Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Biochemistry: Chemistry Option

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Get Curious, Stay Reactive

The Chemistry/Biochemistry: Chemistry Option provides a comprehensive understanding of chemical principles and lab techniques, preparing you for careers in research, industry, healthcare, and beyond.

Whether you want to work as a chemist, pursue graduate studies, or enter a professional field like medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or environmental health, this program gives you the knowledge and skill set to succeed.

You’ll explore key areas of chemistry—including organic, inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry—and gain hands-on experience with both classical and modern instrumentation. You’ll also sharpen your critical thinking and communication skills while learning safe and effective lab practices.

To personalize your education, you can pair this major with one of four chemistry-focused minors:

  • Forensic Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Pre-Medical Professional
  • Professional Chemistry

A computer programming course is also strongly recommended to refine your data analysis and research skills. Ask an advisor how to include it in your academic plan:

Eric Abbey, PhD: eabbey@ewu.edu
Yao Houndonougbo, PhD: yhoundonoug@ewu.edu
Wes Steiner, PhD: wsteiner@ewu.edu
Ben Lundgren, PhD: blundgre@ewu.edu

Curriculum & Requirements

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Chemistry/Biochemistry–Chemistry Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

Notes: a computer programming course is strongly recommended–see your chemistry/biochemistry advisor.

Grade Requirements: due to the cumulative nature of chemistry courses, the department strongly recommends that students receive a grade ≥C in all prerequisite chemistry courses.

Required Courses
CHEM 171
& 171L
& CHEM 172
& CHEM 172L
& CHEM 173
& CHEM 173L		GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III		15
CHEM 304
& 304L		QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
and QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS LAB		6
CHEM 351ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I4
CHEM 352ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II4
CHEM 353ORGANIC CHEMISTRY III3
CHEM 372ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I3
CHEM 421PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I4
CHEM 422PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY II4
CHEM 432PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY 12
or CHEM 433 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY 2
CHEM 499DIRECTED STUDY4
or CHEM 495 INTERNSHIP
Required Supporting Courses
MATH/HONS 161CALCULUS I5
MATH 162CALCULUS II5
MATH 163CALCULUS III5
PHYS 151GENERAL PHYSICS I4
PHYS 152GENERAL PHYSICS II4
PHYS 153GENERAL PHYSICS III4
PHYS 161MECHANICS LABORATORY1
PHYS 162HEAT AND OPTICS LABORATORY1
PHYS 163ELECTRONICS LABORATORY I1
Electives–choose 300- 400-level CHEM courses – contact the chemistry/biochemistry advisor. At least 15 credits must be 400-level, CHEM 140 may be counted here if pursuing a Forensic Science Minor, BIOL 310 may be counted here if pursuing a Biochemistry or Pre-Med Minor.25
Required Senior Capstone
CHEM 491SENIOR THESIS5
Total Credits109

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CHEM 171
& 171L (Natural Science BACR 1)		5CHEM 172
& 172L (Natural Science BACR 2)		5CHEM 173
& 173L		5
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015MATH 1635
MATH 1615MATH 1625Social Science BACR 115
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CHEM 304
& 304L		6PHYS 1524PHYS 1534
PHYS 1514PHYS 1621PHYS 1631
PHYS 1611Social Science BACR 225Humanities & Arts BACR 215
Humanities & Arts BACR 115Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
 16 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CHEM 3514CHEM 3524CHEM 3533
Chemistry Elective24CHEM 3723Chemistry Elective24
Chemistry Elective22Chemistry Elective24Chemistry Elective24
Global Studies - graduation requirement15Diversity - graduation requirement15Elective - minor or general elective5
 15 16 16
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CHEM 4214CHEM 4224CHEM 491 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5
CHEM 4992CHEM 4322Chemistry Elective24
Elective - minor or general elective5CHEM 4992Chemistry Elective24
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5 
 16 13 13
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Electives–choose 25 credits of 300- 400-level CHEM courses – contact the chemistry/biochemistry advisor. At least 15 credits must be 400-level, CHEM 140 may be counted here if pursuing a Forensic Science Minor, BIOL 310 may be counted here if pursuing a Biochemistry or Pre-Med Minor.