Program Planning

Where to Start?
Typical Course Sequence
Breadth Electives

Which CHEM course do I take first?

I completed BC high school Chemistry 12 or equivalent with a grade of B or higher

Start directly with CHEM 121

I completed BC high school Chemistry 12 or equivalent with a grade of C or lower

Start with CHEM 111

I never took Chemistry in high school and I plan to take more Chemistry courses in the future

Start with CHEM 111

Note: the prerequisite for CHEM 111 includes Pre-calculus 12. Students without Pre-calc 12 may take MATH 100 as a pre- or co-requisite to CHEM 111.

I never took Chemistry in high school and I only want to take Chemistry as an elective

The Department offers several elective courses for students interested in Chemistry with no Chemistry background:

CHEM 110 Introductory Chemistry (prereq: Pre-calc 12 or MATH 100 as pre/co-req)
CHEM 192 Chemistry in Your Home, Work, and Environment
CHEM 399 Special Topics in Chemistry and Society (prereq: completion of 45 units)
SCI 300 Science and its Impact on Society (prereq: completion of 60 units)

Visit this page to view course descriptions and tentative upcoming offerings offerings.

I have transfer credit for first-year CHEM from A-Levels, IB, or AP Chemistry

Visit SFU Admissions for information about IB, AP, and A-Level transfer credits.

Students who have transfer credit for Chemistry will receive credit for CHEM 121 (4) and CHEM 122 (2) and may begin with 200-level CHEM courses required for their programs. Note: transfer credit typically is not awarded for the Gen Chem II lab (CHEM 126) which may be a requirement in some programs. Please consult the SFU Calendar for your program requirements.

4-Year Course Sequence

Below is a typical course sequence for Chemistry Majors coming in with BC high school Chemistry 12, Pre-Calculus 12, and Physics 12 or equivalent. Variations are possible.

Term 1 (Fall)	Term 2 (Spring)	Term 3 (Summer)
YEAR 1
• CHEM 121-4 • MATH 151-3 • PHYS 120-3 (B-Sci) • PHYS 132-1 • Elective (B-Soc) Term total: 14 units Cumulative total: 14 units	• CHEM 122-2 • CHEM 126-2 • MATH 152-3 • PHYS 121-3 (B-Sci) • PHYS 133-1 • Elective (B-Hum) Term total: 14 units Cumulative total: 28 units	• Elective (B-Soc) Term total: 3 units Cumulative total: 31 units
Year 2
• CHEM 230-3 • CHEM 236W-3 • CHEM 281-4 • MATH 232-3 Term total: 13 units Cumulative total: 44 units	• CHEM 260-4 • CHEM 283-3 • CHEM 286-2 • MBB 222-3 Term total: 12 units Cumulative total: 56 units	• CHEM 210-2 • CHEM 216-2 • CHEM 266-2 • MATH 251-3 • Elective (B-Hum) Term total: 12 units Cumulative total: 68 units
Year 3
• CHEM 316-4 • CHEM 380-4 • Upper-division (UD) CHEM • Elective Term total: 14 units (11 UD) Cumulative total: 82 units (11 UD)	• CHEM 360-3 • CHEM 332-3 • 400-level CHEM • Elective Term total: 14 units Cumulative total: 96 units (22 UD)	Research (USRA, CHEM 481, etc.)
Year 4
• CHEM 366W-3 • Upper-division CHEM • Upper-division elective • Upper-division elective Term total: 12 units Cumulative total: 108 units (34 UD)	• 400-level CHEM • Upper-division CHEM • Upper-division elective • Upper-division elective Term total: 12 units Cumulative total: 120 units (46 UD)

Term 1 (Fall)

Term 2 (Spring)

Term 3 (Summer)

YEAR 1

• CHEM 121-4
• MATH 151-3
• PHYS 120-3 (B-Sci)
• PHYS 132-1
• Elective (B-Soc)

Term total: 14 units
Cumulative total: 14 units

• CHEM 122-2
• CHEM 126-2
• MATH 152-3
• PHYS 121-3 (B-Sci)
• PHYS 133-1
• Elective (B-Hum)

Term total: 14 units
Cumulative total: 28 units

• Elective (B-Soc)

Term total: 3 units
Cumulative total: 31 units

Year 2

• CHEM 230-3
• CHEM 236W-3
• CHEM 281-4
• MATH 232-3

Term total: 13 units
Cumulative total: 44 units

• CHEM 260-4
• CHEM 283-3
• CHEM 286-2
• MBB 222-3

Term total: 12 units
Cumulative total: 56 units

• CHEM 210-2
• CHEM 216-2
• CHEM 266-2
• MATH 251-3
• Elective (B-Hum)

Term total: 12 units
Cumulative total: 68 units

Year 3

• CHEM 316-4
• CHEM 380-4
• Upper-division (UD) CHEM
• Elective

Term total: 14 units (11 UD)
Cumulative total: 82 units (11 UD)

• CHEM 360-3
• CHEM 332-3
• 400-level CHEM
• Elective

Term total: 14 units
Cumulative total: 96 units (22 UD)

Research (USRA, CHEM 481, etc.)

Year 4

• CHEM 366W-3
• Upper-division CHEM
• Upper-division elective
• Upper-division elective

Term total: 12 units
Cumulative total: 108 units (34 UD)

• 400-level CHEM
• Upper-division CHEM
• Upper-division elective
• Upper-division elective

Term total: 12 units
Cumulative total: 120 units (46 UD)

Course offerings are subject to change.

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Breadth Electives

Chemistry students must complete 24 units of breadth courses, including:

6 units of Social Science (B-Soc)
6 units of Humanities (B-Hum)
6 units of Sciences (B-Sci) *This is normally satisfied by PHYS 120 and 121. Please speak with the Advisor if you are unsure.
6 units of undesignated breadth (i.e., any subject besides CHEM)

A list of all designated WQB courses can be found here . Courses with multiple breadth designations only count once. That is, if a course is both B-Hum/B-Soc, it will count as either B-Hum or B-Soc but not both. This does not apply to courses that are both quantitative and breadth (Q/B-Sci) or writing and breadth (W/B-Hum).

Students may select any of the upper division breadth courses linked below to satisfy both their upper division unit requirement and breadth requirement.

Upper Division Breadth Designated Elective Courses for Science Students