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Department of Chemistry | Faculty of Science Simon Fraser University Calendar | Summer 2025

Chemistry Major

Bachelor of Science

Students intending to specialize in Chemistry

The point at which a high school or regional college student enters the chemistry program is governed by the student's subject knowledge. CHEM 110 and 111 are not required for the BSc degree but are available as electives to those with no chemistry knowledge or who are starting from BC high school chemistry 11. Those with BC high school chemistry 12 (or equivalent) normally start with CHEM 121. Major and honours students must fulfil program requirements below. Whether majoring in chemistry or not, students may not enrol in any CHEM course for which a D grade was obtained in any prerequisite.

Students are encouraged to complete the Department of Physics' standard stream (PHYS 120, 121, 132, 133) or advanced stream (PHYS 125, 126, 132, 133). Students may also choose to complete the studio physics stream (PHYS 140, 141). Students who complete the life sciences stream (PHYS 101, 102, 130, with a minimum B grade), which has a BISC 100 or 101 or 102 corequisite, should have sufficient preparation for the major program.

The following statements clarify and standardize the minimum requirements that a student must fulfil to complete a chemistry course as well as those to pass a combination lecture/laboratory course.

Course non-completion

The following will constitute non-completion of the required material in a chemistry course.

  • not writing the final examination or its equivalent

  • not completing the required minimum number of experiments in a laboratory course or the laboratory component of a course

  • not completing additional or alternative material specified by the instructor

The letter grade N will be awarded in these cases.

Students must pass both the lecture and laboratory components individually to obtain a passing grade in lecture/laboratory combination courses.

Continuance Requirement for Chemistry Majors

After a student has completed 20 units in Science, a Science cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of not less than 2.20 is required for continuance as a Chemistry Major. Students whose Science CGPA falls below 2.20, will be sent a warning letter and, if after the subsequent term of study the Science CGPA remains less than 2.20, the students shall be withdrawn from the Chemistry Major. This does not preclude re-entry to the program if the CGPA subsequently recovers. If, after completing 90 or more units, a student’s Science CGPA falls below a 2.20, but remains above 2.00, the student will be allowed to complete the Major.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Mathematics and physics courses should be completed as early as possible.

For an example of a typical program schedule, visit http://www.sfu.ca/chemistry/undergraduate/advising/course-planning.html#sequence.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete 56-57 units, including all of

CHEM 121 - General Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II (2)
CHEM 126 - General Chemistry Laboratory II (2)
CHEM 210 - Introduction to Analytical Chemistry (2)
CHEM 216 - Introduction to Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (2)
CHEM 230 - Inorganic Chemistry (3)
CHEM 236W - Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (3)
CHEM 260 - Atoms, Molecules, Spectroscopy (4)
CHEM 266 - Physical Chemistry Laboratory I (2)
CHEM 281 - Organic Chemistry and Laboratory I (4)
CHEM 283 - Organic Chemistry IIb (3)
CHEM 286 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (2)
MATH 152 - Calculus II (3)
MATH 251 - Calculus III (3)
MBB 222 - Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (3)

and one of

MATH 150 - Calculus I with Review (4)
MATH 151 - Calculus I (3)

and one of

MATH 232 - Applied Linear Algebra (3)
MATH 240 - Algebra I: Linear Algebra (3)

and all of

PHYS 120 - Mechanics and Modern Physics (3)
PHYS 121 - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (3)
PHYS 132 - Physics Laboratory I (1)
PHYS 133 - Physics Laboratory II (1)

or all of

PHYS 125 - Mechanics and Special Relativity (3)
PHYS 126 - Electricity, Magnetism and Light (3)
PHYS 132 - Physics Laboratory I (1)
PHYS 133 - Physics Laboratory II (1)

or both of

PHYS 140 - Studio Physics - Mechanics and Modern Physics (4)
PHYS 141 - Studio Physics - Optics, Electricity and Magnetism (4)

Upper Division Requirement

Students complete 34 units, including all of

CHEM 316 - Introductory Instrumental Analysis (4)
CHEM 332 - The Chemistry of Transition Metals (3)
CHEM 336 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
CHEM 360 - Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics (3)
CHEM 366W - Physical Chemistry Laboratory II (3)
CHEM 380 - Chemical and Instrumental Methods of Identification of Organic Compounds (4)

and an additional 15 units of upper division credit in CHEM, MBB or NUSC courses (maximum of three units MBB and three units NUSC), including at least six units of 400 division CHEM courses. A maximum of 5 units from the research courses CHEM 481, 483 and 484 may be used to satisfy the aforementioned 15 units of upper division credit and six units of 400 division CHEM courses.

Electives

In addition to the above, students complete 29-30 elective units, including

  • courses chosen to fulfil the WQB requirements
  • upper division courses chosen from any faculty to total a minimum of 44 upper division units
  • electives at any division from any faculty to provide 120 units as is required for the degree.

Specialization in physical or theoretical chemistry requires more mathematics and physics courses than specified above, and a computer programming course.

University Degree Requirements

Students must also satisfy University degree requirements for degree completion.

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit

Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each)

Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more)
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth

Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division:

Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc
Two courses (total six units or more) Humanities: B-Hum
Two courses (total six units or more) Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements).

Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

  • At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
  • At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.