Prospective undergraduates
Thanks for your interest in UVic Chemistry. Please also find out why UVic Chemistry is a great launching pad for your career. If you don’t find the answer to your question, don’t hesitate to contact us.
- What courses will I need to take?
- Overview of the chemistry program
- Do I have to take a chemistry course?
What courses will I need to take?
The study of chemistry is cumulative. Iintroductory courses provide the fundamental concepts, lab skills and vocabulary needed to excel in subsequent courses.
Chemistry is traditionally divided into sub-disciplines:
- physical chemistry focuses on the properties, energies, and rates of change of chemical systems
- analytical chemistry focuses on techniques to measure the amounts of various chemicals in samples
- inorganic chemistry focuses on metal-containing compounds and materials
- organic chemistry focuses on carbon-containing compounds and materials
Many of our courses develop these sub-discipline areas over successive years. Some concepts -- such as how atoms are bonded to form structures, or how reactions occur -- cross the traditional subdiscipline lines, and we've led the way in integrating these concepts at the core of our program at the third year.
We also have an integrating course for second year students that provides the hands-on tools needed to probe and determine structures. We offer a wide range of fourth-year courses which dig deeper into more specialized areas of chemistry.
Our research experience courses allow students to work in the research laboratories. You can also opt to complete a co-op degree that combines academic work with work terms in government, industry, and academic sectors.
See the detailed calendar listings for chemistry degree programs and courses.
Or contact us– we’ll be glad to assist you in working out the courses you need to take to complete a chemistry degree.
Overview of the Chemistry program
What are all these courses and how do they fit together?
First year: All students take Chem 101 and 102. These are introductory chemistry courses that cover a wide number of chemistry topics. They have weekly labs. You should have Chem 12; if you only have Chem 11 you'll also need to take Chem 091 before you attempt Chem 102.
Second year: This is the year when the four subdisciplines (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical) split into separate courses (Chem 212, 222, 231/232/235, and 245 respectively).
- Chemistry students will take courses in all four areas plus a practical spectroscopy course (Chem 213).
- Students headed to other degree programs will take fewer chemistry courses, but almost everyone takes first Introductory Organic Chemistry (Chem 231).
- Chemistry students and students in some other programs such as biochemistry take Chem 235 as a prelude to more organic chemistry later.
- Students in other programs take Chem 232, designed to survey chemistry in the life sciences. All second year courses have associated weekly labs.
Third year: Majors and Honours Chemistry students take two core courses – Chem 352 (Reaction Mechanisms and Dynamics) and Chem 353 (Structure, Reactivity, and Bonding) as well as four advanced courses in the subdisciplines. Labs in the third year are stand-alone courses and students take four. Many majors students spread the third year requirements over third and fourth year and add elective courses to complete their degree. Majors student can also take the research experience course Chem 498 in either their third or fourth year.
Fourth year: Fourth-year courses are required for Honours Chemistry students. The fourth-year lecture courses explore specific advanced topics. Many of these courses are offered on a two-year cycle -- see the projected course offerings page. There are also fourth-year lab courses. An additional requirement of an honours degree is Chem 499 (Thesis). Students work in one of the research groups over two terms on an independent research project that they submit as a thesis.
Chemistry for specific programs: We offer a first-year course, Chem 150, specifically for engineering students. We also offer a specific lecture-lab course (Chem 337 – Bioorganic Chemistry) that biochemistry students typically take in their fourth-year.
General interest courses: We offer a number of elective courses on a two-year cycle. Chem 300A – Chemistry in Modern Society has no pre-requisites and is intended for non-scientists. Chem 303 – Industrial Chemistry with emphasis on Water Pollution is designed as a third-year science elective for non-Chemistry students. Chem 400A – Applications of Chemistry requires second-year organic chemistry and is another upper-level science elective course. Chem 478 Introduction to Chemical Process Industries is an elective for Chemistry students.
Do I have to take a Chemistry course?
All I’m really interested in is (astronomy - biology - biochemistry - engineering - geosciences - microbiology - oceanography - physics) - do I have to take Chemistry?
If you are going to get a UVic degree in those areas, you will have to do some chemistry courses.The other disciplines recognize that chemistry has a lot to contribute in their areas of specialization, and that’s why the vast majority of degree programs in the Faculty of Science have chemistry requirements.
Don't worry – we understand that not all undergraduates are headed to chemistry careers and we're ready to help you be successful in your required chemistry courses. We also have some great upper-level electives that are recognized by degree programs across the university. You should consider enriching your degree in another field with a chemistry course!
