Registration Guide: Chemistry

Students majoring in Chemistry, will, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Inquiry, and most of the requirements in Communication and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

A typical first semester Chemistry major schedule looks like this (see below for more detailed information):

Chemistry course
Calculus course
Language course or Course of interest
Writing course
Optional add-on: First-Year Seminar

Please see below for more detailed suggestions on each course:

Course #1: Chemistry Course

If you are starting in the fall semester, your first course should be CAS CH 109 General and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 1 (offered fall semesters only). This is an advanced course designed for all Chemistry majors, so you are expected to have a strong foundation in both chemistry and mathematics prior to taking this course. CH 109 will also prepare you to take either CAS CH 110 or CAS CH 112 in your spring semester; you will receive additional guidance while in CH 109 to help you determine which advanced General Chemistry 2 course you should take in the next semester.

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CAS CH 109 is only offered in fall semesters, so if you are starting in the spring semester, please work with your academic advisor to find the best chemistry course for you. If you already have credit for CAS CH 101 with a lab (either through dual enrollment or advanced credit), then you will likely be advised to take CAS CH 102 General Chemistry 2. Please note: Chemistry majors who complete the CH 101/102 sequence instead of CH 109/110 or 112 are also required to complete CAS CH 201 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry Laboratory.

If you have any further questions about which chemistry level to register for, please review the General Chemistry Advising page.

Course #2: Calculus Course

Chemistry majors are required to complete three levels of calculus: CAS MA 123 Calculus 1, CAS MA 124 Calculus 2, and CAS CH 225 Mathematical Methods for Chemistry:

If you have no external credit for calculus, take CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 (offered either semester).
If you have advanced credit (such as AP or IB scores) that fulfills CAS MA 123, take the next course in the sequence, CAS MA 124 Calculus 2 (offered either semester).
If you have already fulfilled both CAS MA 123 and CAS MA 124, you should take the final course in the sequence, CAS CH 225 Mathematical Methods for Chemistry (offered spring semester, pre-requisite includes CAS CH 101 or 109).
- If you are starting in the fall semester, you are encouraged to take a course of interest this semester (see below in Course #3) and take CH 225 in the spring.
- Alternatively, you can register for CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus in the fall to fulfill this requirement. However, the Chemistry department strongly encourages Chemistry students to take CH 225 instead of MA 225.

Please note: if you have potential advanced credit in calculus, but don’t have the scores back yet, register with cautious optimism. If you feel confident you did well on the exams, register as if you will receive the corresponding credit. Once you know your scores, you can revise your schedule, if need be.

Course #3: Language Course or Course of Interest

CAS Language Course: CAS students must exhibit proficiency through the fourth-semester level of a language other than English. If you have not already done so, please review the full language policy here.

If you plan to fulfill this language requirement through coursework at BU, then your next course should be a language course:

If you’re new to the language, you’ll start with the first-semester level (usually coded as 111 – for example, Spanish 1 is CAS LS 111, Arabic 1 is CAS LY 111, etc.).
If you have previously studied the language, you will need to take a placement test to determine what level to start with (for instance, CAS LS 112 Spanish 2, CAS LY 211 Arabic 3, CAS LK 212 Korean 4, etc.). Please review the CAS Language Requirement page for detailed information about placement tests and appropriate levels.

If you’ll fulfill the language requirement through advanced credit (such as AP/IB scores) or through native proficiency of another language, you have fulfilled your language requirement and can instead take a course of interest (as seen below).

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Pre-Health Course (if you are considering medical school): Students who complete a Chemistry major will have the following additional requirements in order to satisfy the requirements for application to medical school: CAS SO 100 Principles of Sociology, CAS PS 101 General Psychology, CAS MA 113, 115, or 213 Statistics 1, and CAS BI 108 General Biology 2 (spring semester only).

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Course of Interest: Select a course that interests you – perhaps based on subjects you’ve enjoyed in the past or a new subject you’re excited to try for the first time! If you’re not sure where to start, you can review our Registration Instructions for tips on browsing by topic or Hub requirement.

Course #4. CAS Writing Course

Your fourth course should be a writing course:

If you did not apply to BU with a TOEFL/IELTS score, you can take either:
- CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing Seminar. Each section of WR 120 focuses on a specific topic/theme, so you should register for a section that pairs with your interests.
- CAS CC 101 Core Humanities 1: The Ancient World: (offered Fall only): An interdisciplinary study of the origins of civilization, from Mesopotamia and the Hebrew Bible to the development of Greek civilization through Homer, Greek tragedy, and the philosophy of Plato. You should enroll in CAS CC 101 if you are considering the Core Curriculum. This course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, First-Year Writing Seminar, Creativity/Innovation.

If you applied to BU with a TOEFL/IELTS score, you should take the Multilingual Writer Placement (instructions will be sent via email) before you register for a writing course. The writing placement is a suggestion, but it will help you make an informed decision about the most appropriate level for you. Depending on what level WR course you register for, you will fulfill the following Hub requirements:
- CAS WR 111 Academic Writing for ESL Students 1 – fulfills The Individual in Community Hub
- CAS WR 112 Academic Writing for ESL Students 2 – Global Citizenship & Intercultural Literacy Hub
- CAS WR 120 First-Year Writing Seminar – fulfills First-Year Writing Seminar Hub (If you place into WR 120, you are welcome to take CC 101 Core Humanities 1 instead to fulfill your FYW Hub.)

Optional Course #5: First-Year Seminar

CAS CH 195: Freshman Seminar in the Chemical Sciences (0ffered Fall only, 2 units) – Optional

Seminar for first semester freshmen interested in the molecular sciences. Explores the role of the chemical sciences in society, becoming familiar with a research-oriented approach to problem solving. Workshops train students with the tools used to attain research and information literacy.

If taken at BU, CAS CH 195 fulfills a single requirement in the following BU Hub area: Research and Information Literacy

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First-Year Seminar: FY 101 (1 unit) – Optional

FY101 is a one-unit, low stress, non-academic class that serves as a semester-long introduction to BU and college life. FY101 helps you get a head start on making connections at BU. Each section is taught by a student peer mentor and a staff instructor.

FY101 classes are small and are for new students only, so they provide a great way to get to know other first-years!
Your peer mentor and instructor will provide resources to create a more successful and meaningful college experience and help you get ahead in your first semester here.
FY101 includes free, optional trips around Boston.
There are specialty sections based on major and identity (e.g., Undeclared, Natural Sciences, First Generation, etc ) so be sure to choose the one that’s right for you!

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First-Year Career Development Seminar: FY 102 (offered spring only, 1 unit) – Optional

FY102 will help first-year students get started on utilizing the Career Development Cycle to maximize their time at BU. During this course students will create a plan of action towards choosing a major, creating a resume, finding an internship, and preparing for a career that they will love. Seminars are offered in various fields of interest and include guest speakers from different industries.

Interested in Pursuing the Core?

If you are interested in the Core Curriculum, we recommend registering for CAS CC 101 for your writing course (see above in Course #4). There are additional natural science Core courses offered; however, we do not typically recommend these for natural science majors who are already taking a lab course this semester. If you have questions about completing additional Core courses beyond CAS CC 101, please talk about this with your academic advisor!

Find out more about the Core Curriculum, the Hub, and registration here.

Ready to register? Let’s go – click here!

For more information about your specific major requirements click here!