Chemistry 102 and 105 Prerequisites and Placement Testing
We have our chemistry courses set up with a prerequisite structure of:
- CHEM 100:
- foundational chemistry course, no prior chemistry knowledge required
- serves as a prerequisite to CHEM 102 or 105
- CHEM 102 or 105:
- general chemistry course with some prior chemistry knowledge required
- either CHEM 100 or satisfactory preparation from high school chemistry course as prerequisite.
So, then how do you determine if you have had a satisfactory preparation from your high school chemistry course? Prior to registering for courses (and attending your new student orientation), you will receive an email with a link to a quick online tool that will allow you to register for CHEM 100 or CHEM 102/105. Make sure to complete this prior to arriving at new student orientation.
In order situate you for greatest success, you will also take a chemistry placement test during the first week of class. The chemistry placement test will be administered on campus and in person. This test serves a number of purposes:
- Passing the placement test permits you to take CHEM 102 or 105; if you don’t pass the test, you will need to take CHEM 100
- Provides you with a detailed report on your performance in foundational content areas (which can serve as a review opportunity for you).
Students who do not have a grade of C or better in Chemistry 100 and who do not pass the placement test will be notified via email following the test (very often the same day or next morning). We will then work with these students to evaluate their performance, probability of success in Chemistry 102 and registration in Chemistry 100. All of this is in place to place students into the best chemistry starting point for their success.
Chemistry 104 Diagnostic Testing
The chemistry prerequisite for Chemistry 104 is either a grade of C or better in Chemistry 102 or a score of 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP Exam. As Chemistry 104 builds on Chemistry 102 material, during the first full week of class, all students in Chemistry 104 will take a diagnostic test of Chemistry 102 content knowledge. Results of this test will be helpful to students as they prepare to learn content of Chemistry 104 and these results, broken down by Chemistry 102 content areas, will be communicated to students with a personalized report sent via email following the test.