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. The department also offers required and elective courses in chemistry to students in other programs of study.
The Department of Chemistry offers five areas of concentration for completing the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry: chemical science, professional chemist, professional chemist with honors, biochemistry and chemical modeling. With proper selection of electives, the degree satisfies admission requirements to most schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
The biochemistry concentration focuses on the biological aspects of chemistry, including molecular genetics and molecular biotechnology. This degree is another option for students planning to study medicine or dentistry.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following:
Chemistry core outcomes
- Demonstrate proficiency in the major concepts and theoretical principles of chemistry, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory skills, including wet chemistry and instrumental methods, and laboratory safety practices
- Demonstrate communication skills, both written and oral, needed to explain chemical phenomenon
- Demonstrate proficiency in scientific literacy skills including searching and reading scientific publications
- Demonstrate an understanding of the need for ethical practices in chemistry
Biochemistry concentration-specific outcome
- Demonstrate proficiency in biochemical topics
Special requirements
Students must complete 44-45 credits in chemistry and related courses and 44-46 credits of ancillary requirements in addition to general education requirements.
A minimum grade of C is required in each prerequisite course, except for CHEM 100, which requires a minimum grade of B.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 100 | Introductory Chemistry (if required through placement qualifiers) | 3 |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 302 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 309 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 313 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CHEM 314 | Physical Chemistry I with Math Modules | |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEZ 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| CHEZ 301 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEZ 302 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEZ 309 | Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 2 |
VCU students in other programs who wish to declare chemistry as their major must complete CHEM 101, CHEZ 101, CHEM 102 and CHEZ 102, each with a minimum grade of C and have a minimum GPA in their chemistry courses of 2.0.
Degree requirements for Chemistry, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in biochemistry
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| CHEM 102 & CHEZ 102 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| CHEM 301 & CHEZ 301 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 5 |
| CHEM 302 & CHEZ 302 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 5 |
| CHEM 309 & CHEZ 309 | Quantitative Analysis and Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 315 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 320 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 398 | Professional Practices and Perspectives Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 313 | Physical Chemistry I | 3-4 |
| or CHEM 314 | Physical Chemistry I with Math Modules | |
| CHEM 499 | Chemistry Capstone Experience 1 | 0 |
| CHEZ 313 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| CHEM 403 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 404 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| Capstone requirement: one two-credit 400-level CHEZ course or two credits of CHEM 392 or CHEM 492 in addition to CHEM 403 or CHEM 404. | 2 | |
| Major electives (select from list below) | 5 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 4 |
| BIOL 152 & BIOZ 152 | Introduction to Biological Sciences II and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II | 4 |
| BIOL 300 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 101 & CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I (both satisfy general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 4 |
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics I (either satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 4-5 |
| or PHYS 207 | University Physics I | |
| PHYS 202 | General Physics II | 4-5 |
| or PHYS 208 | University Physics II | |
| Experiential fine arts 2 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 11-22 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Course offered by the School of the Arts
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Major electives
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 310 | Genetics | 3 |
| CHEM 306 | Industrial Applications of Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 310 | Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design | 3 |
| CHEM 391 | Topics in Chemistry | 1-4 |
| CHEM 392 | Directed Study | 1-4 |
| CHEM 406 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 409 & CHEZ 409 | Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 491 | Topics in Chemistry | 1-4 |
| CHEM 492 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| CHEM 493 | Chemistry Internship | 1-3 |
| CHEM 498 | Honors Thesis | 1 |
| CHEM 504 | Advanced Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 507 | Introduction to Natural Products | 3 |
| CHEM 510 | Atomic and Molecular Structure | 3 |
| CHEM 511 | Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 3 |
| CHEM 512 | Applied Molecular Modeling | 3 |
| CHEM 520 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEZ 400 | Exploring the Frontiers of Chemistry: Research Methods | 2 |
| CHEZ 406 | Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEZ 404 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEZ 413 | Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151 | Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 101 & CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I (both satisfy general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 4 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| BIOL 152 & BIOZ 152 | Introduction to Biological Sciences II and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II | 4 |
| CHEM 102 & CHEZ 102 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| HUMS 202 | Choices in a Consumer Society | 1 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CHEM 301 & CHEZ 301 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 5 |
| CHEM 398 | Professional Practices and Perspectives Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 201 or PHYS 207 | General Physics I (either satisfies general education AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) or University Physics I | 4-5 |
| STAT 210 or STAT 212 | Basic Practice of Statistics or Concepts of Statistics | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 16-17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CHEM 302 & CHEZ 302 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 5 |
| CHEM 309 & CHEZ 309 | Quantitative Analysis and Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 202 or PHYS 208 | General Physics II or University Physics II | 4-5 |
| Term Hours: | 14-15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOL 300 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 313 or CHEM 314 | Physical Chemistry I or Physical Chemistry I with Math Modules | 3-4 |
| CHEZ 313 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14-15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CHEM 315 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 320 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| General education course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CHEM 403 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| Major elective | 3 | |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CHEM 404 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 499 | Chemistry Capstone Experience 2 | 0 |
| Experiential fine arts | 1-3 | |
| Major elective | 2 | |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 15-17 | |
| Total Hours: | 120-125 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
At least three additional general education courses (nine credits) are required. Three credits come from each of the following areas of inquiry: diversities in the human experience; creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry; and global perspectives. The latter two areas of inquiry courses should also fulfill the breadth of knowledge requirement from the areas of humanities/fine arts and social/behavioral sciences.