Exploring the Chemistry Program at Boston College

Boston College offers a comprehensive chemistry program, encompassing Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the fundamental principles of chemistry, while also allowing them to specialize in specific areas of interest. The curriculum emphasizes intellectual exchange, communication skills, and hands-on research experience.

Undergraduate Program: B.S. in Chemistry

The undergraduate chemistry program at Boston College is structured to provide a thorough grounding in the core areas of chemistry. The major in chemistry consists of ten 1-semester courses, amounting to 37 credits. In addition to the chemistry courses, there are five co-requisite courses from other departments, amounting to 22 credits. The curriculum is designed to fulfill the requirements for a B.S. degree in chemistry.

Core Coursework:

The major in chemistry consists of ten 1-semester courses as follows:

Two semesters of general chemistry lecture and laboratory (CHEM1109-1110 and CHEM1111-1112 or CHEM1117-1118 and CHEM1119-1120)
Two semesters of organic chemistry lecture and laboratory (CHEM2231-2232 and CHEM2233-2234 or CHEM2241-2242 and CHEM2243 and CHEM2234)
One semester of analytical chemistry lecture with laboratory (CHEM3351)
One semester of inorganic chemistry lecture and laboratory (CHEM3322 and CHEM3324)
Two semesters of physical chemistry lecture (CHEM4475-4476)
One semester of advanced methods lecture with laboratory (CHEM5552)
One semester of biochemistry lecture (CHEM4465)

Additional Requirements:

In addition to the chemistry courses, the following are required:

Two semesters of physics lecture and laboratory (PHYS2200-2201 or PHYS2100-2101 and PHYS2050-2051)
Three semesters of calculus (MATH1102-1103, and MATH2202)

For the B.S. degree to be certified by the American Chemical Society, one additional CHEM course at the 5000 level is required.

Honors Program:

Selected first-year students are invited to enroll in the honors courses CHEM1117-1118 Honors Modern Chemistry and the associated laboratory courses CHEM1119-1120 Honors Modern Chemistry Laboratory. These courses are taken in place of CHEM1109-1110 and CHEM1111-1112 in the first year. In the second year, honors track students enroll in CHEM2241-2242 Honors Organic Chemistry and also take CHEM2243 Honors Organic Chemistry Laboratory followed by CHEM2234 Organic Chemistry Laboratory. The Modern Chemistry course is recommended for students who have taken and performed well in an advanced level chemistry course in high school, such as Advanced Placement (AP), Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) or British A levels. A score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam would be an indication that this more challenging track in chemistry might be suitable. The Modern Chemistry course moves at an accelerated pace, covering a year’s worth of General Chemistry principles in one semester.

Course Sequencing and Recommendations:

The department strongly recommends that students take Physics in the first, second, or third year and Analytical Chemistry in the second or third year. For students who complete the MATH requirement for the Chemistry Major in fewer than three semesters, the department strongly recommends enrolling in more advanced courses in mathematics. After completing Multivariable Calculus, chemistry majors should consider taking MATH2210 (Linear Algebra). Other useful advanced math courses include MATH4410 (Differential Equations) and MATH4460 (Complex Variables). Chemistry majors may fulfill the physics requirement by taking either PHYS2100-2101 or PHYS2200-2201. PHYS2100-2101 is intended for students who are studying life sciences (Biology and Psychology majors, students in the Pre-Med track, etc.). Typically, two large sections are offered with about 150 students in each. PHYS2200-2201 is intended for students who are studying physical sciences or math (Physics, Math, Computer Science majors, etc.). Typically, one small section is offered with about 50-60 students.

Research Opportunities:

Students are urged to engage in a research project under the direction of a faculty member, particularly if the student is planning to attend graduate school. Juniors who show exceptional ability may engage in an independent research project and receive academic credit by registering for CHEM4491-4492, Introduction to Undergraduate Research I and II. Students who wish to pursue research in their senior year should register for CHEM5591-5592, Undergraduate Chemical Research. Students who intend to complete a Scholar of the College thesis should register for CHEM5595-5596, Advanced Research in Chemistry I and II. Consult a faculty advisor concerning these research options.

Study Abroad:

Before going abroad, Chemistry majors must have completed the following prerequisites: General Chemistry, CHEM1109-1110 or CHEM1117-1118 and lab; Organic Chemistry, CHEM2231-2232 or CHEM2241-2242 and lab; Analytical Chemistry, CHEM3351 and lab; Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM3322 and lab; Calculus, MATH1102-1103 and MATH2202 or 2203; Physics, PHYS2200-2201 or PHYS2100-2101 and lab. In order for a course studied abroad to count for major credit, prior department approval is required for each course.

Minor in Chemistry:

The minor in chemistry consists of six courses. Two semesters of general chemistry (CHEM1109-1110 or CHEM1117-1118, with associated laboratories) are required as the introductory courses for the minor. Four additional chemistry courses are chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by the Director of the departmental minor, Professor Lynne O'Connell. The following 1000-level courses cannot be used to complete the minor: CHEM1105, CHEM1106, CHEM1115, or CHEM1161.

Natural Science Requirement:

The requirement of two courses in natural science may be fulfilled by any of the following courses: CHEM1105 Chemistry and Society I, CHEM1106 Chemistry and Society II, CHEM1109 General Chemistry I with lab, CHEM1110 General Chemistry II with lab or CHEM1115 Fundamentals of Chemistry.

Graduate Program: M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry

The Boston College Chemistry Department offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The curriculum is designed to stimulate intellectual exchange among students as well as faculty members and to train graduate students in communication skills.

Ph.D. Program:

There is no total credit requirement for the Ph.D. degree. All entering graduate students are required to take the core graduate courses that are designed to provide a reasonable and broad level of proficiency in the various chemistry disciplines. Additionally, students are encouraged to take advanced courses in the student’s chosen focus of research. Advanced course selection will depend on the student’s research areas and are chosen in consultation with their research advisor. Every student is expected to attain a GPA of at least 3.0 at the end of his or her second semester in the Graduate School and to maintain it thereafter.

Core Courses: Core courses may include Mechanistic Organic Chemistry, CHEM5537; Principles of Chemical Biology, CHEM5560; and Physical Chemistry: Principles and Applications, CHEM6676. First year students are required to take a one-semester course, Scientific Communication in Chemistry during the spring term.
Oral Exam: At the end of the second year, Ph.D. candidates must pass an oral exam that focuses on material from their own research specialty and other related areas. Members of the student’s thesis committee comprise the exam committee. Students who do not pass this exam will be asked to do one of the following: repeat the oral exam (for a final time), complete the requirements for a Master of Science (M.S.) degree, or withdraw from the program.
Thesis Research: For the Ph.D. candidate, a thesis project involving a sustained research effort (typically requiring 4-6 years) will begin usually during the second semester of study.
Thesis Defense: An oral defense of the dissertation before a faculty thesis committee and a public presentation complete the degree requirements.
Teaching Requirement: Some teaching or equivalent educational experience is required. This requirement may be satisfied by at least one year of service as a teaching assistant or by suitable teaching duties. Arrangements are made with each student for a teaching program best suited to their overall program of studies.

M.S. Program:

Students choosing to complete the requirements for an M.S. degree must complete a minimum of 18 graduate credits of coursework. Students typically accumulate 15 to 18 credits of coursework during the first year of study. Candidates for the M.S. degree must also submit a written thesis and successfully complete a private, oral defense of their thesis. The M.S. and Ph.D. degrees require a thesis based upon original research, either experimental or theoretical.

Admission Requirements:

A Statement of Purpose is required. Include area(s) of research interest (organic, bioorganic, chemical biology, inorganic, theoretical, computational, physical, and biophysical).
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): - send official scores with your application materials.
Evidence of English Proficiency (TOEFL and IELTS): A score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL iBT test or 7.0 on the IELTS test is required.

Research and Faculty:

Recent achievements of the scientists in BCC reflect the exciting research culture we enjoy. In the last year, over 100 research papers were published by BC chemists in internationally recognized journals and the overwhelming majority of the papers were co-authored by our graduate students. Many of our graduate students have obtained prestigious fellowships, including those sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, NASA and the pharmaceutical/biotech industries.

Read also: History of the BU Bridge

Additional Information

Tuition and Fees:

The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates:

	In State	Out of State
Tuition	$66,410	$66,410
Fees	$1,270	$1,270
Books and Supplies	$1,250	$1,250
On Campus Room and Board	$18,475	$18,475
On Campus Other Expenses	$2,200	$2,200

Diversity:

For the most recent academic year available, 60% of chemistry bachelor's degrees went to men and 40% went to women. The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at Boston College are white. The chemistry program at Boston College awarded 4 master's degrees in 2021-2022.

American Chemical Society (ACS):

Many professional chemists (certainly almost all of your chemistry professors) are members of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. The ACS holds national and regional chemistry conventions, publishes a wide range of chemical journals and other materials, and provides many other services for its members. You can become a member of the ACS after you graduate with a B.S. The Northeastern Section holds monthly meetings featuring speakers or symposia on topics of current interest to chemists; sometimes the meetings are held at BC. The meetings are preceded by dinner. Students are welcome; the cost for students is nominal.

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