Planning a Chemistry Major

There are two version of the St. Olaf chemistry major: the graduation major (which meets the college’s requirements for a major) and the “ACS” major. The ACS major is the version of the major that has been certified by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS). The ACS major does have requirements beyond the graduation chemistry major. Overall the ACS major requires four more chemistry courses and three more 1/4 credit labs than the graduation major. Both majors require two courses in physics (usually Phys 124 and 125). The graduation major requires the completion of a year of college level calculus while the ACS major requires the calculus along with two more courses in mathematics, usually Math 226 and Math 230.  Both versions of the chemistry major require attendance at 12 departmental seminars during the junior and senior years.

Because of the diverse background provided by the ACS major, this major is strongly recommended for students planning to seek employment directly after graduation from St. Olaf. In some cases students planning on attending graduate school would benefit from the ACS major. It is best for graduate school bound students to work with their advisor and other chemistry faculty to determine the best choices for their situation.

The chemistry faculty will be glad to discuss either of these major options with you.

 
Graduation Major
ACS Major
Course Number
Required
One elective chosen from
Required
One elective chosen from
Course Title
121/123 or 125
X
  
X
General Chemistry/Chemical Structure or Structural Chemistry and Equilibrium
126
X
  
X
Energies and Rates of Chemical Reactions
247 and 248
X
  
X
Organic Chemistry
253 and 254
X
  
X
Synthesis Laboratories
255 and 256
X
  
X
Analytical Chemistry and Lab
371 and 357
X
  
X
Physical Chemistry and Lab
379  
X
X
Biochemistry I
3801  
X
X
Organic Analysis and Theory
382 and 378  
X
X
Instrumental Analysis and Lab
3862  
X
X
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
2521
X
Organometallic Chemistry
260
X
Medicinal Chemistry in Jamaica: An International perspective
3884
X
Advanced Organic Chemistry
391
X
Topics in Chemistry
373
X
 Biochemistry Laboratory
374
X
 Advanced Synthesis Laboratory
375
X
 Advanced Laboratory
3841
X
 Bioanalytical Chemistry
3853
Biochemistry II
298
Independent Study
398
Independent Research

1 Chemistry 252 (Organometallic Chemistry),Chemistry 380 (Organic Analysis and Theory),and chemistry 384 (Bioanalytical chemistry) are Interim Courses.
2 Because inorganic chemistry is included on the GRE exam in chemistry, Chemistry 386 should be taken no later than spring of the junior year by all students planning to attend graduate school in chemistry.
3 This course can count toward the Biomolecular Science concentration.
4 Chemistry 388 (Advanced Organic Chemistry) is offered every other year.

Can I be a double major or a concentrator in something if I am a chemistry major?

Yes! In recent years our students have majored in chemistry and…

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Can I go abroad and be a chemistry major?

Yes! Many of our majors go on off-campus (international and domestic) programs, either on interim or longer programs. Spending a semester (or semester and interim) off campus requires careful advance planning. We offer some of our upper level courses both semesters to try to accommodate students on off campus programs. Chemistry faculty will be glad to discuss incorporating study abroad programs with any student.