Chemistry Major

Major Requirements

The major program consists of the following requirements:

All of the Following

• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I and  (usually completed in the first year)
• CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II and  (usually completed in the first year)
• CHEM 263 - Organic Chemistry I and  (usually completed in the sophomore year)
• CHEM 264 - Organic Chemistry II and  (usually completed in the sophomore year)
• CHEM 333 - Physical Chemistry I (usually completed in the fall of junior year)
• CHEM 334 - Physical Chemistry II (usually completed in the spring of junior year)
• CHEM 371 - Instrumental Methods (usually completed in the fall of junior year)
• CHEM 381 - Practical Quantitative Analysis (usually completed in the fall of junior year)
• CHEM 382 - Molecular Spectroscopy
• CHEM 481 - Advanced Chemistry Research (research conducted by chemistry majors while participating in Colgate's Bethesda Biomedical Research Study Group in the fall of their senior year fulfills this requirement.)
• CHEM 482 - Advanced Chemistry Research (usually completed in the spring of senior year)
   /, a one-term course designed for the well-prepared first-year student, may substitute for / and / and facilitates an early entry into /.

Integrated Laboratory

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of CHIL in the course offerings.

At least one from the following (usually taken in the junior year):

• CHEM 384 - Molecular Dynamics
• CHEM 385 - Biophysical Chemistry Methods
• CHEM 387 - Special Topics: Structure and Analysis

Electives

At least two course credits, including at least one full-semester course from:

Full-Semester Courses

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of CHEL in the course offerings.

• CHEM 212 - Inorganic Chemistry and  
• CHEM 214 - Inorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 353 - Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Half-Semester Courses

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of CHHS in the course offerings.

• CHEM 413 - Molecular Symmetry
• CHEM 415 - Organometallic Chemistry
• CHEM 440 - Materials Chemistry
• CHEM 452 - Metabolic Chemistry
• CHEM 454 - Bioenergetics
• CHEM 456 - Bioinorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 458 - Bioorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 461 - Organic Reaction Mechanisms
• CHEM 464 - Organic Synthesis
• CHEM 468 - Medicinal Chemistry
• CHEM 477 - Environmental Chemistry

Note:

Independent Studies (, , and ) may not normally be substituted for one of the courses listed in the above requirements, but if it can be demonstrated that such a course provides sufficient breadth at the advanced level, the department will consider a petition for substitution.

Additional Requirements

Calculus Course Option

At least one course from the following:

• MATH 162 - Calculus II
• MATH 163 - Calculus III
• MATH 214 - Linear Algebra
    is the recommended starting point for students with minimal secondary school calculus experience.

Physics Courses

One course in Classical Mechanics and one course in Electricty and Magnetism (usually taken by the sophomore year):

Seminar Series

Junior and senior majors are expected to attend a weekly seminar series at which students, faculty, and guests present topics from the current literature and their own research.

GPA Requirement

An overall GPA of at least 2.00 is required for the chemistry courses (and associated labs) chosen to meet major requirements.

Honors and High Honors

Honors in chemistry may be awarded to majors who accumulate an overall GPA of at least 3.00 and a combined GPA of at least 3.00 in all chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses taken; complete approved honors projects; and present the results of their projects in both a written thesis and an oral defense to the department. The decision to award honors, high honors, or neither is based on the quality of the honors project, the quality of its presentation and defense, and other evidence of distinction.

Chemistry Department

For more information about the department, including faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the  catalog page.