Registration Guide: Chemistry & Physics

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. (Please note: CAS CH 111 Intensive General Chemistry 1 is not offered in Fall 2023.)

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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.

You have three calculus course requirements as a Chemistry & Physics major, and you are expected to take a calculus course your first semester:

1. CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 (offered either semester)
2. CAS MA 124 Calculus 2 (prerequisite is CAS MA 123, offered either semester)
3. CAS MA 225 Multivariate Calculus (prerequisite is CAS MA 124, offered either semester).
   • Alternately, you may opt to take CAS CH 225 Mathematical Methods for Chemistry (offered spring semesters only, prerequisites are CAS MA 124 and CAS CH 101 or CAS CH 109 or CAS CH 111) instead of CAS MA 225.

• If taken as AP or IB credit you will receive one single requirement in the followwing BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II for CAS MA 123 and one single requirement in Quantitative Reasoning II for CAS MA 124 (if you receive credit for MA 124).
• If taken at BU, CAS MA 123 fulfills a single requirement in the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II and Critical Thinking.
• If taken at BU, CAS MA 124 fulfills a single requirement in the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Scientific Inquiry II, and Critical Thinking.
• If taken at BU, CAS MA 225 fulfills a single requirement in the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II and Critical Thinking.
• If taken at BU, CAS CH 225 fulfills a single requirement in the following BU Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II.

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 will fulfill this requirement through coursework at BU, then your next course should be a language. If you’re new to the language, you’ll start with the first-semester level (usually coded as 111 – for example, Spanish 1 is LS 111, Arabic 1 is 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, LS 112 Spanish 2, LY 211 Arabic 3, LK 212 Korean 4, etc.). Please review the CAS Language Requirement page for detailed information about placement tests and appropriate levels.

If you will fulfill your 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.

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.)

CAS CH 195: Freshman Seminar in the Chemical Sciences (Offered 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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CAS PY 195: Freshman Seminar for Physicists (offered Fall only, 1 unit) – Optional

Seminar where freshman physics majors learn successful strategies for studying physics and become familiar with BU’s policies, procedures, resources, and extracurricular activities. Exploration of research and career opportunities through invited speakers, book discussions, and laboratory tours.

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First-Year Seminar: FY 101 (offered fall only, 1 unit) – Optional

FY101 is a one-unit course that serves as a semester-long introduction to BU and college life. Each section is co-taught by a BU staff member alongside a BU student.  You will meet with a small community of other incoming students who will serve as conversation partners as together you learn how to leverage BU’s resources to create a more successful and meaningful college experience. Through discussions, activities, class field trips and program-wide events, you will make immediate connections with the BU community. Specialty sections are available for natural science majors, social science majors, computer science and math majors, undeclared students, and first-generation college students. Check out the natural science sections below! Is your preferred specialty section full or unavailable? Register for a general CAS section (CAS FY101 AB-IE) where you will get to meet students from across CAS!

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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.