Undergraduate Bulletin

Fall 2024

Requirements for the Majors and Minor in Chemistry (CHE)


The department of Chemistry offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.

Requirements for the Major (Bachelor of Science Degree)

All of the courses used to fulfill the requirements of the major (CHE, MAT, PHY, BIO, etc.) must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher, with the exception of three courses, for which the grade may be C-. G/P/NC grades are not acceptable in courses taken for the major. No transferred course with a grade lower than C may be used to fulfill any major requirement.

Completion of the major requires a minimum of 66 credits.

A. Core Requirements

1. CHE 131 (or CHE 129 and CHE 130), CHE 132 General Chemistry I, II or CHE 152 Molecular Science I
2. CHE 133, CHE 134 General Chemistry Lab I, II or CHE 154 Molecular Science Laboratory I
3. CHE 301, CHE 302 Physical Chemistry I, II
4. CHE 303 Solution Chemistry Laboratory
5. CHE 321, CHE 322 Organic Chemistry I, II, or CHE 331, CHE 332 Molecular Science II, III
6. CHE 375 Inorganic Chemistry I
7. CHE 327 Organic Chemistry Laboratory or CHE 383 Introductory Synthetic and Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques
8. CHE 385 Tools of Chemistry
9. MAT 131, MAT 132 (Calculus I, II) and MAT 203 (Calculus III with applications) (See note 1 for possible substitutions). If students do not place into MAT 125 or 131 on the basis of the math placement examination, MAT 123 (or MAT 119/MAT 123) is a required course for the major.
10. PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134 Classical Physics I, II (See note 2 for possible substitutions)

B. Area Requirements

One of the following options:

1. Chemical Science Option

2. Biological Chemistry Option (See note 3)

3. Chemical Physics Option

  • CHE 304 Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory
  • CHE 351 Quantum Chemistry or CHE 353 Chemical Thermodynamics
  • CHE 357 Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy Laboratory
  • AMS 210 or MAT 211 or AMS 261 or MAT 303 (See note 5)
  • PHY 251/PHY 252 Modern Physics and Laboratory
  • One elective chosen from: CHE 358 Computing in Chemistry,  PHY 277  Computation for Physics and Astronomy,  PHY 300  Waves and Optics,  PHY 307  Physical and Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, PHY 301 Electromagnetic Theory I,  PHY 303  Mechanics, or  PHY 306  Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics (the last three courses require other physics prerequisites or permission of the instructor).

4. Environmental Chemistry Option

  • CHE 304 Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory
  • CHE 310 Chemistry in Technology and the Environment
  • CHE 357  Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy Laboratory or ENV 321 Chemistry for Environmental Science Laboratory
  • CHE 328 Synthetic and Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques or CHE 384 Intermediate Synthetic and
    Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques
  • BIO 201 Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems or BIO 113 Applied Ecology
  • ATM 397 Air Pollution and Its Control (See note 6 for possible substitutions)

5. Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry Option

  • ATM 205 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
  • MAR 308 Principles of Instrumental Analysis
  • MAR 333 Coastal Oceanography
  • MAR 351 Introduction to Ocean Chemistry
  • Two electives chosen from: MAR 301 Environmental Microbiology, MAR 302 Marine Microbiology and Microbial Ecology, MAR 334 Remote Sensing of the Environment, MAR 336 Marine Pollution, MAR 394 Environmental Toxicology and Public Health, ATM 305 Global Atmospheric Change, ATM 345 Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics, ATM 397 Air Pollution and Its Control

C. Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Each student majoring in Chemistry must use  CHE 303, CHE 304, or CHE 384 to satisfy the writing requirement for the Chemistry major (a satisfactory grade is required). These courses require several papers which are evaluated for cogency, clarity, and mechanics, and satisfy the university Stony Brook Curriculum WRTD learning objective.

Notes:

  1. Alternate Mathematics Sequences
    The following alternate sequences may be substituted for major requirements or prerequisites: MAT 125  (or MAT 130/MAT 125), MAT 126, MAT 127 or MAT 141, MAT 142 or MAT 171 or AMS 151, AMS 161 for MAT 131, MAT 132; AMS 210 or MAT 211  or AMS 261 for MAT 203. Equivalency for MAT courses as indicated by earning the appropriate score on a placement examination will be accepted as fulfillment of the requirement without the necessity of substituting other credits.
  2. Alternate Physics Sequences
    The following alternate sequences may be substituted for physics requirements or prerequisites: PHY 141/PHY 133, PHY 142/PHY 134 or PHY 125, PHY 126/PHY 133, PHY 127/PHY 134 for PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134.
  3. It is recommended that students selecting the biological option take a minimum of one BIO lab (e.g., BIO 204).
  4. CHE 346/461 may not be used as both an elective and as a substitute for BIO 361.
  5. The Chemical Physics option requires two math courses in addition to Calculus I and II.
  6. The following substitutions for ATM 397 need additional prerequisites: ENV 315/GEO 315 Groundwater Hydrology, MAR 336 Marine Pollution, MAR 351 Introduction to Ocean Chemistry.
  7. Transfer Credit
    At least 12 credits of upper-division work in chemistry must be taken at Stony Brook; these must be taken in at least two of the major subdisciplines (inorganic, physical, and organic chemistry).
  8. The American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training has set nationally recognized standards for professional preparation in chemistry. The Chemistry faculty recommends that students intending to pursue careers in the chemical sciences secure ACS certification along with their Bachelor of Science degree.

    To obtain ACS certification, students who elect the  chemical science  option must complete CHE 346/461 or BIO 361.

    Students who elect the  biological chemistry  option must complete one additional elective in chemistry or a related field, CHE 304, and one of the following: 1. CHE 487 (6 or more credits), 2. CHE 495-496, 3. CHE 357 and CHE 487 (3 or more credits), or 4. a research experience in the chemical sciences at another college, university, or government laboratory of at least 180 hours (see note 10).

    Students who elect the  chemical physics  option must complete CHE 346/461 and one of the following:
    1. CHE 328 or CHE 384 and CHE 487 (3 or more credits), 2. CHE 487 (6 or more credits), 3. CHE 495-496,
    or 4. a research experience in the chemical sciences of at least 180 hours at another college, university, or
    government laboratory (see note 10).

    Students who elect the  marine and atmospheric chemistry  option must complete CHE 346/461, CHE 328 or
    CHE 384, and one of the following: 1. CHE 487 (6 or more credits), 2. CHE 495-496, 3. CHE 357 and CHE
    487 (3 or more credits), or 4. a research experience in the chemical sciences at another college, university,
    or government laboratory of at least 180 hours (see note 10). 

    Students who elect the  environmental chemistry  option must complete CHE 346/461 and either CHE 487 (3 credits), CHE 495-496, or a research experience in the chemical sciences at another college, university, or government laboratory of at least 180 hours (see note 10).

  9. Additional Areas of Study
    Because knowledge of computer programming is of great value to all chemists, CHE 358 or other course in computer programming is recommended.
  10. Students who fulfill ACS requirements with an off-campus research experience must register for CHE 487 (0 credits). All students using CHE 487 to fulfill ACS requirements must prepare a written research report that will be evaluated by a Stony Brook Chemistry faculty member.

Requirements for the Major (Bachelor of Arts Degree)

All of the courses used to fulfill the requirements of the major (CHE, MAT, ESG, PHY, etc.) must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher, with the exception of three courses, for which the grade may be C-. G/P/NC grades are not acceptable in courses taken for the major. No transferred course with a grade lower than C may be used to fulfill any major requirement.

Completion of the major requires approximately 55 to 56 credits.

A. Study Within the Area of Chemistry

  1. CHE 131, CHE 132 General Chemistry I, II or CHE 152 Molecular Science I
  2. CHE 133, CHE 134 General Chemistry Lab I, II or CHE 154 Molecular Science Laboratory I
  3. CHE 301, CHE 302 Physical Chemistry I, II
  4. CHE 303 Solution Chemistry Laboratory and one additional laboratory course (CHE 304 or CHE 384)
  5. CHE 321, CHE 322 Organic Chemistry I, IIB or CHE 331, CHE 332 Molecular Science II, III
  6. CHE 327 Organic Chemistry Laboratory or CHE 383 Introductory Synthetic and Spectroscopic Laboratory Techniques
  7. CHE 375 Inorganic Chemistry I
  8. CHE 385 Tools of Chemistry

B.  Courses in Related Fields

  1. MAT 131, MAT 132 Calculus I, II and MAT 203 Calculus III with applications (See note 1)
  2. PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134 Classical Physics I, II and labs (See note 2)

C. Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Each student majoring in Chemistry must use  CHE 303, CHE 304, or CHE 384 to satisfy the writing requirement for the Chemistry major (a satisfactory grade is required). These courses require several papers which are evaluated for cogency, clarity, and mechanics, and satisfy the university Stony Brook Curriculum WRTD learning objective.

Notes:

  1. Alternate Mathematics Sequences
    The following alternate sequences may be substituted for major requirements or prerequisites: MAT 125  (or MAT 130/MAT 125), MAT 126, MAT 127 or MAT 141, MAT 142 or MAT 171 or AMS 151, AMS 161 for MAT 131, MAT 132; AMS 210 or MAT 211  for  MAT 203. Equivalency for MAT courses as indicated by earning the appropriate score on a placement examination will be accepted as fulfillment of the requirement without the necessity of substituting other credits.
  2. Alternate Physics Sequences
    The following alternate sequences may be substituted for physics requirements or prerequisites: PHY 125, PHY 126/PHY 133, PHY 127/PHY 134, or PHY 141, PHY 142 for PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134.
  3. Transfer Credit
    At least 12 credits of upper-division work in chemistry must be taken at Stony Brook; these must be taken in at least two of the major subdisciplines (inorganic, physical, and organic chemistry).

Honors Program

Students who have maintained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in science and mathematics through the junior year are eligible for departmental honors in chemistry. An additional requirement for honors is the submission of a senior thesis based on research performed during the senior year. The student will be given an oral examination in May by his or her research supervisor and the undergraduate research committee. The awarding of honors requires the recommendation of this committee and constitutes recognition of superior performance in research and scholarly endeavors. If the student has also achieved a 3.40 cumulative grade point average in chemistry courses taken in the senior year, honors will be conferred.

Chemistry Secondary Teacher Education Program

See the Education and Teacher Certifica­tion entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.

Requirements for the Minor

The Chemistry minor requires 18-22 credits, which include a General Chemistry Lecture sequence, a General Chemistry Laboratory sequence, plus 12 credits of CHE 300-level courses or research. A minimum of 9 upper division CHE credits must be earned in courses not used towards the student's major. All courses for the minor must be completed for a letter grade of C or better or S. All students must complete a minimum of 8 upper division credits in 300-level or chemistry research courses in residency at Stony Brook in order to qualify for the minor. All courses for the minor must be completed for a letter grade of C or higher or S. P/NC grades are not acceptable in courses taken for the minor. All students must complete a minimum of 8 upper division credits in 300-level chemistry or chemistry research courses in residency at Stony Brook.

Completion of the minor requires the following courses:

A. General Chemistry lecture sequence

B. General Chemistry laboratory sequence

C. 12 credits of CHE 300-level courses or CHE research (CHE 487, CHE 495-496)
Special restriction: A minimum of 9 upper division CHE credits must be earned in courses not required for the student's major.

Bachelor of Science Degree/Master of Science Degree Program

A student interested in this research-intensive graduate program, intended to prepare students for professional employ­ment in the chemical or pharmaceutical industries, may apply for admission at the end of the junior year. The program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the end of the fourth year and a Master of Science in Chemistry at the end of the fifth year. During the senior year, the student is expected to take two 500-level CHE courses,  GRD 500  Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship, and begin research in the senior research sequence. In the fifth year, the student works full-time on research, earning 24 credits in CHE 599.