Chemistry Major, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

For students who entered fall 2023 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Minimum Credits = 120.

¹Chemistry majors must earn a grade of C- or higher in CHEM.1210 Chemistry I and CHEM.1220 Chemistry II.

• Chemistry majors will not be allowed to proceed to CHEM.1220 without first earning a C- in CHEM.1210
• Chemistry majors will not be allowed to proceed to CHEM.2210 without first earning a C- in CHEM.1220.

²The Arts and Humanities (AH) and Social Sciences (SS) perspectives are subsets of the Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) requirements in the Core Curriculum. No more than two BOK courses can be taken with the same four-letter prefix.

The Core Curriculum also includes seven Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs). The Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) ELO is satisfied outside the major requirements. See the DCA course listing for a full list of classes that fulfill these requirements. The Class Search tool can be used to identify AH and SS courses that simultaneously satisfy the DCA or SRE requirement.

The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your college-based professional advisor and/or faculty advisor to determine how best to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements.

³Chemistry majors in the General option must satisfy either one of the following two options:

• Complete CHEM.4070 and CHEM.4080
• Complete two 3000/4000-level CHEM electives with at least one of the two having a lab component

In addition, it’s recommended that at least one of the two courses in either option satisfy the Applied and Integrative Learning (AIL) ELO requirement. CHEM.4070 currently has the AIL designation as well as the following chemistry electives:

• CHEM.3030 / CHEM.3050L Forensic Science I w/Lab
• CHEM.4190 Sustainable and Green Chemistry
• CHEM.4550L Laboratory in Modern Biochemistry and Biophysics

⁴CHEM.4030 Introductory Polymer Science I will be required of all majors entering as first-year students or students transferring into the major in Fall 2017 or after.

⁵Free electives can be satisfied by any UML course xxxx.1010 or above, with the following exceptions:

• Students only need to complete enough free elective credits to reach 120 total credits.
• Courses with the MATH prefix must be above the level of Calculus I.
• NO MORE than 60 credits of CHEM coursework may be applied towards the minimum 120 credits requirement to graduate.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.

For students who entered fall 2020 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Minimum Credits = 121.

¹Chemistry majors must earn a grade of C- or higher in CHEM.1210 Chemistry I and CHEM.1220 Chemistry II.

• Chemistry majors will not be allowed to proceed to CHEM.1220 without first earning a C- in CHEM.1210
• Chemistry majors will not be allowed to proceed to CHEM.2210 without first earning a C- in CHEM.1220.

²It is recommended that students complete BIOL.1110 / BIOL.1170L. However, BIOL.2100 Biology for Engineers and BIOL.2020L Biology for Engineers Laboratory will also satisfy this requirement.

³Can be fulfilled by either: BIOL.2350 Genetics, BIOL.2370 Problems Genetics, BIOL.3010 Microbiology, BIOL.3050 Introduction to Bioinformatics.

⁴DCA recommended/DCA met outside major

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.

For students who entered fall 2020 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Minimum Credits = 122.

¹CHEM.4030 Introductory Polymer Science I will be required of all majors entering as first-year students or transferring into the major effective fall, 2017.

²Chemistry majors must earn a grade of C- or higher in CHEM.1210 Chemistry I and CHEM.1220 Chemistry II.

• Chemistry majors will not be allowed to proceed to CHEM.1220 without first earning a C- in CHEM.1210
• Chemistry majors will not be allowed to proceed to CHEM.2210 without first earning a C- in CHEM.1220

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your adviser.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.

For students who entered fall 2024 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Minimum Credits = 120.

¹The Arts and Humanities (AH) and Social Sciences (SS) perspectives are subsets of the Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) requirements in the Core Curriculum. No more than two BOK courses can be taken with the same four-letter prefix.

The Core Curriculum also includes seven Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs). The Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) ELO is satisfied outside the major requirements. See the DCA course listing for a full list of classes that fulfill these requirements. The Class Search tool can be used to identify AH and SS courses that simultaneously satisfy the DCA or SRE requirement.

The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your college-based professional advisor and/or faculty advisor to determine how best to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements.

²Analytical/Forensic Electives:

Chemistry majors in the STEM Teaching option must complete all four courses (I and II with labs) of either Analytical Chemistry or Forensic Science.

• Analytical Chemistry (10 credits):
  • CHEM.3130 Analytical Chemistry I
  • CHEM.3150L Analytical Chemistry I Lab
  • CHEM.3140 Analytical Chemistry II
  • CHEM.3160L Analytical Chemistry II Lab

• Forensic Science (8 credits):
  • CHEM.3030 Forensic Science I
  • CHEM.3050L Forensic Science I Lab
  • CHEM.3040 Forensic Science II 
  • CHEM.3060L Forensic Science II Lab

³STEM Elective - Any 2000-level or higher science, technology, engineering, or math course will satisfy this requirement. This prepares students for teaching assignments outside their primary field. A lower-level biology or additional physics course would be suitable, but the exact course should be chosen in consultation with your chemistry advisor.

⁴Free electives can be satisfied by any UML course xxxx.1010 or above, with the following exceptions:

• No more than 60 credits of CHEM coursework may be applied towards the minimum 120 credits requirement to graduate.
• Courses with the MATH prefix must be at or above the level of MATH.1225 Precalculus Mathematics I in order to count towards the minimum 120 credits required to graduate.

⁵Students who complete the Forensic Chemistry sequence should plan to take 6 credits of free electives in the fall semester of their junior year.

⁶Students only need to complete enough free electives credits to reach 120 total credits. Students who take the Analytical Chemistry sequence during the junior year will need to complete 2 fewer free elective credits.

⁷Student who complete all the required UTCH courses will satisfy the requirements for the UTeach minor.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.

For students who entered fall 2024 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Minimum Credits = 120.

¹The Arts and Humanities (AH) and Social Sciences (SS) perspectives are subsets of the Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) requirements in the Core Curriculum. No more than two BOK courses can be taken with the same four-letter prefix.

The Core Curriculum also includes seven Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs). The Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) ELO is satisfied outside the major requirements. See the DCA course listing for a full list of classes that fulfill these requirements. The Class Search tool can be used to identify AH and SS courses that simultaneously satisfy the DCA or SRE requirement.

The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your college-based professional advisor and/or faculty advisor to determine how best to satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements.

²Sustainability Electives:

• 2000 level:
  • BIOL.2400 Evolution, Ecology and Conservation
  • ENVE.2010 Environmental Engineering Chemistry 
  • ENVI.2020 Earth Systems: Atmosphere and Oceans
  • ENVI.2050 Earth Systems: Biosphere and Global Change
  • POLI.1750 Introduction to Environmental Politics
  • POLI.2001 Comparative Environmental Politics
  • PUBH.2080 Principles of Environmental Health Science
• 3000/4000 level:
  • BIOL.4230 Biology of Global Change
  • CHEN.5250 Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
  • ENGY.3310 Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering
  • ECON.4150 Introduction to Environmental Economics
  • LGST.3670 Environmental Law  
  • PHYS.3160 Science and Technology in an Impoverished World
  • PLAS.5170 Materials for Renewable Energy and Sustainability
  • PLAS.5970 Plastics and Environment
  • PLAS.5960 Sustainable Polymers and Additives
  • POLI.3001 Environmental Security

All prerequisites for either elective must be satisfied in order to take the course. Additional elective courses may be approved and added to the list by the department curriculum committee. Individual exceptions may be approved for a specific student in consultation with the student’s advisor and approval of the department.

³Free electives can be satisfied by any UML course xxxx.1010 or above, with the following exceptions:

• Courses with the MATH prefix must be above the level of Calculus I.
• No more than 60 credits of CHEM coursework may be applied towards the minimum 120 credits requirement to graduate.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.