Dear Chemistry Majors,

To register for classes:
Make an appointment with your advisor BEFORE your “Enrollment Date” (listed in Spire).

List of advisors, email addresses, office locations on the Faculty Advisors page.

Advising Holds:
Holds will be released by your advisor, after your advising session.

Who is your advisor?
Look up your assigned chemistry advisor in Spire by selecting the Campus Profiles tab.
List of faculty advisors under the Advising tab.

General Advising Information

BS and BA chemistry curricula and Checklists

What to bring to your advising meeting:

1. your proposed schedule
2. a completed course checklist for appropriate degree (BA or BS) in which grades for completed courses are written in, and courses presently being taken are checked off.

Advisor Alert Holds and Credit Alert Holds: Must be removed before registering for classes by the Chief Undergraduate Advisor.

Your chemistry advisor will counsel you regarding course selections and our curriculum.  However, within limits imposed by the College and the University, the final choice is yours.  It is your responsibility to ensure that departmental, college, and university requirements are satisfied.

If you have any questions, please ask.

Sincerely,
Brigette McKenna
Undergraduate Program Manager
Integrated Sciences Building (ISB) 341G (@email)

For Chemistry Majors

• Undergraduate Program Director, Prof. Hans Mentzen, 341D ISB
• Undergraduate Research Director, Prof. Ruthanne Paradise, 341D ISB
• Chief Undergraduate Advisor, Prof. Ruthanne Paradise, 341D ISB
• Undergraduate Program Manager, Brigette McKenna, 341G ISB
• Departmental Honors Coordinator, Prof. Justin Fermann, 341B ISB
• Undergraduate Internship Coordinator, Prof. Ruthanne Paradise, 341D ISB
• Director of Analytical & Physical Laboratories, Prof. Ruthanne Paradise, 341D ISB
• Director of Organic and Inorganic Laboratories, Prof. Christopher McDaniel, 241F ISB
• Director of General Chemistry Laboratories, Prof. Thomas Whelan, 241E ISB

Assigned Advisors are noted on the Student Center page in Spire.

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• Prof. Lara Al-Hariri 341F ISB
• Prof. Scott Auerbach 222 GSMN
• Prof. Michael Barnes 179 PSB
• Prof. Justin Fermann Honors Program Coordinator 341B ISB
• Prof. Jeanne Hardy 745A LGRT
• Prof. Kevin Kittilstved 177 PSB
• Prof. Michael Knapp 745C LGRT
• Prof. Craig Martin 862 LGRT B
• Prof. Christopher McDaniel 241F ISB
• Prof. Hans Mentzen 341D ISB
• Prof. Ruthanne Paradise Chief Undergraduate Advisor, Internship Coordinator 341E ISB
• Prof. Xueying (Sharon) Qin 341A ISB
• Prof. Nathan Schnarr Undergraduate Program Director, Undergraduate Research Director 701 LGRT
• Prof. Sravan Surampudi 241A ISB
• Prof. Lynmarie Thompson 864 LGRT B 
• Prof. D. Venkataraman 1534 LGRT
• Prof. Thomas Whelan 241E ISB

Bring with you to advising:

• Proposed Schedule of courses.
• Checklist for either BS or BA curriculum including grades received and current courses checked off.

Questions about the curriculum for majors may be directed to the Undergraduate Program Director or any of the advisors listed above.

Major in Chemistry

• Guide for Majors
• Packet for Transfer Students - PDF
• Independent Research Courses

Bachelor of Science

• Course Sequence - PDF
• Checklist - PDF
• ACS-certified Degree

Bachelor of Arts

• Course Sequence - PDF
• Checklist - PDF
• Electives - PDF

4+1 option for Accelerated MS in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

• MSE Master's 

  Chemistry majors can double count 6 credits of MSE approved chemistry courses and transfer up to 12 credits towards an MS degree in MSE. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for admission to the 4+1 program, and students should plans to take MSE 601 (fall only) and MIE 611 or 697ABC (both spring only) in their senior year. Interested students should discuss the option with their academic advisor or contact MSE IDGP at @email. Apply to the UMass Amherst Graduate School. Deadlines: January 1 for fall admission, and October 1 for spring.

Minor in Chemistry

The chemistry minor requires a minimum of 15 credits of passed chemistry (CHEM) courses numbered 200 or higher (only acceptable equivalents are Biochem 471 = Chem 471, Biochem 657 = Chem 657, and ChemEng 475 = Chem 475). The following DO NOT count towards a minor: 291A Sophomore Seminar, 388 Independent Research Project, 330 Junior Year Writing in Chemistry, 296, 396, or 496 Independent Research Study, or 499 Honors Thesis, or Journal Clubs. In the rare circumstance that CHEM 250 was taken in addition to CHEM 261/262; only CHEM 261/262 will be credited to the minor due to subject overlap. Students petitioning for certification of completion of the minor requirements should complete the Chemistry Minor Declaration form. This must be done during the semester in which the student expects to graduate.

Honors-Commonwealth College

The Chemistry Department offers several honors course options that fulfill requirements for Commonwealth College as well as Departmental Honors in Chemistry. Interested students should check with the Chemistry Undergraduate Program Office in advance to find out what colloquia (and their associated lecture courses) are being offered for an upcoming semester. The Department offers two (2) honors independent study (ISH) contract courses: CHEM 396ISH, Independent Study and CHEM496ISH, Independent Research. Both courses are open to Commonwealth College students only, range from 1 to 6 credits, and require Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) certification. 

Students should see the Chemistry Department Honors Coordinator Prof. Justin Fermann, ISB 341B, 5-2054, @email further information, advice and signature before registering. You should register for these courses through the Commonwealth Honors College. Departmental Honors in Chemistry requires four (4) honors courses, one at the 200-level or above and three at the 300-level or above. These include CHEM499Y and CHEM499T (or CHEM499P), along with two other honors courses. All three of these courses count toward the Commonwealth College eight (8) course requirement. Students are strongly advised to visit the Commonwealth College for additional information, extensive documentation for the above information and more, and appropriate forms.

iCons Program

The Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) is a 20-credit undergraduate science program offered by the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, providing integrative science education in the concentration areas of Renewable Energy and Biomedicine/Biosystems. iCons does not replace a major, it enhances a major by giving students the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams and apply their knowledge to existing problems of global significance.

The iCons program is composed of three courses (one per year) and a yearlong research-based thesis project during senior year. The curriculum integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) expertise across disciplines and offers students collaborative learning experiences, discovery-based projects, leadership development, and multidisciplinary analytical skills in the context of real world problems. The final iCons course satisfies UMass Amherst’s new Integrative Experience (IE) general education requirement. Students choose a theme area before registering for the second-year courses, and are expected to join a lab by the spring semester of their Junior year. Most iCons courses fulfill other program or major requirements, including junior year writing, as indicated below (for details, see: www.cns.umass.edu/icons-program/does-icons-count-for).

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement score of 4 or 5:
Students planning to major in Chemistry should take the two-term general chemistry sequence:
CHEM 121H/122H and should NOT accept AP credit for CHEM 111. Please contact the Undergraduate Program Director with questions.

Questions should be directed to the Undergraduate Program Manager, 341G Integrated Sciences Building (ISB).

Stay connected to UMass Chemistry! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and email your news to be included in our annual Goessmann Gazette newsletter, join us for reunions, Homecoming, and more!

Career Services is an available resource for job searches, internships, co-ops, and more. Whether you’re wondering where to begin, looking for an internship, or starting your job search, Career Services will guide you through the process of career development, from your first questions to your last.

Considering graduate school?

ACS’s Guide for Undergraduate Chemistry Students
Peterson’s Guide to Graduate Schools
US News and World Report program rankings
The Princeton Review – graduate programs

The Alumni Association can also assist with career development as well as keep you connected to UMass Amherst!

The UMass Amherst Alumni Advisor Network is a powerful new online platform that facilitates one-to-one career conversations among UMass Amherst students and alumni for advice on resume writing, interviewing, career options, etc.

• Career resources
• Resume critiques
• Mock interviews
• UMass Network
• Webinars

Academic Deans (Academic Advising), College of Natural Sciences

220 Morrill II, 545-1969

CNS Assistant Dean, CNS Advising: Brenda Barlow

CNS Assistant Academic Dean, CNS Advising: Leo Hwang

Career Services

Job fairs, career assessments, graduate school, internships, jobs, and resume/cover letter assistance.

Center for Counseling and Psychological Health

Interdisciplinary counseling service, staffed by licensed mental health providers, including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and clinical nurse specialists.

Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS)

A student-centered learning agency within the division of Advocacy, Equity and Inclusion in Student Affairs and Campus Life.

Center for Student Life—Get Involved

Student Activities and Involvement (SAI) cultivates student learning by providing opportunities for leadership, recreation, connection and engagement in and beyond UMass.

Center for Women and Community

24-hour rape and other Crisis Hotline: 545-0800

A multicultural campus-based center established in 1972. We offer many services to meet the needs of the diverse cultural and linguistic populations of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Five Colleges and surrounding Hampshire County community.

Continuing and Professional Education

Winter and Summer Session course listings and more.

Dean of Students

Assists students through advocacy program support, advising, and general counseling.

The Dean of Students Office provides students with the support, resources, and referrals they need to succeed at the University.

Services include:

• Serving as a single point of contact within the University for students and their families in time of crisis
• Consultation and referrals for students contemplating withdrawal from, or re-enrollment at, the University
• Implementing and monitoring the University Conduct Process
• Providing short-term loans for students
• Supporting students through the Massachusetts Residency Reclassification process
• Overseeing Off Campus Student Life, the University's HelpLine, and the Student Services Committee

Disability Services

Disability Services at UMass Amherst is committed to full access for all persons at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and embraces the philosophies of diversity and multiculturalism. Direct services are provided for all types of disability. Disability Services also provides information and referral on issues of accessibility, as well as training and staff development to the University community.

Five College Interchange

General Education Courses

International Programs Office

International Student support services; International Exchange Program/ Study Abroad

Learning Resource Center

W.E.B. DuBois Library

10th floor Du Bois Library, 545-5334

Academic support services to all students, including tutoring, study skills, and mentoring.

Libraries (UMass)

Library resources available at UMass Amherst.

Ombuds Office

UMass Amherst students, faculty and staff can talk "off the record" about any campus concern, issue or conflict. The Ombuds staff works with visitors in a variety of ways to help them understand their options and resolve their concerns in an impartial and objective manner.

Pre-Med and Pre-Dental Advisors

Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising

Stonewall Center

A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Resource Center.

Student Athlete Academic Services

Academic support for students participating in Varsity Intercollegiate Athletics.

Student Legal Services Office

The Student Legal Services Office is committed to protecting the rights and interests of students by providing high-quality counseling, advice, research, education, representation, and referral services for all fee-paying students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, individually and collectively, concerning most legal matters.

University Health Services (UHS)

150 Infirmary Way, 577-5000

Writing Center

Writing Center tutor help writers develop a draft, clarify an argument, reflect on sentence structure, re-organize a text, and build productive writing practices.