George Mason University Home

Skip Navigation

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Degree Requirements - BS Chemistry

The B.S. Degree in Chemistry is recommended for students who are planning professional careers in chemistry or chemistry related fields or who are intending to pursue postgraduate studies in chemistry after graduation. The B.S. degree is certified by the American Chemical Society as meeting the necessary criteria for a professional baccalaureate degree in chemistry. Major requirements include a minimum of 52 semester hours of chemistry, 11 hours of mathematics, and 8 to 12 hours of physics.

Printer Friendly Version | Sample Schedule

Major Requirements (70-71 hours required)

CHEM 211, 212 (4,4)*

General Chemistry I and II

8

CHEM 313, 314 (3,3)

Organic Chemistry I and II

6

CHEM 315, 318 (2,2)

Organic Chemistry Lab I and II

4

CHEM 321 (4)

Elementary Quantitative Analysis

4

CHEM 331, 332 (3,3)

Physical Chemistry I and II

6

CHEM 336, 337 (2,2)

Physical Chemistry Lab I and II

4

CHEM 441

Properties and Bonding of Inorganic Compounds

3

CHEM 445

Inorganic Preparations and Techniques

2 or

CHEM 465

Biochemistry Lab

 

CHEM 463

General Biochemistry

4

CHEM Elective

 

3

 

Two In-Depth courses(6 credits) from the following:

6

CHEM 422 (3)

Instrumental Analysis

 

CHEM 427 (3)

Aquatic Environmental Chemistry

 

CHEM 438 (3)

Atmospheric Chemistry

 

CHEM 446 (3)

Bioinorganic Chemistry

 

CHEM 458 (3)

Chemical Oceanography

 

CHEM 464 (3)

General Biochemistry II

 

CHEM 467 (3)

Chemistry of Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions

 

CHEM 468 (3)

Bioorganic Chemistry

 

 
1-2 credits(40 lab hours) from the following:

1-2

CHEM 423 (2)

Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (90 hours)

 

CHEM 355 (1-3)

Undergraduate Research (45-135 hours)

 

CHEM 451/452 (1-3)

Special Projects in Chemistry (45-135 hours)

 

CHEM 455/456 (3/3)

Honors Research in Chemistry (145 hours)

 

 

Total

51-52

 

MATH 113, 114 (4,4)**

Analytic Geometry and Calculus I and II

8

MATH 213

Analytic Geometry and Calculus III

3

 

PHYS 160, 260(3,3)

University Physics I and II

6

PHYS 161, 261 (1,1)

University Physics Lab I and II

2

 

Total

19

 

*satisfies Natural Science requirement
**satisfies Quantitative Reasoning requirement


General Education (30 Hours) (View Complete List)

Written Communication

ENGL 101, 302(3,3)

6

Oral Communication

COMM 100,101, or 104

3

Literature

 

3

Information Technology

IT 103

3

Western Civilization

HIST 100

3

Fine Arts

 

3

Social/Behavioral Science

 

3

Global Understanding

 

3

Synthesis

 

3

Electives: 19-20 hours

Upper division hours ≥ 45

Minimum Hours to Graduate: 120



College of Arts and Sciences

Chemistry & Biochemistry Department MS 3E2 4400 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Planetary Hall (campus map) Room 303 Phone 703-993-1070 Fax 703-993-1055