Chemistry Department

Hall-Atwater Laboratories Room 10
52 Lawn Ave.
Middletown, CT 06459
chemistry@wesleyan.edu
1-860-685-2210
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Major Requirements

The Chemistry Department offers both an A-track major and a B-track major. The A-track major has a stronger physics and math component while the B-track major has a stronger biological and biochemical component. Both tracks of the major typically begin with a year of general chemistry followed by a year of organic chemistry prior to taking more advanced courses. Below are two general curricular plans that detail a sequence of courses leading to the completion of the A-track and B-track chemistry majors as well as a summary of the requirements for the A- and B-track majors. All courses other than seminars that are required for the chemistry major must be taken under a letter-grading mode (A–F). Additional details and information about specific courses can be found in the Registrar Information tab. 

General Curricular plan for an A-Track Chemistry Major

(Key: Chemistry, Math, Physics)
Year Fall Spring

First

General Chemistry I (CHEM141), or
Principles of Chemistry I (CHEM143)

Introductory Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM152)

Calculus, Part I (MATH121)

General Chemistry II (CHEM142), or
Principles of Chemistry II (CHEM144)

(CHEM152 if not taken in the fall)

Calculus, Part II (MATH122)

Sophomore

Principles of Organic Chemistry I (CHEM251)

Intermediate Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM257)

General Physics I (PHYS113)

Principles of Organic Chemistry II (CHEM252)

Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM258)

General Physics II (PHYS116)

Junior
&
Senior

Physical Chemistry I (CHEM337)

Integrated Chemistry Laboratory I (CHEM375)

300-level Electives 

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM361)
   (Required if CHEM144 was not taken)

Chemistry Symposium I (CHEM521)

Physical Chemistry II (CHEM338)

Integrated Chemistry Laboratory II (CHEM376)

300-level Electives

Chemistry Symposium II (CHEM522)

Frequently taught 300-level elective courses (not all taught every year):

  • Biomedicinal Chemistry (CHEM321)
  • Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Disease (CHEM323)
  • Introduction to Biomolecular Structure (CHEM325)
  • Physical Chemistry IV (CHEM340)
  • Molecules to Medicine (CHEM342)
  • Advanced Organic Synthesis (CHEM359)
  • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM361)
  • Chemistry of Materials & Nanomaterials (CHEM377)
  • Nanomaterials Laboratory (CHEM379)
  • Practical NMR (CHEM382)
  • Biochemistry (CHEM383)

General Curricular plan for a B-Track Chemistry Major

(Key: Chemistry, Biology, Math)

Year

Fall

Spring

First

General Chemistry I (CHEM141), or
Principles of Chemistry I (CHEM143)

Introductory Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM152)

Principles of Biology I (BIOL181)

General Chemistry II (CHEM142), or
Principles of Chemistry II (CHEM144)

(CHEM152 if not taken in the fall)

Sophomore

Principles of Organic Chemistry I (CHEM251)

Intermediate Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM257)

Calculus I, Part I (MATH121)

Molecular Biology (MB&B208)

Principles of Organic Chemistry II (CHEM252)

Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM258)

Calculus, Part II (MATH122)

 

Junior

&

Senior

Biochemistry (CHEM383)

Integrated Chemistry Laboratory I (CHEM375), or
Structural Biology Lab (CHEM395)

300-level Electives 

Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM361)
    (Required if CHEM144 was not taken)

Chemistry Symposium I (CHEM521)

Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (CHEM381)

Integrated Chemistry Laboratory II (CHEM376)

300-level Electives

Chemistry Symposium II (CHEM522)

Frequently taught 300-level elective courses (not all taught every year):

  • Environmental Chemistry (CHEM314)
  • Biomedicinal Chemistry (CHEM321)
  • Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Disease (CHEM323)
  • Introduction to Biomolecular Structure (CHEM325)
  • Physical Chemistry I (CHEM337) & II (CHEM338)
  • Physical Chemistry IV (CHEM340)
  • Molecules to Medicine (CHEM342)
  • Chemistry of Materials & Nanomaterials (CHEM377)
  • Structure and Mechanism (CHEM358)
  • Advanced Organic Synthesis (CHEM359)
  • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM361)
  • Principles of Polymer Chemistry (CHEM373)
  • Nanomaterials Laboratory (CHEM379)
  • Molecular Modeling & Design (CHEM396)

Bulleted Summary of Chemistry Major Requirements

(differences between the two tracks are highlighted in bold)

Chemistry Major, A-Track

  • General Chemistry* (CHEM141/142 or CHEM143/144)
  • Introductory Chemistry Lab (CHEM152)
  • Organic Chemistry (CHEM251/252)
  • Intermediate & Organic Chemistry Lab (CHEM257/258)
  • Physical Chemistry I (CHEM337)
  • Physical Chemistry II (CHEM338)
  • Integrated Chemistry Lab (CHEM375/376)
  • Three 300-Level Electives***
  • Chemistry Symposium (CHEM521/522)

  • Calculus through MATH122
  • 1 year of Physics (PHYS111/112 or PHYS 113/116)

Chemistry Major, B-Track

  • General Chemistry* (CHEM141/142 or CHEM143/144)
  • Introductory Chemistry Lab (CHEM152)
  • Molecular Biology (MB&B208)
  • Organic Chemistry (CHEM251/252)
  • Intermediate & Organic Chemistry Lab (CHEM257/258)
  • Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (CHEM381)
  • Biochemistry (CHEM383)
  • Integrated Chemistry Lab** (CHEM375/376)
  • Two 300-Level Electives***
  • Chemistry Symposium (CHEM521/522)

  • Calculus through MATH122
  • 1 semester of Biology (BIOL181)

*Students who do not take CHEM144 must choose Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM361) as one of their 300-level elective courses. Any Chemistry Majors who start with a 100-level Chemistry course must take CHEM 152 Lab. 

**Structural Biology Lab (CHEM395) can be substituted for one semester of Integrated Chemistry Laboratory.

***One of the three 300-level electives can be satisfied by two credits of research (CHEM409/410 or 423/424).