Chemistry (Major, Minor)

Students interested in the Chemistry Major, including those who would like to transfer from another institution, should contact a department representative prior to arrival on campus. Students should declare the Major and indicate choice of Program by the beginning of their second semester of study.

For students interested in a career in pharmacy, Notre Dame's School of Pharmacy offers the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program and a 3-4 (B.A./Pharm.D.) program for Chemistry majors. A 3-2 dual degree program in engineering is also available. Chemistry majors may pursue the B.A. or B.A./M.A.T. program in secondary education as well.

Chemistry Majors and Minors must complete all courses required for the Major/Minor with a minimum grade of C.

Required Courses for a Major in Chemistry   

       CHM-110 and CHM-111 General Chemistry I and II (8)
       CHM-210 and CHM-211 Organic Chemistry I and II (8)
       CHM-301 and CHM-302 Physical Chemistry I and II (8)
       CHM-303 Analytical Chemistry (4)
       CHM-305 Instrumental Analysis (4)
       CHM-350 Chemical Literature (1)
       CHM-411 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (4)
       CHM-450 Chemistry Seminar (1)
       MAT-211 and MAT-212 Mathematics through Calculus II (8)
       PHY-101 and PHY-102 General Physics I and II (8)

       Two courses chosen from:

       CHM-325 Survey of Biochemistry (4)
       CHM-401 Advanced Topics in Chemistry (4)
       CHM-407, CHM-408 Chemical Research I, II (8)
       CHM-425, CHM-426 Biochemistry I, II (8)
       CHM-463 Independent Study in Chemistry (4)

Special advanced courses offered at cooperating colleges/universities may be allowed with permission of department advisor and chair. No more than two 300- and/or 400-level chemistry courses (with a minimum grade of C) from a cooperating institution may be used to fulfill requirements for the major.

       One course chosen from:

       MAT-213 Calculus III (3)
       MAT-315 Differential Equations (3)
       PHY-201 Modern Physics (3)
       CST-295 C++ Object-oriented Programming (3)

       Another advanced math/physics or computer course may be substituted with permission of the Chair.

Minor in Chemistry

       CHM-110 and 111 General Chemistry I and II (8)
       CHM-210 and 211 Organic Chemistry I and II (8)

       Choice of two courses with laboratory (with prerequisite) from the following:

       CHM-301 Physical Chemistry I

       CHM-302 Physical Chemistry II

       CHM-303 Analytical Chemistry

       CHM-305 Instrumental Analysis

       CHM-325 Survey of Biochemistry

       CHM-401 Advanced Topics in Chemistry

       CHM-425 Biochemistry I or CHM-426 Biochemistry II.

       All 300-level and 400-level courses must be taken at Notre Dame.

Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental and Pre-Veterinary Programs

The Chemistry Department's pre-professional program coordinator will assist the student in selecting courses appropriate to her area of interest.

Students complete all chemistry courses listed under the Chemistry Major. Students may substitute one advanced science course (approved by the faculty advisor and program coordinator) for CHM-302, CHM-305 or one of the option courses.

       Additional requirements:

       BIO-111 Fundamentals of Biology (4)

       Three 4-credit courses from the following list:

       BIO-Vertebrate Anatomy, Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Biochemistry I and/or II, or Developmental Biology.

       Students following this program of study should consider the Minor in Biology.

Students should consult the American Medical Association Bulletin, the admission requirements of American dental schools, and individual medical, dental and veterinary school bulletins or admission officers for more specific requirements. Students also should contact the Pre-Professional Advisory Committee early in their course of studies.

Secondary Education Certification—Approved Program in Chemistry

Students who wish to prepare for teaching in secondary schools complete the courses listed under the Chemistry Major along with BIO-111 Fundamentals of Biology and PHY-155 Introduction to Astronomy. In their senior year, pre-service teachers are encouraged to complete CHM-407 Chemical Research I as one of the option courses. Either CHM-411 or one of the option courses is waived with consent of the Program Coordinator and faculty advisor. One other course substitution may be made when appropriate. In addition, students complete professional education courses offered by the College of Education for the B.A. or B.A./M.A.T. Program.

Dual Degree Program in Chemistry and Engineering

Qualified students with an interest in one of the engineering disciplines, especially chemical engineering or materials science, may obtain a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry from Notre Dame and a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Columbia University, The Johns Hopkins University, or the University of Maryland. Students complete their first three years of study at Notre Dame taking general and advanced courses toward the Chemistry degree. See the Engineering section for specific program information.

Liberal Arts

The student follows the Program of Study outlined in the Liberal Arts section of the catalog

B.A. Chemistry — Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Options

Students may wish to complete a degree in Chemistry prior to entering a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. This option allows the student to present a strong application and provides a second degree. Many applicants to Pharm.D. programs already hold an undergraduate degree. Students may improve their prospects for admission by using this option and it provides additional career paths. To do so, students complete required courses for the Chemistry Major as indicated (including Calculus II and Physics II). Students prepare for applying to a School of Pharmacy by completing necessary additional prerequisites in sciences (e.g. biology courses) and other specific courses in the liberal arts. Students take these courses based on the admission requirements of the Pharmacy School to which they will apply.

Students wishing to apply to the Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy must complete additional courses as indicated in the Pharmacy Studies section. The student consults with her academic advisor or the Pre-pharmacy Coordinator no later than their junior year to assess academic readiness to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) exam. The student follows the appropriate application procedure. If a student is interested in a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, she may apply to a graduate program.

Accelerated B.A./Pharm.D. Program (3 + 4)

The Department of Chemistry offers Women's College students an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree on an accelerated basis in combination with their pursuit of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the School of Pharmacy. Consult the Pharmacy Studies section of the Catalog for more information.

Four-Year Plan

Below is a sample Program of Study for the Chemistry Major.

Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.

See Course Descriptions for a list of required courses and description of course and program options.