As a Letters & Science student, you will take a variety of courses across the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities to satisfy university-wide General Education Requirements plus additional classes in formal reasoning, international awareness, and research to satisfy Letters & Science Degree Requirements.
The sample below assumes no high school Foreign Language was taken and that the student placed into college-level Math and English. In addition, this sample reflects the degree requirements for students who began their college education in Fall of 2013 or later. If you started college coursework prior to Fall of 2013, your degree requirements may be different.
There are also quality requirements (minimum GPA) and residency requirements (number of classes taken at UWM).
For chemistry majors it is important to understand your degree requirements because they will differ depending on whether you choose to obtain a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
Requirements
| Core Chemistry (35 Credits) |
|
|---|---|
| Calculus (12 Credits) |
|
| Physics (Calculus-Based) (11 credits) |
|
| Advanced Chemistry Lab (4 Credits) |
|
| Biochemistry (3 Credits) |
|
| Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3 Credits) |
|
| Independent Research (1-6 credits) |
|
| Additional Requirements and Options | For any option, at least 15 credits must be taken in chemistry courses numbered 300 or above in residence at UWM. Undergraduate research is encouraged strongly for students in any of the chemistry options. n some cases, students may start research with a faculty member as early as their freshman year. Information about research opportunities may be obtained from the department office or from SAACS (the American Chemical Society student affiliate group). |
| GPA Requirements | The College requires that students attain at least a 2.000 GPA on all credits in the major, including any transfer work. |
In order to take CHEM 691 or CHEM 692, students must complete this application and submit a copy of their unofficial transcript (free from the Registrar’s Office) to the Undergraduate Advisor, Mrs. Gloria Freschl.
4 Year Plan
Our four-year plan shows one possible route to completing a BS degree with a standard chemistry major in four years.
Since most students choose the Bachelor of Science path, below are the requirements to earn the chemistry major, standard option.
Because there are many requirements and many pathways depending on your particular circumstances, it is very important to meet with your Letters & Science advisor at least once a semester to make sure you are on-track. Some classes may count towards more than one requirement and with early planning, you can save yourself time and money.
Sample Study Plan
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
L&S Humanities |
3-5 | ||
|
CHEM 102
|
5 | ||
|
ENGLISH 101
|
3 | ||
|
MATH 231
|
4 | ||
|
1st Semester Foreign Language |
3-5 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
L&S Social Science |
3-5 |
CHEM 104
|
5 |
ENGLISH 102
|
3 |
2nd semester Foreign Language |
3-5 |
MATH 232
|
4 |
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
CHEM 343
|
3 | ||
|
CHEM 221
|
4 | ||
|
MATH 233
|
4 | ||
|
PHYSICS 209
and PHYSICS 214 |
5 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
CHEM 345
|
3 |
CHEM 344
|
2 |
PHYSICS 210
and PHYSICS 215 |
5 |
MATH 234
|
4 |
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
Elective |
3 | ||
|
Arts GER |
3 | ||
|
L&S Social Science |
3 | ||
|
CHEM 501
|
3 | ||
|
CHEM 311
|
3 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
Elective |
3 |
Cultural Diversity |
3 |
CHEM 561
|
3 |
L&S Humanities |
3 |
OWC-B |
3 |
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | ||
|
Elective |
3 | ||
|
CHEM 582
|
2 | ||
|
CHEM 524
|
3 | ||
|
CHEM 563
|
1-2 | ||
|
CHEM 562
|
3 | ||
| Spring | Credits |
CHEM 691
or Chem 697 or CHEM 692 |
1-6 |
CHEM 584
|
2 |
CHEM 511
|
3 |
| Key | |
|---|---|
| (A) Arts GER | (Int’l) International |
| (HU) Humanities | (QL-A) Quantitative Literacy A |
| (NS) Natural Science | (QL-B) Quantitative Literacy B |
| (SS) Social Science | (OWC-A) Oral and Written Communication A |
| (CD) Cultural Diversity GER | (OWC-B) Oral and Written Communication B |