Major in Chemistry
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Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is appropriate for students interested in diving into the depths of chemistry, providingstudents with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and applications of chemistry.
BS coursework includes general, organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry. Laboratory work is a required component of our BS degree and students gain hands-on experience conducting experiments, analyzing data, mastering laboratory techniques, and conducting independent research, which are useful for careers in chemical industry or continuing on to graduate school.
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Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) offers a broad education in chemistry along with the flexibility to choose elective courses based on interests and career goals in areas such as environmental science, food science, or policy studies.
BA students take many of the same foundational courses as our BS students including general, organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry, but have the opportunity to select elective courses from a diverse range of disciplines, allowing them to explore topics outside of traditional chemistry coursework.
4+1 option for Accelerated MSE Masters
Chemistry majors can double count 6 credits of MSE approved chemistry courses and transfer up to 12 credits towards an MS degree in Materials Science and Engineering (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.
Departmental 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 contact the Chemistry Department Honors Coordinator Prof. Justin Fermann, ISB 341B, 5-2054, @email for information and advice. 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, Biomedicine/Biosystems, and Food-Water Climate. 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, fulfilling an Integrative Experience (IE) general education requirement, and JYW. 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. Students must apply to the program in early fall.