Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers opportunities for study leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. For information regarding advanced degrees, see graduate Chemistry. It is assumed that all students entering courses of the Department have passed Chemistry 11 or the equivalent; those who have not must consult the Department before registering.

Students wishing to enter second-year chemistry specializations must apply using the online process administered by the Faculty of Science. Students will receive an email communication regarding the process in late May or early June. Students may apply for direct admittance to a Combined Major or Combined Honours chemistry specialization. Due to the similarity between the Major and Honours chemistry specializations in second year, the Faculty of Science only admits students directly to the Major. Qualified students wishing to transfer to Honours or into another chemistry specialization should contact the undergraduate advisor for advice. Students accepted to one of the specializations will register using a Standard Timetable (STT) available on the registration system. The progress of continuing chemistry students will be reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students making satisfactory progress do not require annual specialization approval. The Department will contact students with unsatisfactory standing in Honours or Combined Honours.

Co-operative Education Program

Co-operative Education is a process of education which integrates academic study with related and supervised work experience in co-operating employer organizations.

A Co-operative Education program is available for students in Chemistry. The program is intended to help prepare interested and qualified students for research careers in industry with sixteen months of work placement supervised by practising professionals. Faculty advisors also visit students at their place of work and provide advice on technical reports required of all students in the Program.

To be eligible, students must be admissible into the third-year Chemistry B.Sc. program with second-class standing. Admission is by application to the Co-op Office in February prior to third year (transfer students may be considered later). Selection of students will be based on academic performance and general suitability to the work environment as determined by resumé and interview. The total enrolment will be subject to the availability of appropriate work placements and faculty advisors. The work placements are arranged by mutual agreement between students and employing organizations. Participating students register for CHEM_V 398, 399, 498, or 499 as appropriate, and pay the Co-operative Education Program Fee per course (see Program and Course Fees).

Graduation in the Co-operative Education program requires a student to complete each of CHEM_V 398, 399, 498, 499, in addition to the normal academic requirements. Students will have each satisfactorily completed course noted on their academic record. Detailed information on the program may be obtained from the Department of Chemistry or from the Co-operative Education Program.

International Three-Two B.Sc./M.Sc. Degree Partnership in Chemistry

A partnership between the Chemistry Department and select European universities provides eligible students with a study exchange experience allowing for the completion of both Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degrees. A brief overview is provided below with detailed information available at International Three-Two B.Sc./M.Sc. Degree Partnerships.

Laddered Degree Option (for UBC undergraduate students)

Eligible UBC students complete the requirements for the first three years of any Chemistry specialization, and then undertake an academic year of study abroad as an Exchange Student at a Partner university. Courses at the Partner university are carefully chosen to meet both the fourth year requirements of the UBC Chemistry specialization and the usual first year requirements of the M.Sc. degree at the Partner university. The UBC B.Sc. degree is awarded after successful completion of these courses and all normal requirements of the B.Sc. During their first year abroad, students may opt to apply for admission to the M.Sc. program at the Partner university and apply these courses towards the requirements for that degree. After successful completion of the degree requirements at the Partner university, the M.Sc. is awarded. This normally requires an additional year of study. This opportunity calls for extensive advising, and is available only to students with high academic standing and a strong interest in research. Interested students should contact the Chemistry Undergraduate Advisor before completing their second year of study.

Consecutive Degree Option (for students at Partner universities)

Eligible students first complete a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry at any Partner university then complete a M.Sc. degree in Chemistry at UBC. For further details, see Chemistry.

Courses

Comments for First-Year Students

CHEM_V 123 is the normal prerequisite for admission to Chemistry specializations. Students with credit only for Chemistry 11 take CHEM_V 111 before taking CHEM_V 123, whereas those with credit for Chemistry 12 take CHEM_V 121. In addition, students applying for entrance to Chemistry specializations must have completed MATH_V 100 and MATH_V 101 (or their equivalents).

Comments for Second-Year Students

Second-year course registration in Chemistry specializations uses Standard Timetables (STT). The comments in the Course Schedule associated with an STT provide useful information that students should consult before contacting an Undergraduate Advisor. Students are required to have completed the equivalent of two one-semester introductory chemistry courses. Students intending to take organic chemistry (CHEM_V 203/213 or CHEM_V 233) should be familiar with the organic chemistry content found in CHEM_V 123.

Comments for Third-Year Students

It is recommended that students taking BIOL_V 201 should have completed a university-level biology course with cell biology content (e.g., BIOL_V 200). Major and Combined Major students normally complete the appropriate laboratory courses (CHEM_V 315/325/335/345) in third year to have prerequisites for the fourth-year laboratory course CHEM_V 445. Honours students should complete CHEM_V 319/329 and CHEM_V 345 in third year as preparation for the fourth-year research course, CHEM_V 449.

Comments for Fourth-Year Students

It is recommended that students taking BIOL_V 201 should have completed a university-level biology course with cell biology content (e.g., BIOL_V 200).

With permission from the Undergraduate Advisor, Major or Combined Major students may substitute CHEM_V 445 and 3 credits of 400-level CHEM_V lecture electives with CHEM_V 449. Honours students are required to take CHEM_V 449.

Laboratory and Tutorial Courses

Students taking any course which has an associated laboratory and/or tutorial must register in these secondary activities in addition to the lecture portion of the course. No exception will be made. Students who believe they may qualify for an exemption from a laboratory (e.g., if repeating the course, or have transfer credit from another institution) are advised to contact the appropriate laboratory instructor directly. Students who miss the first laboratory meeting of a course without having made prior arrangements with the instructor concerned risk having their registration in the course cancelled and their space reallocated to another student.

Specific Focus Areas

Major and honours students may wish to direct their elective credits towards a specific focus area in chemistry. The Department has generated recommendations for course selections designed to build strength in a Specific Focus Area. Students are encouraged to use these recommendations as a guide.

Specializations

Major (0409): Chemistry (CHEM)

Honours (0213): Chemistry (CHEM)

Combined Major Specializations

Combined Major (3382): Biochemistry and Chemistry

See Biochemistry.

Combined Major (3401): Computer Science and Chemistry

See Computer Science.

Combined Major (3383): Oceanography and Chemistry

See Oceanography.

Combined Major (3340): Chemical Biology (CHEM, BIOL)

Combined Honours Specializations

Combined Honours in Biochemistry and Chemistry

See Biochemistry

Combined Honours in Chemical Physics

See Physics

Combined Honours (3132): Chemical Biology (CHEM, BIOL)

Combined Honours (0206): Chemistry and Mathematics (CHEM, MATH)

Combined Honours: Chemistry and Another Science Subject

Minor (1186): Chemistry (CHEM)

Chemistry minor course requirements vary depending on the first area of specialization of the student and must be decided upon in consultation with the Chemistry advisor. A maximum of six credits of overlap between the requirements of the two areas of specialization is allowed.

Students must take 18 upper-level CHEM_V credits including either CHEM_V 355 or CHEM_V 315 but cannot count CHEM_V 448 towards the minimum requirement of 18 credits. Any additional credits taken to satisfy this requirement may be applied towards electives in the student's specialization.

Biochemistry major and honours specializations include 9 credits of 300-level CHEM_V lecture courses as well as senior chemistry laboratories. Thus the chemistry minor for these students consists of an additional 12 credits of 300- and 400-level CHEM_V lecture courses plus 6 credits of overlap.