Chemistry (BS)
The chemistry curriculum at Notre Dame includes the Chemistry Career Program, the Chemistry with Computing Program, and Chemistry with a concentration in Neuroscience.
All chemistry majors take the following basic sequence of courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 10181 & CHEM 11181 | Introduction to Chemical Principles and Introduction to Chemical Principles Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 10182 & CHEM 11182 | Organic Structure and Mechanism and Organic Structure and Mechanism Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 20283 & CHEM 21283 | Organic Reactions and Applications and Organic Reactions and Applications Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 20284 & CHEM 21284 | Chemistry Across the Periodic Table and Chemistry Across the Periodic Table Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 40443 & CHEM 41443 | Inorganic Chemistry and Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 5 |
| CHEM 30321 & CHEM 30322 & CHEM 31322 | Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 8 |
| CHEM 30333 & CHEM 31333 | Analytical Chemistry I and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 40436 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 40420 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 23201 & CHEM 23202 & CHEM 23203 | Chemistry Seminar and Chemistry Seminar and Chemistry Seminar | 3 |
| Physics (Select one of the following groups) | 8 | |
| Group A | ||
| Engineering Physics I: Mechanics and Engineering Physics I Laboratory | ||
| Engineering Physics II: Electromagnetism and Engineering Physics II Lab | ||
| Group B | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics for Life Sciences I Lab | ||
| Physics for Life Sciences II and Physics for Life Sciences II Lab | ||
| MATH 10550 | Calculus I 2 | 4 |
| MATH 10560 | Calculus II 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 20262 | Mathematical Methods for the Chemical Sciences | 3 |
| Total Hours | 61 | |
- 1
Upon request and with departmental approval CHEM 10182/CHEM 11182, CHEM 20283/CHEM 21283, CHEM 20284/CHEM 21284 may be substituted by CHEM 10172/CHEM 11172, CHEM 20273/CHEM 21273, CHEM 20274/CHEM 21274 respectively
- 2
MATH 10350, MATH 10360 can be substituted for MATH 10550, MATH 10560 with department approval.
Chemistry Career Program
In addition to the basic sequence, the Chemistry Career Program requires 6 credit hours of Science Electives.
Summary of Minimal Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 42 | |
| Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 8 | |
| Physics | 8 | |
| Science Electives | 6 | |
| Total Required Science | 67 | |
| Moreau Program | 2 | |
| Language Intermediate-Level Competency | 11 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Philosophy 1 | 6 | |
| Theology 1 | 6 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Electives 2 | 20 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
- 1
One of these courses must be a University Seminar.
- 2
Assumes intermediate-level competency in language was achieved by taking two 4-credit introductory-level and one 3-credit intermediate-level course.
Career Program Sample Curriculum
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 10181 & CHEM 11181 |
Introduction to Chemical Principles and Introduction to Chemical Principles Laboratory |
4 |
| MATH 10550 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHYS 10310 | Engineering Physics I: Mechanics | 4 |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| FYS 10101 | Moreau First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 19 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEM 10182 & CHEM 11182 |
Organic Structure and Mechanism and Organic Structure and Mechanism Laboratory |
4 |
| MATH 10560 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 10320 | Engineering Physics II: Electromagnetism | 4 |
| University Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CHEM 20283 & CHEM 21283 |
Organic Reactions and Applications and Organic Reactions and Applications Laboratory |
4 |
| CHEM 23201 | Chemistry Seminar | 1 |
| Language | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEM 20284 & CHEM 21284 |
Chemistry Across the Periodic Table and Chemistry Across the Periodic Table Laboratory |
4 |
| CHEM 20262 | Mathematical Methods for the Chemical Sciences | 3 |
| Language | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CHEM 30321 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 30333 & CHEM 31333 |
Analytical Chemistry I and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory |
4 |
| CHEM 23203 | Chemistry Seminar | 1 |
| Elective (or Language) | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEM 30322 & CHEM 31322 |
Physical Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry Laboratory |
5 |
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CHEM 40420 | Principles of Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 40443 & CHEM 41443 |
Inorganic Chemistry and Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory |
5 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEM 40436 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 23202 | Chemistry Seminar | 1 |
| Science Elective | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Moreau Senior Capstone | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
- 1
A curriculum starting with 16 credits in the first year is possible. In this case a University Requirement may also be postponed until the junior or senior year.
Chemistry Combination Program (includes Concentration)
Summary of Minimal Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | 42 | |
| Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 8 | |
| Physics | 8 | |
| Science Electives | 3 | |
| Total Required Science | 64 | |
| Program Electives | 15 | |
| Moreau Program | 2 | |
| Language Intermediate-Level Competency | 11 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Philosophy 1 | 6 | |
| Theology 1 | 6 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| University Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Electives 2 | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
- 1
One of these courses must be a University Seminar.
- 2
Assumes intermediate-level competency in language was achieved by taking two 4-credit introductory-level and one 3-credit intermediate-level course.
Chemistry with Computing
Each student completes additional credit hours of computing courses in consultation with a departmental advisor.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 20311 & CSE 21311 | Fundamentals of Computing and Fundamentals of Computing Lab | 4 |
| CSE 20312 & CSE 21312 | Data Structures and Data Structures Lab | 3.5 |
| CSE Electives | 7 | |
| CSE or Scientific Computing Electives | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 17.5 | |
Chemistry with Neuroscience Concentration
Each student completes additional credit hours of Neuroscience courses in consultation with a departmental advisor.
Note: Introductory Psychology (PSY 10000/PSY 20000) is a required prerequisite for most NSBH courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biology II: Molecules to Ecosystems 1 | ||
| NSBH 20450 & NSBH 21450 | Neuroscience and Behavior and Neuroscience and Behavior Lab | 4 |
| NSBH 30301 | Molecular Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSBH 30520 | An Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| NSBH Elective I | 3 | |
| NSBH Elective II | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
- 1
Although not required for the chemistry major, this biology course is a prerequisite for the neuroscience courses.
Honors in Chemistry
Majors in chemistry and biochemistry may apply for the departmental honors program if they have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and are enrolled in Undergraduate Research (CHEM 48498). Application should be made to the Director of Undergraduate Studies via the online application (see Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry webpage) by the end of the first week of classes in the Senior Year. The requirements for completion of the honors program are a minimum of two semesters of undergraduate research after the beginning of the junior year, the course Research Thesis in Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHEM 48500) with a grade of B or better, and a grade point average of 3.5 or better.