CHEM-BS - Chemistry (BS)
Download as PDF
Program Overview
The mission of the undergraduate program in Chemistry is to provide students with foundational knowledge in the subdisciplines of chemistry as well as depth in one or more advanced areas, including cutting-edge research. Introductory course work allows students to gain hands-on experience with chemical phenomena, gather data, and propose models and explanations for their observations, thus participating in the scientific process from the start. In advanced labs and lectures, students build an in-depth knowledge of the molecular principles of chemistry empowering them to become molecular engineers comfortable with the methodologies necessary to solve complex problems and effectively articulate their ideas to the scientific community. Ultimately the analytical thinking and problem solving skills developed within the chemistry major make students successful candidates for a wide range of careers in chemistry and beyond, including engineering, teaching, consulting, medicine, law, science writing, and science policy.
Lab Courses
Expect for AY 2021-22, students entering the program above course are required to take the short course course Chemical Laboratory and Safety Skills prior to any course with a lab component; CHEM100 is only offered the second week of Autumn Quarter .
A department-approved lab coat and safety glasses will be provided to each student.
Requirements for students who entered Stanford in Autumn 2021 and later. For more senior students, consult the Bulletin matching the year of matriculation (i.e., starting at) Stanford.
Requirements for students entering Stanford Autumn 2021 and later. For more senior students, consult the Bulletin matching the year of matriculation (i.e., starting at) Stanford.
Course List | ||
UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|
Genetics | 4 | |
Physiology | 4 | |
Cell Biology | 4 | |
Introduction to Chemical Engineering | 4 | |
Chemical Process Modeling, Dynamics, and Control | 3 | |
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 3 | |
Multi-Component and Multi-Phase Thermodynamics | 3 | |
Fluid Mechanics | 4 | |
Energy and Mass Transport | 4 | |
Microkinetics - Molecular Principles of Chemical Kinetics | 3 | |
Data Science and Machine Learning Approaches in Chemical and Materials Engineering | 3 | |
Programming Abstractions | 3-5 | |
Introduction to Materials Science, Nanotechnology Emphasis | 4 | |
Integral Calculus of Several Variables | 5 | |
Differential Equations with Linear Algebra, Fourier Methods, and Modern Applications | 5 | |
Functions of a Complex Variable | 3 | |
Applied Group Theory | 3 | |
Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory | 3 | |
Partial Differential Equations | 3 | |
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties | 4 | |
Advanced Mechanics | 4 | |
Statistical Methods in Engineering and the Physical Sciences | 5 | |
Theory of Probability | 4 | |
Additional Information
Chemistry Major Schedules
Below are possible schedules for students entering Stanford in Autumn 2021 with advanced placement in Chemistry and Math and later wanting to complete the traditional pathway and the biological chemistry pathway, each followed by an accelerated schedule.
Schedule for Traditional Chemistry Pathway
FIRST YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Chemical Principles I (course) | 5 |
|
|
Calculus (course) | 3 |
|
|
Chemical Principles II (course) |
| 5 |
|
Calculus (course) |
| 3 |
|
Programming Methodology (course) |
| 5 |
|
Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (course) |
|
| 5 |
Calculus (course) |
|
| 4 |
Year Total: | 8 | 13 | 9 |
| |||
SECOND YEAR | UNITS | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (course) | 5 | ||
Mechanics (course) | 4 |
| |
Classical Mechanics Laboratory (course) | 1 |
| |
Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (course) | 5 | ||
Inorganic Chemistry I (course) | 4 | ||
Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (course) |
|
| 5 |
Foundations of Physical Chemistry (course) |
|
| 4 |
Year Total: | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| |||
THIRD YEAR | UNITS | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Biochemistry I (course) | 4 |
|
|
Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (course) | 3 |
|
|
Organic Chemistry Laboratory (course) | 3 | ||
Synthesis Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Electricity and Magnetism (course) |
| 4 | |
Electricity and Magnetism Lab (course) |
| 1 | |
Year Total: | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| |||
FOURTH YEAR | UNITS | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Physical Chemistry II (course) | 3 |
|
|
Electrochemical Measurements Lab (course) | 3 |
|
|
Physical Chemistry III (course) |
| 3 |
|
Spectroscopy Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Capstone: Biophysical Chemistry Seminar (course) |
|
| 3 |
Inorganic Chemistry II (course) | 3 | ||
Year Total: | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| |||
Total Units in Sequence: | 94 | ||
Accelerated Schedule for the Traditional Chemistry Pathway
FIRST YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Chemical Principles: From Molecules to Solids (course) | 5 |
|
|
Programming Methodology (course) | 5 |
|
|
Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (course) |
| 5 |
|
Mechanics (course) |
| 4 |
|
Classical Mechanics Laboratory (course) |
| 1 |
|
Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (course) | 5 |
| 5 |
Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (course) | |||
Year Total: | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| |||
SECOND YEAR | UNITS | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Biochemistry I (course) | 4 |
|
|
Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (course) | 3 |
|
|
Organic Chemistry Laboratory (course) | 3 |
|
|
Synthesis Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Inorganic Chemistry I (course) |
| 4 |
|
Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (course) |
|
| 5 |
Foundations of Physical Chemistry (course) |
|
| 4 |
Electricity and Magnetism (course) | 4 | ||
Electricity and Magnetism Lab (course) | 1 | ||
Year Total: | 10 | 12 | 9 |
| |||
THIRD YEAR | UNITS | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Physical Chemistry II (course) | 3 |
|
|
Electrochemical Measurements Lab (course) | 3 |
|
|
Physical Chemistry III (course) |
| 3 |
|
Spectroscopy Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Inorganic Chemistry II (course) |
|
| 3 |
Capstone: Biophysical Chemistry Seminar (course) | 3 | ||
Year Total: | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| |||
Total Units in Sequence: | 79 | ||
Schedule for Biological Chemistry Pathway
First Year | Units | ||
|---|---|---|---|
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Chemical Principles I (course) | 5 |
|
|
Calculus (course) | 3 |
|
|
Chemical Principles II (course) |
| 5 |
|
Calculus (course) |
| 3 |
|
Programming Methodology (course) |
| 5 |
|
Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (course) |
|
| 5 |
Calculus (course) |
|
| 4 |
Year Total: | 8 | 13 | 9 |
| |||
Second Year | Units | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (course) | 5 |
|
|
Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (course) | 5 |
|
|
Inorganic Chemistry I (course) |
| 4 |
|
Mechanics (course) |
| 4 |
|
Classical Mechanics Laboratory (course) |
| 1 |
|
Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (course) |
|
| 5 |
Foundations of Physical Chemistry (course) |
|
| 4 |
Year Total: | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| |||
Third Year | Units | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Biochemistry I (course) | 4 |
|
|
Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (course) | 3 |
|
|
Organic Chemistry Laboratory (course) | 3 |
|
|
Synthesis Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Biochemistry II (course) |
| 3 |
|
Cell Biology (course) |
| 4 | |
Biological Chemistry Laboratory (course) |
|
| 3 |
Electricity and Magnetism (course) |
| 4 | |
Electricity and Magnetism Lab (course) |
| 1 | |
Year Total: | 10 | 11 | 7 |
| |||
Fourth Year | Units | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Physical Chemistry II (course) | 3 |
|
|
Spectroscopy Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Biophysical Chemistry (course) |
|
| 3 |
Year Total: | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| |||
Total Units in Sequence: | 95 | ||
Accelerated Schedule for the Biological Chemistry Pathway
FIRST YEAR | UNITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Chemical Principles: From Molecules to Solids (course) | 5 |
|
|
Programming Methodology (course) | 5 |
|
|
Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules (course) |
| 5 |
|
Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Modern Applications (course) | 5 | ||
Mechanics (course) |
| 4 | |
Classical Mechanics Laboratory (course) |
| 1 | |
Understanding the Natural and Unnatural World through Chemistry (course) |
|
| 5 |
Year Total: | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| |||
SECOND YEAR | UNITS | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Organic Polyfunctional Compounds (course) | 3 |
|
|
Organic Chemistry Laboratory (course) | 3 |
|
|
Inorganic Chemistry I (course) |
| 4 |
|
Synthesis Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Physiology (course) |
| 4 | |
Electricity and Magnetism (course) | 4 | ||
Electricity and Magnetism Lab (course) | 1 | ||
Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice (course) |
|
| 5 |
Foundations of Physical Chemistry (course) |
|
| 4 |
Year Total: | 6 | 12 | 13 |
| |||
THIRD YEAR | UNITS | ||
AUTUMN | WINTER | SPRING | |
Physical Chemistry II (course) | 3 |
|
|
Biochemistry I (course) | 4 |
|
|
Spectroscopy Laboratory (course) |
| 3 |
|
Biochemistry II (course) |
| 3 |
|
Biological Chemistry Laboratory (course) |
|
| 3 |
Biophysical Chemistry (course) |
|
| 3 |
Year Total: | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| |||
Total Units in Sequence: | 80 | ||
Admission to the honors program requires a grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 in science courses and an overall GPA of 3.0 in all University courses. Beyond the standard B.S. course requirements for each track, 9 units of research credit and 9 units of course work need to be completed during the junior and senior academic years. A thesis, approved by the honors advisor, must be completed during the senior year. The thesis must be submitted to the research advisor, at least one week before the end of regular classes in Spring Quarter, and must be completed by May 15 to be considered for the Firestone award. The use of a single course for multiple requirements for honors, major, minor, or coterminal requirements is not allowed. Students who wish to be admitted to the honors program should register with the Student Services Manager in Spring Quarter of their junior year.
course Advanced Undergraduate Research research units towards honors may be completed, after being accepted into the program, in any laboratory within Chemistry or with courtesy faculty in Chemistry. Other chemical research can be approved through a formal petitioning of the Undergraduate Studies Committee. At least 3 units must be completed during the senior year. Participation in a summer research program in an academic setting between junior and senior years may be used in lieu of 3 units of course Advanced Undergraduate Research. For each quarter, a progress report reflecting the units undertaken is required. This report must be signed by the honors advisor, and filed in the department student services office before the last day of finals in the quarter during which the research is performed.
The 9 units of course work for honors must be completed from courses approved by the Undergraduate Studies Committee and taken for a letter grade. At least six of these units need to be taken from the following CHEM courses: