Chemistry Starting Courses

Determine the best-fit purpose for taking a chemistry course and you will find the best-fit chemistry course for which to enroll.

General Education Requirement Details

Purpose for chemistry class

Chemistry course to take with details

1. P.S. -- Gen. Ed. Requirement

No chemistry background, no plan to major in life or physical science, and you will probably never take another chemistry course again.

CHEM 1010 --- Lecture-demonstrated course for students with no previous chemistry background who are not majoring in areas requiring further chemistry. Three hours of lecture-demonstration a week (NO LAB)

G.E. credit in physical science

2. Physical Science

  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Earth & Environmental
  • Physics

CHEM 1200 --- one-semester course -- A course designed to provide the
minimal prerequisite skills needed for entry into CHEM 1210. Three hours
of lecture per week. Prerequisitie/Corequisite Math 1010
(NO LAB)

No G.E. Credit

CHEM 1210 --- This is the first course in a series designed primarily for
science majors and others who will take more than one year of chemistry
such as pre-medical students, clinical/medical laboratory scientists, and
some engineering students. Course topics include components of matter,
stoichiometry, major classes of reactions, gasses and kinetic molecular
theory, thermochemistry, quantum theory and atomic structure, models
of chemical bonding, shapes of molecules, intermolecular forces, and
properties of the mixture. The laboratory emphasizes qualitative and
quantitative methods of analysis. Four hours of lecture and one 3-hour
lab a week. Prerequisite: CHEM 1200 or departmental approval.
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 1050 or MATH 1080

G.E. Credit in physical science

3. Life Science

  • Microbiology
  • Botany
  • Zoology

CHEM 1110 --- Start of a two-semester series -- No prior chemistry background required --- (LAB)

G.E. credit in physical science

CHEM 1110 is required for a B.A. in Botany

CHEM 1210 is required for a B.S. in Botany --- you may want to take Chem 1200 first (see above)

CHEM 1210 is required for a B.S.in Microbiology you may want to take Chem 1200 first (see above)

CHEM 1110 or 1210 is required for a B.S. in Zoology -- (talk with a Zoology advisor)

4. Graduate Professional Schools

  • premedicine
  • predentistry
  • prepharmacy
  • preveterinary medicine

Although you can major in a number of different areas, most professional schools require a full year of general chemistry and a full year of organic chemistry --- therefore you should start with either

CHEM 1200 --- one-semester course -- A course designed to provide the minimal prerequisite skills needed for entry into CHEM 1210. Three hours of lecture per week.

OR

CHEM 1210 --- Prerequisite: CHEM 1200 or departmental approval. Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 1050 or MATH 1080

Do Not Start with CHEM 1010, it will not help you

5. Nursing

You need to look at the specific program of interest and check with your advisor. However, most of the programs require either:

CHEM 1130 --- No prior chemistry background required (LAB)

OR

CHEM 1110--- No prior chemistry background required (LAB)

Both of these courses fulfill a G.E. credit in Physical Science

6. Manufacturing Engineering Technology

CHEM 1110 --- is suggested as a G.E. physical science credit for both of these programs --- No prior chemistry background required

CHEM 1110 --- is a required support course for both programs if you are interested in an associate of applied science degree --- No prior chemistry background required

G.E. credit in Physical Science

7. Mechanical Engineering Technology

CHEM 1110 --- is suggested as a G.E. physical science credit for both of these programs --- No prior chemistry background required

CHEM 1110 --- is a required support course for both programs if you are interested in an associate of applied science degree --- No prior chemistry background required

G.E. credit in Physical Science

8. Pre-Engineering

CHEM 1210 --- is required for this program --- Prerequisite: CHEM 1200 or departmental approval. Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 1050 or MATH 1080

G.E. credit in Physical Science

9. Automotive Service Technology CHEM 1010 or CHEM 1110 --- is required as a Physical Science G.E. credit --- check with your advisor
10. Elementary Education Majors (only)

CHEM 1360 --- one-semester course --- no prior chemistry background required (FUN LAB)

G.E. credit in Physical Science