Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Chemistry with a concentration in chemical science, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts and Sciences: Health-STEM Specialization (Rappahannock Community College)
Rappahannock Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Program description

The curriculum in chemistry prepares students for graduate study in chemistry and related fields and for admission to schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. It prepares students to teach in secondary schools or to work in chemical and industrial laboratories and in related fields of business and industry.


With the proper selection of electives, the degree satisfies admission requirements to most professional school such as schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.


The biochemistry concentration focuses on the biological aspects of chemistry, including molecular genetics and molecular biotechnology.


The chemical modeling concentration emphasizes areas of overlap between chemistry and the mathematical sciences and computer science. Students in this concentration will focus on learning the chemistry and computer technology for modeling the structure, properties and reactivity of molecules.


The chemical science concentration is tailored for the pre-professional study of the health sciences and other interdisciplinary areas where an emphasis on chemistry is sought. This concentration for the bachelor's degree in chemistry permits students to select more courses from other disciplines. With fewer requirements in mathematics, physics and chemistry, this concentration is one option for students planning to study medicine or dentistry.


The professional chemist concentration requires a greater number of chemistry courses, and is designed for students whose future studies or career plans involve chemistry as a central theme. With the proper combination of courses, this degree can be certified as meeting the requirements of the American Chemical Society.


The capstone requirement includes upper level lecture and upper level laboratory courses to include a research component.

Career opportunities
The employment pathways for chemical professionals can be divided into five main sectors: industry, academia, government, non-profit, and entrepreneurship.  Within each of these sectors, areas of career opportunity include research and development, quality control/regulatory, environment and health, law and policy, manufacturing,  education, military and law enforcement, and technical communication. Common skills include science, critical thinking, reading, active listening, mathematics, and both deductive and inductive reasoning. Technical skills are highly preferred in areas such as analytical/scientific software, computer aided design (CAD), databases/query software, graphics, and Office suite. With the proper selection of electives, the degree satisfies admission requirements to most schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
Bachelor-level job titles
  • Business Intelligence Analysts
  • Chemical Technician
  • Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
  • Food Technologist
  • Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
  • Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
  • Operations Research Analysts
  • Quality Control Analysts
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialists
  • Secondary School Teachers
  • Survey Researchers
  • Technical Writers
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Chemist
  • College Professor
  • Material Scientist
  • Research Director
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Highest level of math required
  • MATH 201 or higher
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Chemistry with a concentration in chemical science, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Rappahannock Community College (Associate of Arts and Sciences: Health-STEM Specialization)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and be prepared to request tutoring assistance.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore the concentrations of the chemistry degree: biochemistry, chemical modeling, chemical science, professional chemist.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Chemistry department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and be prepared to request tutoring assistance.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore the concentrations of the chemistry degree: biochemistry, chemical modeling, chemical science, professional chemist.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus or in your community.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ Website.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Chemistry department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Research housing for next year.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Chemistry with a concentration in chemical science, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Rappahannock Community College (Associate of Arts and Sciences: Health-STEM Specialization)

Rappahannock Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
HIS Select any approved History HIST 3 General education
MTH 161 Precalculus I MATH 141 3 General education
BIO 101 General Biology I BIOL/Z 151 4 General education
CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major (Ancillary)
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
MTH 162 Precalculus II MATH 151 3 Elective
BIO 102 General Biology II BIOL/Z 152 4 Elective
CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major
Humanities Select any approved humanities/fine arts VCU equivalent 3 General education
ENG Approved 200 level American/English Literature ENGL 3 General education
PHY 201 General College Physics I PHYS 201 4 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 245 Statistics I STAT 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
Social Science Approved Transfer Social Sciences VCU equivalent 3 General education
PHY 202 General College Physics II PHYS 202 4 Major (Ancillary)
Social Science Approved Transfer Social Sciences VCU equivalent 3 General education
Humanities Approved Transfer Humanities/Fine Arts VCU equivalent 3 General education
HIS Approved Transfer History HIST 3 General education
HLT/PED Health/Physical Education Elective VCU equivalent 1 Elective
Rappahannock credits transferred to VCU 62
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign language through the 102 level. (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) 0 to 8 General education
CHEM/Z 301 Organic Chemistry I and Laboratory 5 Major
CHEM/Z 302 Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory 5 Major
CHEM/Z 309 Quantitative Analysis and Laboratory 5 Major
CHEZ 313 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I 2 Major
CHEM 313 or CHEM 314 Physical Chemistry I or Physical Chemistry I with Math Modules 3 to 4 Major
CHEM 315 Physical Chemistry II 3 Major
CHEM 320 Inorganic Chemistry I 3 Major
CHEM 398 Professional Practices and Perspectives Seminar 1 Major
CHEM 499 Chemistry Capstone Experience 0 Major
CHEM/Z Select at least one two-credit 400-level CHEZ course or two credits of CHEM 392 or CHEM 492 and at least one three-credit 400- or 500-level CHEM course from the electives listed below. 5 Major
MATH 200 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 4 Major (Ancillary)
MATH 201 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II 4 Major (Ancillary)
Upper-level elective (300- or 400-level courses) Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 12 to 13 Elective
Open electives 6 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58
Bachelor's degree total 120