BS in Chemistry
(75.0 hours*)
This is the preferred degree for chemistry majors (approved by the American Chemical Society) and those who desire an advanced degree (MS, PhD) in chemistry. It also provides excellent preparation for those individuals in preprofessional programs (e.g., medicine, dentistry, business, law).
Program Requirements |
View MAP
- No more than three hours of D credit is allowed in major courses.
- The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department requires the final 10 hours of required chemistry credit to be taken in residency at BYU for this degree program. These hours may also go toward BYU's 30-hour residency requirement for graduation.
- Complete the following:
CHEM 111
Honors Principles of Chemistry.
CHEM 111 : Principles of Chemistry.
(3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | MATH 110 |
| RECOMMENDED: | High school chemistry, physics, and introductory calculus or concurrent enrollment in Math 112. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Stoichiometry, kinetic-molecular theory, thermodynamics, states of matter, solutions and equilibria, electrochemistry, structure and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics. |
| NOTE: | Tutorial included. |
: Honors Principles of Chemistry.
CHEM 113 : Introductory General Chemistry Laboratory.
(2:0:6)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 112 or concurrent enrollment (preferred). |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Principles and techniques of chemical measurements. Concepts introduced in general chemistry lecture courses reinforced. |
CHEM 201 : Chemical Handling and Safe Laboratory Practices.
(.5:1:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall Blk 1; Winter Blk 1; Spring |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 107; or CHEM 113 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Safe handling of chemicals and safe practices in chemistry laboratories. |
CHEM 227 : Principles of Chemical Analysis.
(4:2:6)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Spring |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 113 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Principles of quantitative analysis, introductory instrumental methods, and computer applications to chemical analysis. |
CHEM 351M : Organic Chemistry - Majors.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 105; or CHEM 111 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Chemical bonds and molecular structure, conformation and configuration, functional classes, reactions and mechanisms, syntheses. |
| NOTE: | For majors in chemistry and biochemistry. |
CHEM 354 : Organic Chemistry Laboratory--Majors.
(2:0:6)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 352 or Chem 352M or concurrent enrollment (preferred). |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Physical and chemical properties, manipulative skills, isolation and purification, characterization and identification, syntheses. |
CHEM 391 : Technical Writing Using Chemical Literature.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 227 & CHEM 352; or CHEM 227 & CHEM 352M |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Intensive technical writing course based on chemical literature sources. |
| NOTE: | Fulfills GE Advanced Writing requirement. |
CHEM 455 : Synthesis and Qualitative Organic Analysis.
(3:1:6)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 354; Chem 201 or concurrent enrollment. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Laboratory course emphasizing isolation, purification, and characterization of major and minor products from selected syntheses. |
| NOTE: | For chemistry and other science majors. |
CHEM 462 : Physical Chemistry.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 227 or concurrent enrollment; Chem 351M or 351; Math 302 or 313; Phscs 123. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Quantum mechanics, group theory, atomic and molecular structure, spectroscopy, computational methods, statistical mechanics. |
CHEM 463 : Physical Chemistry.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 227 & CHEM 462 & PHSCS 123 & MATH 302; or CHEM 227 & CHEM 462 & PHSCS 123 & MATH 314 |
| RECOMMENDED: | Math 302. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Thermodynamics and equilibria, states of matter, kinetic-molecular theory, kinetics, statistical mechanics. |
CHEM 464 : Physical Chemistry Laboratory 1.
(1:0:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 463 or 467 or 468 or concurrent enrollment. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Experiments related to physical chemistry: thermodynamics and equilibria, phase transitions, kinetic-molecular theory, kinetics; computer manipulation of data, report preparation. |
| NOTE: | May be taken before, after, or concurrent (preferred) with Chem 465. |
CHEM 465 : Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2.
(1:0:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 462 or 467 or 468 or concurrent enrollment. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Experiments related to physical chemistry: quantum mechanics, group theory, atomic and molecular structure, spectroscopy, computational methods, statistical mechanics; computer manipulation of data, report preparation. |
| NOTE: | May be taken before, after, or concurrent (preferred) with Chem 464. |
CHEM 481M : Biochemistry--Majors.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 352M & PDBIO 120; or CHEM 352 & PDBIO 120 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | First-semester biochemistry. Molecular components of cells, chemical structure and function, enzymes, metabolic transformations, photosynthesis. |
| NOTE: | For chemistry and biochemistry majors only. |
CHEM 495 : Senior Seminar.
(1:1:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Research topics presented by faculty and visiting scientists. Completion of undergraduate portfolio. |
| NOTE: | Required of all seniors in all chemistry and biochemistry degree programs the last semester in residence. |
CHEM 514 : Inorganic Chemistry.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 462; or CHEM 468 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | In-depth treatment of theoretical concepts in inorganic chemistry and solid state, organmetallic, and bioinorganic chemistry. |
CHEM 518 : Advanced Inorganic Laboratory.
(2:0:6)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 514; Chem 201 or 601 or concurrent enrollment. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Synthesis, characterization, and properties of materials; coordination and organometallic compounds. |
CHEM 521 : Instrumental Analysis Lecture.
(2:2:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 462 & PHSCS 220; or CHEM 467 & PHSCS 220; or CHEM 468 & PHSCS 220 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Modern instrumental methods and basic principles of instrumentation. |
CHEM 523 : Instrumental Analysis Laboratory.
(2:0:6)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 521; Chem 201 or 601 or concurrent enrollment. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Continuation of Chem 521. Laboratory experience with modern analytical instrumentation. |
CHEM 594R : General Seminar.
(.5:1:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Research topics presented by faculty and visiting scientists. |
| NOTE: | Required one semester in residence of all senior BS majors in chemistry and biochemistry. |
Note: With department approval, Chem 105 may substitute for Chem 111; and Chem 106 for Chem 112.
- Complete the following:
MATH 112 : Calculus 1.
(4:5:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Math 110 and 111 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Differential and integral calculus: limits; continuity; the derivative and applications; extrema; the definite integral; fundamental theorem of calculus; L'Hopital's rule. |
: Honors Calculus 1.
MATH 113 : Calculus 2.
(4:5:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Math 112 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Techniques and applications of integration; sequences, series, convergence tests, power series; parametric equations; polar coordinates. |
MATH 302 : Mathematics for Engineering 1.
(4:4:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | MATH 113; Passing grade on required preparatory exam taken during first week of class. (Practice exams available on class web site). |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and numerical methods. |
PDBIO 120 : Science of Biology.
(2:2:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Honors also |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Summer |
| DESCRIPTION:  | General biology course designed for biological science majors, emphasizing the scientific method, cell theory, biochemical unity, the central dogma, bioenergetics, reproduction, and evolutionary theory. |
PHSCS 123 : Principles of Physics 2.
(3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring |
| PREREQUISITE: | PHSCS 121 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Waves, thermal physics, optics, special relativity, and introduction to modern physics. Weekly lab. |
PHSCS 220 : Principles of Physics 3.
(3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Phscs 121 or equivalent; Math 113 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Electricity and magnetism. Weekly lab. |
Note: Math 313 and Math 314 may substitute for Math 302.
- After consulting with an advisor, complete four credit hours from the following:
CHEM 482 : Mechanisms of Molecular Biology.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 481M; or CHEM 481 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Second-semester biochemistry. Nucleic acid biochemistry and molecular biology: nucleotide metabolism, chromosome and chromatin structure, DNA structure and replication, RNA transcription and gene expression, protein synthesis and regulation, eukaryotic gene systems, signal transduction. |
CHEM 496R : Academic Internship: Chemistry and Biochemistry.
(.5-6:ARR:ARR)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Instructor's consent; Chem 201 or concurrent enrollment or special safety training. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Research experience in an industrial, academic, or government laboratory in collaboration with a BYU faculty colleague/supervisor. |
CHEM 497R : Undergraduate Special Problems.
(.5-6:ARR:ARR)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | Instructor's consent and Chem 201 or concurrent enrollment or special safety training. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Undergraduate research experience. |
CHEM 552 : Advanced Organic Chemistry.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 352M; or CHEM 352; Chem 462 and 463 (or Chem 468). |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Physical aspects of organic chemistry; mechanisms, reaction intermediates, bonding, stereochemical and stereoelectronic effects, molecular orbital theory, Lewis acidity and basicity. |
CHEM 553 : Advanced Organic Chemistry.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 352 or 352M or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Synthetic aspects of organic chemistry; oxidations, reductions, concerted reactions, stereoselectivity, synthetic equivalents, protecting groups. Examples of natural product total synthesis. |
CHEM 563 : Reaction Kinetics.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter Odd Yrs. |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 462, 463; or equivalents. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Theoretical aspects of chemical kinetics in the gas phase and in solution. Rates and mechanisms in solution, rapid reactions, and other topics. |
CHEM 565 : Introduction to Quantum Chemistry.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 462, 463; or equivalents. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Introduction to physical and mathematical aspects of quantum theory, emphasizing application of the Schrodinger wave equation to chemical systems. |
CHEM 567 : Statistical Mechanics.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall On Demand |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 462 & CHEM 463 |
| RECOMMENDED: | Chem 565. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Introduction to classical and quantum statistical mechanics, including Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein statistics. Applications of statistical thermodynamics to gases, liquids, and solids. |
CHEM 569 : Fundamentals of Spectroscopy.
(3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter Even Yrs. |
| PREREQUISITE: | Chem 462 or 468 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Atomic and molecular spectroscopy and application of group theoretical concepts. Types of experiments and interpretation of data. |
CHEM 584 : Biochemistry Laboratory/Proteins.
(3:1:2)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 481M; or CHEM 481; or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Introduction to current biochemical research procedures including spectrophotometry, chromatography, electrophoresis, and immunological techniques. Protein over-expression; isolation and characterization methods. Enzyme kinetics and protein-ligand interactions. Introduction to bioinformatics. |
| NOTE: | May be taken before or after Chem 586. |
CHEM 586 : Biochemistry Laboratory/Nucleic Acids.
(3:1:2)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter |
| PREREQUISITE: | CHEM 482 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Laboratory course covering major techniques involved in isolation, amplification, and cloning of recombinant DNA as well as isolation, synthesis, translation, and identification of RNA. |
| NOTE: | May be taken before or after Chem 584. |
Note: With approval, certain other 300-level and above courses in the allied fields of physics, statistics, engineering, and biology may be taken to satisfy this requirement. Chem 500 does not count toward fulfilling this requirement.
Recommended Courses
PHSCS 145 : Experimental Methods in Physics.
(1:0:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| WHEN TAUGHT: | Winter; Summer |
| PREREQUISITE: | PHSCS 121 & PHSCS 140 |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Introduction to physical measurement and analysis, optics, sensors, actuators, and computer-based data acquisition. |
STAT 121 : Principles of Statistics.
(3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)| OFFERED: | Independent Study also; Honors also. |
| WHEN TAUGHT: | Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer |
| RECOMMENDED: | MATH 110 or equivalent. |
| DESCRIPTION:  | Stemplots, boxplots, histograms, scatterplots; central tendency, variability; confidence intervals and hypothesis testing involving one and two means and proportions; contingency tables, simple linear regression. |
: Honors Principles of Statistics.
Note: Elective courses, beyond the requirements above, should be selected in consultation with an advisor. The following should be given consideration: advanced chemistry, foreign languages (especially French, German, Japanese, and Russian), biological sciences, computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, statistics.
*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.