Undergraduate Advising

Declaring Chemistry as Your Major

Welcome to Chemistry at NYU Arts & Science! While the deadline to declare a major is spring of sophomore year, it is recommended that you declare a Chemistry major as early as possible. Start by emailing fas-chemistry-office@nyu.edu to schedule a meeting with a Chemistry advisor to discuss your interest.

To declare a Chemistry major, complete the Declaration of Major form. Then, download an unofficial copy of your transcript from Albert and send it to fas-chemistry-office@nyu.edu to complete the declaration process with a Chemistry advisor.

Please note: Chemistry and Biochemistry majors already fulfill the Foundations of Scientific Inquiry CORE requirements with their major courses, and do not need to take CORE-UA 100, 200, and 300 courses.

BA Major Requirements

Fourteen 4-credit courses with a grade of C or higher are required. For more information, visit the CAS Bulletin.

Chemistry Core

These four courses should be completed as early as possible to declare Chemistry (BA) as your major, and are typically completed by the end of the sophomore year:

  • General Chemistry I & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 125) - offered in fall and spring semesters
  • General Chemistry II & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 126) - offered in fall and spring semesters
  • Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 225) - offered in fall and spring semesters
  • Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory (CHEM-UA 226) - offered in fall and spring semesters

Physics and Mathematics Core

All students must complete two introductory physics courses and two mathematics courses. Additional mathematics and computer science courses are not required but are strongly recommended.

  • Calculus I (MATH-UA 121)
  • Calculus II (MATH-UA 122)
  • General Physics I (PHYS-UA 11)
  • General Physics II (PHYS-UA 12)
  • Recommended, not required: Mathematics of Chemistry (CHEM-UA 140)
  • Recommended, not required for BA: Computer Science elective

APs, IBs, or A-Levels:

  • The Calculus I (MATH-UA 121) requirement may be satisfied with 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB or BC exam.
  • The Calculus II (MATH-UA 122) requirement cannot be satisfied with AP credits, even if you scored a 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam. You either have to take Calculus II at NYU and forfeit the AP Calculus BC credits, or you can use the AP Calculus BC credits as a prerequisite and register for Mathematics of Chemistry (CHEM-UA 140), Calculus III (MATH-UA 123), or Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 140) in place of Calculus II. 
  • If you are considering applying to medical or dental school: Prehealth Advising accepts AP Calculus credits in place of Calculus I (MATH-UA 121) as long as it appears on your transcript.

Upper-Level Chemistry Core Courses

You must take two physical chemistry courses, one physical chemistry lab, inorganic chemistry, and two advanced chemistry electives, for a total of six upper-level courses. These courses are typically completed in junior and senior year.

  • Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics & Spectroscopy (CHEM-UA 651) - offered in spring semesters only
  • Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics & Kinetics (CHEM-UA 652) - offered in fall semesters only
  • Physical Chemistry Lab (CHEM-UA 661) - offered in fall and spring semesters
  • Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM-UA 711) - offered in spring semesters only
  • Two additional advanced chemistry electives

Additional Major Requirements for BS

To pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry, rather than a Bachelor of Arts (BA), you must complete all fourteen BA requirements as well as the following four courses, for a total of eighteen courses:

  • While it is only a recommendation for BA students, a Computer Science elective (CSCI-UA 2 or higher) is required for Chemistry BS students.
  • BS students must take an additional advanced chemistry elective, for a total of three advanced chemistry electives.
  • In senior year, BS students must take two Advanced Individual Study courses (CHEM-UA 997 and CHEM-UA 998). Alternatively, this requirement can be satisfied by pursuing Senior Honors in Chemistry.

For more information on the BS in Chemistry, visit the CAS Bulletin.

Biochemistry Major Requirements

Fifteen 4-credit courses with a grade of C or higher are required. For more information, visit the CAS Bulletin.

Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics Core

  • Four chemistry courses should be completed as early as possible to declare your major, listed above.
  • Two physics and two mathematics courses are also required, listed above.
  • In addition to these eight courses, Biochemistry majors must complete seven Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry courses, listed below.

Biochemistry Courses

  • Biochemistry I (CHEM-UA 881) - offered in fall and spring semesters
  • Biochemistry II (CHEM-UA 882) - offered in spring semesters only
  • Experimental Biochemistry (CHEM-UA 885) - offered in fall and spring semesters
  • Advanced Biochemistry (CHEM-UA 890) - offered in spring semesters only
  • One additional advanced chemistry elective

Physical Chemistry Courses

You must take a two-course physical chemistry sequence. Either:

  1. Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics & Spectroscopy (CHEM-UA 651) - offered in spring semesters only
  2. Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics & Kinetics (CHEM-UA 652) - offered in fall semesters only

OR

  1. Special Topics in Physical Chemistry (CHEM-UA 860) - offered in fall semesters only
  2. and another advanced chemistry elective

Combined Major in Global Public Health/Chemistry Requirements

Twenty-one 4-credit courses with a grade of C or higher are required for the GPH/Chemistry combined major. This consists of 12 Chemistry requirements (detailed below), three combined major electives from either Chemistry or GPH, and six additional courses from GPH. For more information, visit the CAS Bulletin.

Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics Core

  • Four chemistry courses should be completed as early as possible to declare your major, listed above.
  • Two physics and two mathematics courses are also required, listed above.
  • In addition to these eight courses, GPH/Chemistry majors must complete the following upper-level Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry courses.

Upper-Level Core Courses

The following four biochemistry and physical chemistry course sequences are required for the GPH/Chemistry BA.

  • Biochemistry I (CHEM-UA 881)
  • Biochemistry II (CHEM-UA 882)
AND
  1. Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics & Spectroscopy (CHEM-UA 651) - offered in spring semesters only
  2. Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics & Kinetics (CHEM-UA 652) - offered in fall semesters only
OR
  1. Special Topics in Physical Chemistry (CHEM-UA 860) - offered in fall semesters only
  2. and an advanced chemistry elective

APs, IBs, or A-Levels: A 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus exam may satisfy the Calculus I requirement. Check with Prehealth Advising for guidance if you are considering applying to medical or dental school.

Combined Major Electives and GPH Requirements

In addition to Chemistry coursework, the GPH/Chemistry combined major requires six GPH courses and three GPH or Chemistry electives. For more details, visit the CAS Bulletin.

Study Away Requirement for GPH/Chemistry

All Global Public Health majors are required to study away for one semester. Visit the NYU Studying Abroad website for details on global sites, or reach out to cas.gph@nyu.edu for questions about GPH/Chemistry courses abroad.

Chemistry/Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering BS/BS

To double major in Chemistry BS and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering BS at the Tandon School of Engineering, you will need to complete the requirements for both degrees in both schools. This is considered a five-year degree. The CAS portion of the degree contains courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics. For specific courses on CAS and Tandon courses needed to complete this degree, visit the CAS Bulletin. If you are interested in the double major, start by scheduling a meeting with a Tandon advisor.

Transfer Students

Course syllabi for all prerequisite chemistry courses taken at another institution must be submitted for review and approval by the Department of Chemistry before enrolling in Chemistry courses at NYU.

  • Submit syllabi and transcripts via the Department of Chemistry's Google Form.
  • The courses listed below must include a laboratory component or a separate laboratory course. The syllabi for the laboratory components/courses should contain details of each week's topics and experiments. You must submit both the lecture component and laboratory component course syllabi for the following:
    • General Chemistry I
    • General Chemistry II
    • Organic Chemistry I
    • Organic Chemistry II
  • If the previous course does not show up on the student’s NYU transcript as a transfer course, you must provide an unofficial copy of your school transcript showing the course and final grade earned.

To count an advanced chemistry course from your previous institution toward your NYU degree, you must submit the course syllabus and have the transfer course accepted by NYU. For the course to count, it must appear as a transfer course on your transcript.

  • Submit syllabi and transcripts via the Department of Chemistry's Google Form.

Prehealth Students

Most of the required med school courses are already included in the Chemistry and Biochemistry curriculum, but Principles of Biology is not. Prehealth Chemistry majors should complete General Physics I and General Physics II during sophomore year, and Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology II during junior year.

Questions?

Make an appointment with a Chemistry advisor to go over your requirements, what you’ve completed so far, and what to register for next. To make an appointment, email fas-chemistry-office@nyu.edu.