Registration Guide: Science Education (Specialization in Chemistry)

If you are starting in the fall semester, your first course should be CAS CH 109 General and Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 1 (offered fall semester).

• 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 2024.)
• If taken at BU, CH 109 fulfills a single requirement in the following Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking.

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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.
  • If taken at BU, CH 102 will fulfill a single requirement in the following Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I. 
• 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.

Science Education majors with a concentration in Chemistry are expected to complete two calculus courses: CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 (offered either semester) and CAS MA 124 Calculus 2 (offered either semester). You should begin with CAS MA 123 unless:

• You have Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or other external credit awarded for CA MA 123. In this case, register for CAS MA 124.
• You have advanced credit for both CAS MA 123 and CAS MA 124. In this case, you are done with your calculus requirement for the major and should take a physics course or a course of interest (explained in detail below).

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If you have advanced credit for both CAS MA 123 and MA 124, you can instead register for CAS PY 251 Principles of Physics 1 (offered fall semesters only). PY 251 has a prerequisite of CAS MA 123 Calculus 1 or equivalent and a corequisite of CAS MA 124 Calculus 2. (Corequisite means you take the calculus course at the same time as the suggested physics course, while prerequisite means you must have that course completed prior to enrollment in the suggest physics course.)

• If taken at BU, CAS PY 251 fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I, Critical Thinking, and Teamwork/Collaboration.

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Course of Interest: If you have credit for CAS MA 123 and 124 but a) are starting in the spring semester or b) have advanced credit for CAS PY 251, you can instead 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.

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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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: Ancient Worlds: (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.)

First-Year Seminar: FY 101 (offered Fall only, 1 credit) – Optional

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 (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.