Major & Minor Requirements

Major Requirements for Chemistry

The chemistry major at Cornell consists of:

• 10 (or nine) courses in chemistry, including eight (or seven) of the following required courses:
  
  • Chemical Principles I & II (121 & 122) or Accelerated General Chemistry (161)
  • Analytical Chemistry (202)
  • Organic Chemistry I & II Lecture (225 & 326)
  • Organic Chemistry Lab (327)
  • Physical Chemistry I & II (323 & 324).

• Two courses in calculus:
  • Calculus of a Single Variable (121) and Calculus of Several Variables (122)
• Three courses in physics:
  • General Physics I & 2 (111 & 112) and Laboratory Physics (114)
  • Or by permission of the chemistry department, Introductory Physics I & II (101 & 102) and Laboratory Physics (114)
    
    

Notes:

• An ACS (American Chemical Society) certification is also offered, which requires one more math course and 3 more chemistry courses, as well as additional time in lab.
• Alternatively, a student might put off the physics courses till the third year and complete the physical chemistry courses the fourth year.
• Cornell also participates in the Oak Ridge Science Semester program sponsored by the ACM (Associated Colleges of the Midwest).
• The Summer Research Program of the Department of Chemistry provides an opportunity to spend a summer at Cornell College working on a research project with a member of the Chemistry faculty. Interested students should consult a faculty member in the Department.
• Students should consult with the Department concerning major programs which lead to graduate work in chemistry, chemical physics, biochemistry, and medicine, or to industrial employment.

Recommended Course Sequence


Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4
CHE 121 CHE 122 MAT 121 MAT 122	CHE 225 CHE 326 CHE 327 CHE 202 PHY 111 PHY 112	CHE 323 CHE 324 PHY 114	Two electives




 

Teaching Major Requirements

The requirements for the chemistry major apply.  In addition to the foregoing requirements, prospective teachers must also apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program (preferably at the start of their sophomore year) and complete a second major in Secondary Education described under Education. Prospective teachers should request a current list of the specific teaching major course requirements from the Education Office.




Minor Requirements

A minimum of five course credits in chemistry:

• Excluding Internships (280 and 380)
• Including Analytical Chemistry (202)
  
• At least three additional courses numbered 200 or higher