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Degree Requirements

This page summarizes graduation requirements for chemistry majors. The Chemistry Honors Program, independent study laboratory projects, and certification by the American Chemical Society are included as options for chemistry majors. Specific questions not covered should be directed to the chemistry faculty advisors:

Undergraduate Advisors

  • ALL MAJOR & TRANSFER ADVISING
    Dr. Vanessa Fishback (SI 3073:e-mail vanessa.fishback@ucdenver.edu)
  • ALL MINOR & TRANSFER ADVISING
    Dr. Priscilla Crocker Burrow (SI 3074: e-mail priscilla.burrow@ucdenver.edu)  
  • ALL GENERAL ADVISING and CORE requirements
    CLAS Advising Office (NC 4002 at 303/556-2555)

Students majoring in chemistry will receive a BS degree upon successful completion of both the departmental and college requirements. It is the student's responsibility to know all of their undergraduate degree requirements.

All chemistry majors must meet with a faculty advisor on an annual basis as requirements for graduation and scheduling of classes are subject to change. Please contact the Chemistry Department Faculty Advisor directly (listed above) to make an appointment for advising.

The UC Denver Chemistry Department is fully accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Additionally, students may find it desirable to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree that is certified by the ACS. The ACS certified degree requires the following two courses in addition to the regular chemistry degree:
  • CHEM 3018, Inorganic Chemistry Lab
  • CHEM 3810 or CHEM 4810, Biochemistry

Qualified students are encouraged to participate in the Chemistry Honors Program and/or do Independent Study laboratory projects.

The student must satisfy one of the following criteria:
  • Overall GPA of 3.2 or better and a chemistry GPA of 3.5 or better.
  • Overall GPA of 3.2 or better and a chemistry GPA of 3.2 or better, and at least 6 hours of CHEM 4840, Independent Study, spread over a minimum of two semesters.

The student must be a chemistry major and satisfy each of the following criteria:
  • Overall GPA of 3.2 or better and a chemistry GPA of 3.5 or better. 
  • At least 6 hours of CHEM 4840, Independent Study, spread over a minimum of two semesters.
  • Presentation of a thesis based on the independent study research to a faculty advisory committee. The advisory committee is to include two faculty members from Chemistry and one faculty member from outside the Department. The thesis must be presented at least four weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the student plans to graduate. If the committee approves the thesis, honors are awarded. The committee then decides if magna cum laude or summa cum laude honors are to be awarded.

  • 45 credit hours of chemistry courses
  • 16 hours of the 45 credit hours must be at the upper division level (3000 level or higher)
  • 12 credit hour sequence of calculus and analytic geometry
  • 10 credit hours of calculus-based physics (lecture and lab).
  • UC Denver Chemistry GPA of 2.0 or better, and no less than a grade of C- in any required course.

Departmental Residency Requirements: 14 upper division hours at UC Denver including CHEM 4128, 4518 or 4538

COURSE CREDIT HRS TITLE Prerequisite = P 
Corequisite =C		 FORMAT OFFERED

2031

3

General Chemistry I

P-HS chem, HS algebra, C-2038

Lecture

F, SP, S

2038

1

General Chemistry I Lab

C-2031

Lab

F, SP, S

2061

3

General Chemistry II

P-2031

Lecture

F, SP, S

2068

2

General Chemistry II Lab

C-2061, P-2031 and P-2038

Lab

F, SP, S

3011

3

Inorganic Chemistry

P-2061, P- or C- Chem 3491

Lecture

SP

3111

3

Analytical Chemistry

P-2061

Lecture

F

3118

2

Analytical Chemistry Lab

P-2061 and 2068, C-3111

Lab

F

3411

4

Organic Chemistry I

P-2061

Lecture

F, SP, S

3418

1

Organic Chemistry Lab I

P- 2068 and C-3411

Lab

F, SP, S

3491

4

Honors Organic Chemistry

P-3411

Lecture, R

SP

3498

2

Honors Organic Chemistry Lab

P-3411 and 3418, P- or C-3491

Lab, R

SP

4121

3

Instrumental Analysis

P-3111

Lecture

SP

4128

2

Instrumental Analysis Lab

P-3118P- and P- or C- 4121

Lab, R

SP

4511

3

Physical Chemistry I

P-Phys 2331, C-Math 3511

Lecture

F

4518

2

Physical Chemistry I Lab

C-4511

Lab, R

F

4521

3

Physical Chemistry II

P-4511

Lecture

SP

4538

2

Physical Chemistry II Lab

C-4521

Lecture

SP

Choose 1 of the following 2 courses

3018

2

Inorganic Laboratory

P or C-3011

Lab, R

SP

4828

2

Biochemistry Laboratory

P-3810 or 4810

Lab, R

SP

R = recitation
Offered: F = fall, SP = spring, S = summer

Math

COURSE CREDIT HRS TITLE Prerequisite = P 
Corequisite =C		 FORMAT OFFERED

1401

4

Anal. Geom. & Calculus I

P-Math 1120

Lecture

F, SP, S

2411

4

Anal. Geom. & Calculus II

P-Math 1401

Lecture

F, SP, S

3511

4

Math for Chemistry

P-Math 2411

Lecture

F

Physics

2311

4

General Physics I

P-Math 1401

Lecture

F, SP, S

2321

1

General Physics I Lab

C-Phys 2311

Lab

F, SP, S

2331

4

General Physics II

P-Phys 2311, P-Math-2411

Lecture

F, SP, S

2341

1

General Physics II Lab

C-Phys 2331

Lab

F, SP, S

3810

4

Biochemistry one semester

P-Chem 3411

Lecture

F, SP, S

4810 & 4820

3 &3

General Biochemistry 2 semester sequence

P-Chem 3421

Lecture

F, SP

3018

2

Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

P- or C- Chem 3011

Lab

SP

4700

3

Environmental Chemistry

P-Chem 3111

Lecture

SP

5XXX

Var.

Graduate Level Lecture Courses open to qualified UG students a

Var.

Lecture

Var.

4840

Var.

Independent Study laboratory research a

Var.

N/A

F, SP, S

Must consult individual faculty