DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY — OTHER INFORMATION

Recommendations

Beyond the minimum requirements for the degree, chemistry majors are encouraged to take elective courses chosen from among the following offerings: CHEM 351 (Organic Qualitative Analysis), BIOCHM 383 and 385 (Biochemistry with lab), CHEM 361 (Analytical Instrumentation), and CHEM 478 (Readings in Chemistry). Research participation for credit generally begins in the junior or senior year with enrollment in CHEM 481 and 482 (Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry) or CHEM 491 (Senior Thesis in Chemistry).

In addition to the preceding undergraduate offerings, qualified students may enroll for undergraduate credit in the department’s offerings for the Master’s Degree Program in Chemistry. Suitable courses include

CHEM 658 (Medicinal Chemistry)
CHEM 601 and 602 (Chemical Dynamics I & II)
CHEM 611 and 612 (Chemical Structure I & II)
CHEM 621 and 622 (Chemical Synthesis I & II).
CHEM 671 (Introduction to Green Chemistry)

A list of current graduate course offerings is available from the department office.

Additional course work in mathematics, physics, or biology is also encouraged.

Any student interested in majoring in chemistry should immediately contact the Chemistry Department to be assigned a faculty advisor who will help plan a sequence of courses suitable to the student’s interests.

Advanced Work

The department encourages its majors to take CHEM 481 and 482 (Advanced Laboratory) or CHEM 491 (Senior Thesis). These courses generally provide a unique learning experience for the undergraduate scholar. Students are guided in advanced level laboratory work by members of the faculty in the faculty members’ research laboratories.

Honors

Students may be awarded departmental honors in chemistry by satisfying either of the following sets of requirements:

Option One:

maintaining a cumulative average of at least 3.0, and
maintaining a cumulative average in chemistry courses of at least 3.5.

Option Two:

maintaining a cumulative average of at least 3.0,
maintaining a cumulative average in chemistry courses of at least 3.3,
satisfactorily completing a minimum of three credit hours of CHEM 491 (Senior Thesis in Chemistry), and
- satisfactorily defending a thesis that the Chemistry Department faculty deems worthy of honors recognition.

Litton Industries Scholarship

Two scholarships established by Litton Industries are awarded to undergraduate students majoring in science or mathematics who will be at the junior or senior level in the coming fall semester. Prospective candidates should see the department chairperson for more information.

Alton J Brann Scholarship

Two scholarships established by Alton J Brann are awarded to undergraduate students majoring in science or mathematics who have a minimum of 30 credits but no more than 90 credits. Prospective candidates should see the department chairperson for more information.

For both scholarships, the selection of the scholarship winners will be based primarily upon the student’s scholastic achievement and character. Financial need will not be a primary factor. Qualified students may apply directly or may be nominated by a faculty member. Applications and nominations MUST contain BOTH a letter from the student stating his or her goals and aspirations AND a letter from a faculty member who has reviewed the student’s qualifications for the award.

Transfer Credit Policy

Approval of the department chairperson is required for transfer credit to fulfill major requirements. A minimum of 16 credit hours must be taken within UMass Boston’s Chemistry Department; these courses must be at or above the 300 level.

Note: Students may not receive graduation credit for more than one introductory two-course sequence in chemistry. Thus, a student can receive credit for, at most, one of the following first-semester courses: CHEM 101, 103, or 107; and for, at most, one of the following second-semester courses: CHEM 102, 104, or 108.

CLEP/AP Credit Policy

Students may receive CLEP or AP credit for chemistry in the following cases:

Students who have taken the Advanced Placement Examination in Chemistry and have scored a “3” will be exempted from taking CHEM 103 (Chemical Principles I) at UMass Boston.
Students who score a “4” or higher on the AP exam will be exempted from taking CHEM 103-104 (Chemical Principles I and II) and will be granted four natural science distribution credits (i.e., one course) towards graduation.
The Chemistry Department accepts a score of 50 and above on the CLEP exam. Students who meet this requirement will be exempted from CHEM 103-104 (Chemical Principles I and II) and will receive eight natural science distribution credits towards graduation (i.e., two courses). For more information on the CLEP exam, contact the University Advising Center.

Students who have received natural science distribution credits by means of either the CLEP or the AP examination and who subsequently take CHEM 103, Chemical Principles I, and/or CHEM 104, Chemical Principles II, at UMass Boston will have the credits received through CLEP or AP scores replaced with credits received from the chemistry course.

Specifically, students who scored a “4” or higher on the AP exam will have four natural science distribution credits replaced; students who scored “50” or above on the CLEP will have four natural science distribution credits replaced for each Chemical Principles course taken.

The Biochemistry Major

This major is jointly administered by the Departments of Chemistry and Biology. For further information, see the “Biochemistry Major” section of this publication.

Double Major/Minor Policy

Students majoring in chemistry may minor in another department or program, or may undertake a double major in another department or program, but may not undertake a double major in biochemistry.