Chemistry Major (B.A.)
Program Overview
Chemistry Major (B.A.)
The Chemistry Major (B.A.) program at Virginia Tech is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in chemistry, preparing them for a wide range of career opportunities.
Program Curriculum
The program curriculum includes a combination of core requirements, additional course requirements, major requirements, restricted electives, and free electives.
- Degree Core Requirements:
- CHEM 1004: First Year Experience in Chemistry (1 credit)
- CHEM 1055: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors (4 credits)
- CHEM 1056: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors (4 credits)
- CHEM 1065: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors Lab (1 credit)
- CHEM 1066: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors Lab (1 credit)
- CHEM 2565: Principles of Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 2566: Principles of Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 2154: Analytical Chemistry for Chemistry Majors (4 credits)
- CHEM 2164: Analytical Chemistry for Chemistry Majors Lab (1 credit)
- Additional Course Requirements:
- CHEM 2545: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHEM 2546: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHEM 2564: Problem-Solving in Organic Chemistry (1 credit)
- CHEM 3004: Bridge to the Future (1 credit)
- CHEM 4014: Chemistry Writing (1 credit)
- Major Requirements:
- CHEM 2424: Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 4615: Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (3 credits)
- CHEM 4616: Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (3 credits)
- CHEM 3625: Physical Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHEM 4034: Capstone Laboratory for BA Chemistry Majors (2 credits)
- Restricted Electives:
- Students may choose any two 3-credit, 3000- or 4000-level courses in CHEM, BCHM, or CHE for which they have met applicable prerequisites.
- Free Electives:
- Select remaining credit hours of free electives to fulfill 120 credit hour requirement
Pathways to General Education
The program also includes pathways to general education, which require students to complete courses in various disciplines, including:
- Pathways Concept 1: Discourse
- Select six credits in Pathway 1f (foundational writing or speaking courses) and three credits in Pathway 1a (advanced or applied writing or speaking courses)
- Pathways Concept 2: Critical Thinking in the Humanities
- Select six credits of Pathway 2
- Pathways Concept 3: Reasoning in the Social Sciences
- Select six credits of Pathway 3
- Pathways Concept 4: Reasoning in the Natural Sciences
- PHYS 2205 and PHYS 2215: General Physics and General Physics Laboratory (4 credits)
- PHYS 2206 and PHYS 2216: General Physics and General Physics Laboratory (4 credits)
- Pathways Concept 5: Quantitative and Computational Thinking
- MATH 1025: Elementary Calculus (3 credits)
- MATH 1026: Elementary Calculus (3 credits)
- Pathways Concept 6: Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts
- 6 credits = 3 in design + 3 in arts, or 6 in integrated design and arts
- Pathways Concept 7: Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States
- Select three credits in Pathway 7
Satisfactory Progress Towards Degree
Students must make satisfactory progress towards their degree by completing certain courses and maintaining a minimum GPA.
- Upon having attempted 72 credits, students must have completed:
- CHEM 1055: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors (4 credits)
- CHEM 1056: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors (4 credits)
- CHEM 1065: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors Lab (1 credit)
- CHEM 1066: General Chemistry for Chemistry Majors Lab (1 credit)
- CHEM 1004: First Year Experience in Chemistry (1 credit)
- CHEM 2565: Principles of Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 2566: Principles of Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 2545: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
- CHEM 2546: Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHYS 2205: General Physics (3 credits)
- PHYS 2206: General Physics (3 credits)
- PHYS 2215: General Physics Laboratory (1 credit)
- PHYS 2216: General Physics Laboratory (1 credit)
- MATH 1025: Elementary Calculus (3 credits)
- MATH 1026: Elementary Calculus (3 credits)
Graduation Requirements
To graduate, students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or greater for all hours attempted. In addition, students must have an in-major GPA of 2.0 or greater counting all required chemistry courses and chemistry electives.
Minimum Grade Requirement
Students must earn a minimum grade of "C" in certain courses, including CHEM 1055, CHEM 1056, and CHEM 2565.
Acceptable Substitutions
The program allows for certain substitutions, including:
- CHEM 1035 for CHEM 1055
- CHEM 1036 for CHEM 1056
- CHEM 2535 for CHEM 2565
- CHEM 2536 for CHEM 2566
- CHEM 3615 for CHEM 4615
- CHEM 3616 for CHEM 4616
Foreign Language Requirements
Students who did not successfully complete at least two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language during high school must successfully complete six credit hours of a single foreign, classical, or sign language at the college level. Courses taken to meet this requirement do not count toward the hours required for graduates.