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2023-2024

Chemistry, Bachelor of Science

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Mathematics and Sciences (Chemistry) (College of Southern Maryland)
College of Southern Maryland
College of Southern Maryland
Associate degree

Associate of Science: Mathematics and Sciences (Chemistry)

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

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
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
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Chemistry with concentration in Biochemistry, Chemical Modeling, Chemical Science, Professional Chemist, Professional Chemist with Honors

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Chemistry, Bachelor of Science

College of Southern Maryland (Associate of Science: Mathematics and Sciences (Chemistry))

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
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to Chemistry through the Career Coach.
  • Explore the community college’s Focus 2 Career resource to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Take a career assessment through the Career Coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience Year 2
  • Explore the Chemistry department website.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • 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, or Chemistry department-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to Chemistry through the Career Coach.
  • Explore the community college’s Focus 2 Career resource to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the Career Coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Explore the Chemistry department website.
  • Participate in the STEM Transitions: Transfer Success Program after you’re admitted to VCU.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
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, or Chemistry department-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college to explore your interests.
  • Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Chemistry, Bachelor of Science

College of Southern Maryland (Associate of Science: Mathematics and Sciences (Chemistry))

College of Southern Maryland courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements.
ENG 1010 Composition and Rhetoric Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 1020 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
FYS 1010 First Year Seminar UNIV 101 3 Elective
CHE 1200 General Chemistry I CHEM 101 3 Major (Ancillary)
CHE 1200L General Chemistry I Lab CHEZ 101 1 Major (Ancillary)
MTH 1200 Calculus I and Analytic Geometry MATH 200 4 Major (Ancillary)
ENG 1020 Composition and Rhetoric UNIV 200 3 General education
CHE 1210 General Chemistry II CHEM 102 3 Major
CHE 1210L General Chemistry II Lab CHEZ 102 1 Major
MTH 1210 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major (Ancillary)
Arts/Humanities Select from approved list of general education courses VCU equivalent 3 General education
Social/Behavioral science Select 1: POL 1010, PSY 1010, or SOC 1010 VCU equivalent 3 General education
BIO 1060 Principles of Biology I BIOL 151 3 Elective
BIO 1060L Principles of Biology I Lab BIOZ 151 1 Elective
CHE 2200 Organic Chemistry I CHEM 301 3 Major
CHE 2200L Organic Chemistry I Lab CHEZ 301 1 Major
PHY 1310 Calculus Based Physics I PHYS 207 4 Major (Ancillary)
Arts/Humanities Select from approved list of general education courses VCU equivalent 3 General education
CHE 2210 Organic Chemistry II CHEM 302 3 Major
CHE 2210L Organic Chemistry II Lab CHEZ 302 1 Major
MTH 1015 Introduction to Statistics STAT 210 3 Major (Ancillary)
PHY 2300 Calculus Based Physics II PHYS 208 4 Major (Ancillary)
Social/behavioral science Select from approved list of general education courses VCU equivalent 3 General education
CSM credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU.
Bachelor of Science: Chemistry with a concentration in chemical science
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 6 General education
CHEM 309 + CHEZ 309 Quantitative Analysis and Laboratory 5 Major
CHEM 313 or CHEM 314 Physical Chemistry I or Physical Chemistry with Math Modules 3 to 4 Major
CHEZ 313 Physical Chemistry I Laboratory 2 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 To complete the Capstone experience, choose 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. See VCU advisor for course options. 5 Major
Electives: consider a minor or second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits (300- or 400-level courses) to graduate from VCU. 32 to 38 Elective
REAL The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. 0 Major
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours including CHEM 313 or CHEM 314, CHEZ 313, CHEM 315, CHEM 320, CHEM 302 and CHEZ 302, and CHEM 309 and CHEZ 309; a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; and a minimum GPA of 3.25 in chemistry course work.