 4 |
PHYS 270 | Introduction to Mechanics | 4 |
PHYS 271 | Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism | 4 |
Total Units | 27 | |
Major Requirements
CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
CHEM 302 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
CHEM 311 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
CHEM 312 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM 331 | Biochemistry | 3 |
CHEM 396 | Methods of Chemical Research | 1.5 |
CHEM 422 | Physical Methods | 4 |
CHEM 424 | Advanced Synthesis Laboratory | 4 |
CHEM 440 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
Select One Upper Division Chemistry Elective | 3 | |
Total Units | 32.5 | |