Chemistry, B.A.

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry.

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry is designed for students who are planning for a non-research career in a field related to Chemistry. Students learn a wide array of topics in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Students learn how to write scientific reports, analyze data, and place these results in a broader scientific context. 

Undergraduate Contact Information:

Dr. Ann Valentine, Chair
Beury Hall, Room 130
215-204-7118
ann.valentine@temple.edu

Dr. Vince Voelz, Vice Chair
Beury Hall, Room 240
215-204-1973
vincent.voelz@temple.edu

Dr. Steven Fleming, Faculty Advisor (Last names A-C)
Beury Hall, Room 446
215-204-0359
sfleming@temple.edu

Dr. Roy Keyer, Faculty Advisor (Last names D-G)
Beury Hall, Room 440
215-204-7286
roy.keyer@temple.edu

Dr. Dan Strongin, Faculty Advisor (Last names H-K)
Beury Hall, Room 246
215-204-7119
dstrongi@temple.edu

Dr. Jonathan Smith, Faculty Advisor (Last names L-O)
Beury Hall, Room 213
215-204-2252
jmsmith1@temple.edu

Dr. Vladi Wilent, Faculty Advisor (Last names P-S)
Beury Hall, Room 344
215-204-7186
vladi.wilent@temple.edu

Dr. Graham Dobereiner, Faculty Advisor (Last names T-Z)
Beury Hall, Room 342
215-204-3185
dob@temple.edu

Dr. Daniele Ramella, Faculty Advisor (Undergraduate research)
Beury Hall, Room 126B
215-204-1931
daniele.ramella@temple.edu

Bachelor of Arts 

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

  1. University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
    • Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
    • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses in their major at Temple. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
      All students must take:
      CHEM 4196Techniques of Chemical Measurement II5
      The second writing-intensive course may be chosen from:
      CHEM 3397Physical Chemistry Laboratory I2
      CHEM 3398Physical Chemistry Laboratory II2
    • Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
      • See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
      • Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
    • Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
  2. College Requirements
    • 45 Upper Level (2000+) credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG). 
    • 90 credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
    • Two (2) Upper Level (2000+) Liberal Art courses.
    • Second (2nd) Level of a Foreign Language (1002).
    • All students in the College of Science and Technology are required to take a one credit first year seminar. SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar is the appropriate course option for every entering first year CST major. Transfer students should use SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar to fulfill this requirement. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CST College Requirements page.
  3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (53 s.h.)
    At least 7 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 5 Chemistry courses must be completed at Temple.
    Chemistry
    Select one of the following:4
    General Chemistry I
    and General Chemistry Laboratory I
    Honors General Chemical Science I
    and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)
    Select one of the following:4
    General Chemistry II
    and General Chemistry Laboratory II
    Honors General Chemical Science II
    and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)
    Select one of the following:4
    Organic Chemistry I
    and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
    Organic Chemistry for Majors I
    and Organic Majors Laboratory I (F)
    Organic Chemistry for Honors I
    and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F)
    Select one of the following:4
    Organic Chemistry II
    and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
    Organic Chemistry for Majors II
    and Organic Majors Laboratory II (S)
    Organic Chemistry for Honors II
    and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S)
    CHEM 3103
    CHEM 3105
    Techniques of Chemical Measurement I
    and Introduction to Chemical Research Techniques
    4
    CHEM 3301Physical Chemistry Lecture I3
    CHEM 3302Physical Chemistry Lecture II3
    CHEM 4196Techniques of Chemical Measurement II5
    CHEM 3397Physical Chemistry Laboratory I2
    or CHEM 3398 Physical Chemistry Laboratory II
    Mathematics
    MATH 1041Calculus I4
    or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I
    MATH 1042Calculus II4
    or MATH 1942 Honors Calculus II
    MATH 2043Calculus III4
    or MATH 2943 Honors Calculus III
    Physics
    Select one of the following:4
    Elementary Classical Physics I
    Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F)
    General Physics I
    Honors General Physics I (F)
    Select one of the following:4
    Elementary Classical Physics II
    Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S)
    General Physics II
    Honors General Physics II (S)
    Total Credit Hours53
    (F) - Fall only course
    (S) - Spring only course

Calculation of Major GPA

Courses listed under the major requirements for the degree will be included in the calculation of the major GPA. Courses that could not apply toward the major as an elective or required course would not be counted in the calculation of the major GPA. This would include CHEM 1027, for example.

Distinction in Major

To graduate with Distinction in Major, students are required to achieve a 3.33 GPA or higher in all the Chemistry courses in their major.

Suggested Academic Plan

All prospective majors should schedule an appointment with one of the departmental advisors (names of current Faculty Advisors are available in the About section) to plan a program of study. The recommended order of courses for the major is listed below; a different order is acceptable as long as the student adheres to prerequisite requirements.

Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year

Year 1
FallCredit Hours
Select one of the following:4
General Chemistry I 
Honors General Chemical Science I (F) 
MATH 1041 or 1941Calculus I4
SCTC 1001CST First Year Seminar1
ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]4
Elective2
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following:4
General Chemistry II 
Honors General Chemical Science II (S) 
MATH 1042 or 1942Calculus II4
IH 0851 or 0951Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]3
Elective4
 Term Credit Hours15
Year 2
Fall
Select one of the following:4
Organic Chemistry I 
Organic Chemistry for Majors I (F) 
Organic Chemistry for Honors I (F) 
Select one of the following:4
Elementary Classical Physics I 
Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) 
General Physics I 
Honors General Physics I (F) 
MATH 2043 or 2943Calculus III4
IH 0852 or 0952Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]3
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following:4
Organic Chemistry II 
Organic Chemistry for Majors II (S) 
Organic Chemistry for Honors II (S) 
Select one of the following:4
Elementary Classical Physics II 
Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) 
General Physics II 
Honors General Physics II (S) 
GenEd Breadth Course3
Electives5
 Term Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
CHEM 3301Physical Chemistry Lecture I3
GenEd Breadth Course3
Electives9
 Term Credit Hours15
Spring
CHEM 3103Techniques of Chemical Measurement I13
CHEM 3105Introduction to Chemical Research Techniques11
CHEM 3302Physical Chemistry Lecture II3
GenEd Breadth Course3
Electives6
 Term Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
CHEM 4196Techniques of Chemical Measurement II [WI]5
GenEd Breadth Course3
Electives8
 Term Credit Hours16
Spring
Select one of the following:2
Physical Chemistry Laboratory I [WI] 
Physical Chemistry Laboratory II [WI] 
GenEd Breadth Course3-4
Electives10-9
 Term Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours: 123
(F) - Fall only course
(S) - Spring only course