ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY (CH34)

Requirements for the ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY B.S. Degree

Students have an option of earning a B.S. in the Environmental Chemistry that is ACS-Certified or not.  The ACS certified version is recommended for those who intend to apply to graduate school in Chemistry.  The Non-Certified program is designed to prepare students to enter the industrial, government, or legal workforce, or to continue studies in some of the environmental sciences. Click here to read more about the Learning Objectives for the Environmental Chemistry major.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS THAT MATRICULATED PRIOR TO FALL 2017.

The following courses must be taken for a letter grade, unless that is not permitted:

Lower-Division Requirements

1. General Chemistry (CHEM 6A, 6B & 6C or 6AH, 6BH & 6CH)
2. General Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 7L or CHEM 7LM)
3. Physics (PHYS 2A, 2B & 2C or 2D)
4. Physics Laboratory (PHYS 2CL is recommended. It is a prerequisite for CHEM 105A. PHYS  2BL or 2DL Acceptable)
5. Calculus (MATH 20A, 20B, 20C, & 20D)

Upper-Division, mostly, Requirements

1. Organic Chemistry (CHEM 140A & 140B)
2. Physical Chemistry (CHEM 130, 131, & 132 Recommended.  CHEM 126 & 127 Acceptable)
3. Required Laboratory Courses (must take all 4):  
   1. Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 100A)
   2. Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 143A)
   3. Instrumental Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 100B)
   4. Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 105A)
4. Environmental Chemistry I & II (CHEM 171 and 172)
5. Atmospheric Chemistry (CHEM 173)
6. Marine Chemistry (CHEM 174)
7. Environmental Electives (Select 4 of the following options. At least two of the 4 must be upper division.  It is your responsibility to make sure you take the appropriate upper division electives to meet the 48-Unit Residency Requirement):

1. • • Biochemical Structure and Function (CHEM 114A),
     • Inorganic Chemistry I (CHEM 120A)
     • Organic Chemistry III (CHEM 140C)
     • Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 143C)
     • The Cell (BILD 1)*
     • Multicellular Life (BILD 2)*
     • Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (BILD 3)*
     • Ecology Laboratory (BIEB 121)
     • Biodiversity (BIEB140)
     • Conservation and the Human Predicament (BIEB 176)
     • Environmental Biology (ESYS 101)
     • Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences (SIO 50)
     • California Coastal Oceanography (SIO 101)
     • Introduction to Geochemistry (SIO 102)
     • Introduction to Geophysics (SIO 103)
     • Introduction to Isotope Geochemistry (SIO 144)
     • Statistical Methods (Math 183)
     • Other courses (including labs and 4-units of CHEM 199) may be considered by petition.  

        

       *BILD 1, 2 and 3 must be satisfied with course work.  Advanced placement (AP), A-Level, and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits will not be accepted toward the elective requirements.

       For ACS Certification

       Replace the 4 electives listed above with 5 of the following courses:

       1.  ACS Electives (must take all 3):
          • Organic Chemistry III (CHEM 140C)
          • Biochemical Structure and Function (CHEM 114A)
          • Inorganic Chemistry I (CHEM 120A)
       2. ACS Laboratories (select 2 of the following):  
          • Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (CHEM 143B)
          • Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 143C)
          • Molecular Design and Synthesis Laboratory (CHEM 143D)
          • Protein Biochemistry Laboratory (CHEM 108)
          • Recombinant DNA Laboratory (CHEM 109)
          • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 123)
          • Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 105B)

Suggested Program for Environmental Chemistry B.S. Major

• ACS certification requires additional courses and eliminates electives not factored in below
• Talk to your college for planning general education courses
• Many courses have enforced prerequisites or are offered once per year.
• Fall of Sophomore or Junior year is the time to study abroad. Education Abroad Program deadlines for upcoming year vary by country. See EAP website. See the Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Advisor for assistance in planning to study abroad.

Environmental Chemistry Major Checklist