Gizelle Sherwood, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Location: Doherty Hall 1316

Umi Davis, Undergraduate Academic Program Coordinator
Location: Doherty Hall 1317

www.chem.cmu.edu

B.S. in Chemistry (and requirements for additional major in chemistry)

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry is the most commonly awarded undergraduate degree in the department. It provides strong preparation for graduate study or for employment in research, development, or analytical roles in industry. The curriculum includes foundational coursework in organic, physical, inorganic, and analytical chemistry, and it emphasizes hands-on laboratory training using modern instrumentation.

Curriculum Planning and Course Scheduling

The curriculum and sample schedule presented here are intended for students who matriculate in Fall 2025. Students who entered in prior years should consult their degree audit and speak with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to confirm the requirements that apply to them.

The B.S. in Chemistry curriculum offers flexibility, allowing students to tailor their schedules to include electives, minors, or an additional major. While it is recommended that core technical courses be completed early, students may choose to delay some requirements to accommodate other interests or programs.

When planning your schedule, be aware that many required chemistry courses are offered only once per academic year. For example:

Course Scheduling Note: Occasionally, a course that is typically offered in the fall may be shifted to the spring (or vice versa) due to departmental curriculum changes or faculty availability. Students are encouraged to consult the department and their advisor each semester to confirm course timing and build a long-term plan that anticipates such changes and accommodates personal goals such as study abroad, research, or double majoring.

Technical and Non-Technical Requirements

MCS Core Technical Requirements

Chemistry majors must complete a minimum of four technical courses outside of chemistry to satisfy the MCS core technical breadth requirement. These include courses in physics, biology, computer science, and mathematics:

Sample Schedule by Year (First–Senior)

Planning Tip: Students interested in majoring in chemistry who have a strong chemistry background should enroll in 09-107 Honors Chemistry: Fundamentals, Concepts and Applications  rather than 09-105 Introduction to Modern Chemistry I. Students who complete 09-107 with an A grade will be exempted from the requirement to take 09-106 Modern Chemistry II via a prerequisite waiver.

There are some elective laboratory courses offered for MCS students in the first year including 03-117 Frontiers, Analysis, and Discovery in Biological Sciences  or 09-101 Introduction to Experimental Chemistry and 09-115 Introduction to Undergraduate Research in Chemistry. While not required for the major, we strongly encourage students who are interested in early research engagement to register for 09-115 Introduction to Undergraduate Research in Chemistry. This course introduces students to research within the department and includes laboratory safety and hazardous waste training, which are often necessary for working in scientific labs at CMU. It is included in the sample schedule above to highlight this opportunity.

The maximum units allowed during the first semester is 54; therefore, students wishing to take a lab should take an alternate technical course to Physics I such as 15-110 Principles of Computing or 03-121 Modern Biology so that their unit total is lower.

Planning Tip: Chemistry majors who place out of 09-106 Modern Chemistry II can take 09-348 Inorganic Chemistry , 09-510 Chemistry and Sustainability  or   09-381 Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet as a chemistry elective.  09-381 Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet is especially recommended for students pursuing the Environmental and Sustainability Studies minor. 09-510 Chemistry and Sustainability will serve as both a Chemistry elective as well as a MCS Science and Society requirement. Please note that 09-291 Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet does not count toward chemistry electives.

The sample schedule above also includes  laboratory electives. Students wishing to actively engage in research should take 09-116 Undergraduate Research Shadowing in Chemistry, which pairs them with a research group in the department for half a semester. With a faculty mentor’s recommendation, students may continue in the same lab through 09-445 Undergraduate Research. Those who want focused hands-on experience in a chemistry lab environment may consider 09-101 Introduction to Experimental Chemistry. Students interested in biology-based lab work may also take 03-117 Frontiers, Analysis, and Discovery in Biological Sciences. 

Sophomore Year

Planning Tip: Students pursuing careers in the health professions or following the Biological Chemistry Track may wish to take 03-232 Biochemistry I   in the Spring semester and delay 09-348 Inorganic Chemistry  to the spring of their senior year.

Junior Year

Planning Tip:

1. 09-231 Mathematical Methods for Chemists is a co-requisite for 09-344 Physical Chemistry (Quantum): Microscopic Principles of Physical Chemistry and a prerequisite for 09-345 Physical Chemistry (Thermo): Macroscopic Principles of Physical Chemistry.
2. 09-344 Physical Chemistry (Quantum): Microscopic Principles of Physical Chemistry is a prerequisite for 09-322 Laboratory IV: Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics .
3. While 09-345 Physical Chemistry (Thermo): Macroscopic Principles of Physical Chemistry and 09-331 Modern Analytical Instrumentation are often taken alongside 09-322 Laboratory IV: Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, they are not required co-requisites. Students should consult with an advisor if they plan to shift any of these courses to senior year.
4. Students pursuing careers in the health professions or following the Biological Chemistry Track may wish to take 09-403 Hooked: The Chemical Basis of Drug Addiction in the Fall semester of their Junior year. It will fulfill both a Chemistry elective as well as a Science and Society elective

 Students may spread out junior-level courses across the junior and senior years to balance their academic load and research commitments. Work closely with your academic advisor to map out a schedule that fits your goals

Senior Year

Planning Tip: The senior year is designed to provide maximum flexibility. Use this time to deepen your training through electives, conduct independent research, or prepare for graduate school, professional programs, or job applications. Be mindful of not overloading your final semester and aim to complete general education requirements, including all ENGAGE courses, before your last term.

Other Required Courses and Electives

Free Electives

Free electives include any Carnegie Mellon course, except those in science or engineering that are specifically intended for non-majors.

A maximum of 9 units total from the following categories may count toward the free elective requirement:

• Physical Education (P.E.)
• StuCo (Student College)
• ROTC

Students are encouraged to use free electives to pursue minors, deepen technical training, explore other disciplines, or prepare for future academic and career goals.

There is no separate "technical elective" requirement in the B.S. in Chemistry curriculum. However, students may choose to take advanced technical courses in chemistry or related fields as part of their free electives.

Additional Notes on Degree Requirements

Minimum Total Units

The B.S. in Chemistry degree requires a minimum of 360 units. Most students complete this requirement within 41–50 units per semester. Students are strongly encouraged to take additional electives in subjects of personal or professional interest to enrich their undergraduate experience.

AP Credit and Unit Overlap

Some students may need to complete more than 360 units to graduate, especially if they repeat coursework for which they received AP credit. For example, a student who received AP credit for but takes 09-105 or 09-107 at CMU will only receive 10 units toward the requirement — not 20. The duplicate units will not count toward the degree total.

Transfer Students and Course Substitutions

Students who transfer into the department and have taken 09-217 Organic Chemistry I  and/or 09-218 Organic Chemistry II must complete 09-435 Independent Study Chemistry  (1 unit per course) under the supervision of the 09-219 Modern Organic Chemistry and/or 09-220 Modern Organic Chemistry II instructor(s) to cover missing content.

Students who have taken 09-207 Techniques in Quantitative Analysis and/or 09-208 Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis  must enroll in a 3-unit transition course:

• 09-215 Chemistry Tech I to Lab I Transition  (for 09-207 Techniques in Quantitative Analysis)
• 09-216 Chemistry Tech II to Lab II Transition (for 09-208 Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis) 

Options for the Bachelor's Degrees in Chemistry

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry allows students to take a range of elective courses, particularly in the junior and senior years, in chemistry and other disciplines. Students may choose to focus these electives in a particular area of interest by completing one of several recommended options. Each option provides a structured group of electives that complements the B.S. in Chemistry and offers additional depth in a specialized area not covered by the standard curriculum.

Options are noted on the student’s transcript (but not on the diploma) and are recognized with a certificate awarded by the Department of Chemistry at Commencement.

For each option, students should refer to the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree requirements described earlier in the catalog. The core chemistry requirements remain unchanged. However, the option-specific courses should be taken as electives and are listed within each option’s description.

Chemistry courses taken as part of an option may also count toward the chemistry elective requirement for the B.S. degree. In some cases, option courses may fulfill MCS technical core requirements or, for example, nontechnical core requirements in the Management Option. However, students should note that there is very limited ability to count a course toward both an option and a minor or additional major in a closely related field.

Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor or the advisor for the relevant department to clarify any potential overlap or restrictions.