This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
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 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.
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
Chemical modeling concentration-specific outcome
- Demonstrate proficiency in computer programming and advanced math topics applied to molecular modeling
Special requirements
Students must complete 39-40 credits in chemistry and related major courses and 47 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 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 chemical modeling
| 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 313 | Physical Chemistry I | 3-4 |
| or CHEM 314 | Physical Chemistry I with Math Modules | |
| CHEM 315 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 320 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 398 | Professional Practices and Perspectives Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 499 | Chemistry Capstone Experience 1 | 0 |
| CHEZ 313 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| • Concentration requirements | ||
| CHEM 510 | Atomic and Molecular Structure | 3 |
| or CHEM 512 | Applied Molecular Modeling | |
| CHEZ 413 | Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| • Major electives | ||
| Select from the list below. | 3 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CMSC 255 | Object-oriented Programming | 4 |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MEDC 541 | Survey of Molecular Modeling Methods | 1 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 & PHYS 208 & PHYZ 208 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory and University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory (PHYS 207 and PHYZ 207 satisfy general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 10 |
| STAT 210 | Basic Practice of Statistics | 3 |
| or STAT 212 | Concepts of Statistics | |
| AI literacy course 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Any three credit course offered through the minor in AI studies in humanities and sciences. Students who chose a general education course from the minor will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Major electives
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 306 | Industrial Applications of Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 391 | Topics in Chemistry | 1-4 |
| CHEM 403 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 404 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 406 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 409 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 492 | Undergraduate Research | 3 |
| or CHEM 392 | Directed Study | |
| CHEM 504 | Advanced Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 510 | Atomic and Molecular Structure (may select course not taken as major requirement) | 3 |
| or CHEM 512 | Applied Molecular Modeling | |
| CHEM 511 | Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics | 3 |
| CHEZ 400 | Exploring the Frontiers of Chemistry: Research Methods | 2 |
| CHEZ 404 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 301 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| OPER 327 | Mathematical Modeling | 3 |
| STAT 321 | Introduction to Statistical Computing for Data Science | 3 |
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.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| CHEZ 101 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 4 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| AI literacy course 1 | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CHEM 102 & CHEZ 102 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| HUMS 203 | Career Compass | 1 |
| MATH 201 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| 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: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CHEM 301 & CHEZ 301 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 5 |
| MATH 307 | Multivariate Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 207 & PHYZ 207 | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (satisfies BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 5 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 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 |
| CHEM 398 | Professional Practices and Perspectives Seminar | 1 |
| PHYS 208 & PHYZ 208 | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 5 |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CHEM 313 or CHEM 314 | Physical Chemistry I or Physical Chemistry I with Math Modules | 3-4 |
| CHEM 320 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEZ 313 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CMSC 255 | Object-oriented Programming | 4 |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CHEM 315 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| General education courses | 6 | |
| Major elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| CHEM 510 or CHEM 512 | Atomic and Molecular Structure or Applied Molecular Modeling | 3 |
| MEDC 541 | Survey of Molecular Modeling Methods | 1 |
| Open electives | 9 | |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| CHEM 499 | Chemistry Capstone Experience 2 | 0 |
| CHEZ 413 | Advanced Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 310 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Open electives | 7 | |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
Any three credit course offered through the minor in AI studies in humanities and sciences. Students who chose a general education course from the minor will take additional electives to fulfill degree requirements.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.