Chemistry, B.S.C

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree is a program by the American Chemical Society that certifies graduating students who complete a bachelor's degree meeting the ACS guidelines. Graduates who attain a certified degree must complete requirements that exceed those of the general track for a major in chemistry, and this comprehensive undergraduate experience provides an excellent foundation for a career in the molecular sciences.  

A certified degree signifies that a student has completed an integrated, rigorous program which includes introductory and foundational course work in chemistry and in-depth course work in chemistry or chemistry-related fields. This degree also emphasizes laboratory experience and the development of professional skills needed to be an effective chemist. Certification gives a student an identity as a chemist and helps in the transition from undergraduate studies to professional studies or employment. 

Learning Outcomes

Students will explain basic and advanced chemistry concepts and apply them in problem-solving.
Students will write effectively about chemistry concepts, principles, and processes.
Students will apply basic computer programming and information retrieval skills to questions and problems in chemistry.
Students will explain advanced chemistry topics and apply them in the chemical research process.

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:

Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a USC campus.

Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, Cardiovascular Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Economics, Environmental Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

Program Summary
Requirements	Credit Hours
1. Carolina Core	34-46
2. College Requirements	15-19
3. Program Requirements	26-34
4. Major Requirements	37-38

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

1. Carolina Core Requirements (34-46 hours)

CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

any CC-CMW courses

ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (8 hours)

MATH 141*
MATH 142*

SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)

must be passed with a grade of C or higher

PHYS 211* & PHYS 211L*
PHYS 212* & PHYS 212L*

GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)

Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

CC-GFL courses

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)

any CC-GHS course

GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)

any CC-GSS course

AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

any CC-AIU course

CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component¹ (0-3 hours)

any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course

INF – Information Literacy¹ (0-3 hours)

any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course

VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility¹ (0-3 hours)

any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course

¹: Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

2. College Requirements (12-19 hours)

Foreign Language (0-3 hours)

only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency

Analytical Reasoning (3-7 hours)

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
CSCE 145	Algorithmic Design I (*)	4
or CSCE 106	Scientific Applications Programming
STAT 509	Statistics for Engineers (*)	3
or STAT 515	Statistical Methods I
Total Credit Hours		7

Note: If CHEM 111, CHEM 112, CHEM 322, and CHEM 322L (or CHEM 141, CHEM 142, CHEM 322 and CHEM 322L) are all completed at UofSC, STAT 509 or STAT 515 is not required. Also, if CHEM 621 and CHEM 621L are completed, STAT 509 or STAT 515 is not required. Students who exempt STAT 509 or STAT 515 through this process will be required to take an approved elective to reach minimum hours for graduation.

History (3 hours)

The College of Arts and Sciences requires one additional GHS course beyond the Carolina Core GHS requirement.

If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course.
If the Carolina Core GHS requirement is fulfilled by a non-U.S. history course, the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement must be fulfilled by a U.S. history course.

Please select the College of Arts and Sciences history requirement from the approved list of U.S. and non-U.S. history courses.

Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities (6 hours)

Social Science (3 hours)
- The College of Arts and Science requires one 3- hour Social Science Course
Fine Arts/Humanities (3 Hours)
- A Bachelor of Science from the College of Arts and Sciences requires one 3-hour Fine Arts/Humanities Course

3. Program Requirements (26-37 hours)

Supporting Courses (14 hours)

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
MATH 241	Vector Calculus (*)	3
One MATH course beyond MATH 241*		3
CHEM 141	Principles of Chemistry I (*)	4
CHEM 142	Principles of Chemistry II (*)	4
Total Credit Hours		14

Note: Students transferring in to the major can substitute CHEM 111/CHEM 111L (or transfer equivalent) for CHEM 141 and CHEM 112/CHEM 112L (or transfer equivalent) for CHEM 142.

Cognate (12 hours)

The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs.

Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements. It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.

For Bachelor of Science degrees, grades of D are acceptable for completion of the cognate requirement, except where restricted by the major program.

Minor (18 hours) optional

In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses.

The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must follow a structured sequence.

Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.

A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z.

Electives (0-11 hours)

120 (or 128) degree applicable credits are required to complete any degree at USC. After the cognate, minor or second major is complete, any additional credits needed to reach 120 (or 128) total credits can be fulfilled by electives. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

4. Major Requirements (37-38 hours)

a minimum grade of C is required in all major courses

Major Courses (37-38 hours)

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
CHEM 322	Analytical Chemistry	3
CHEM 322L	Analytical Chemistry Laboratory	1
CHEM 333	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 333L	Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	2
CHEM 334	Organic Chemistry II	3
CHEM 334L	Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Laboratory II	2
CHEM 511	Inorganic Chemistry	3
CHEM 541	Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics	3
CHEM 541L	Physical Chemistry Laboratory I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics	2
CHEM 542	Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy	3
CHEM 542L	Physical Chemistry Laboratory II: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy	2
CHEM 550	Biochemistry	3
or CHEM 555	Protein Biochemistry and Metabolism
CHEM 621	Instrumental Analysis	3
CHEM 621L	Instrumental Analysis Lab	1
3 credit of undergrdauate research (in an approved area of biochemistry or inorganic chemistry)		3
Total Credit Hours		37

If the undergraduate research is not in an approved area of biochemistry or inorganic chemistry, CHEM 550L must be taken.

Note: Students who transfer into the program after completion of CHEM 331L and CHEM 332L, may meet the organic chemistry requirements by completing CHEM 334L.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Chemistry, B.S.C.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credit Hours
ENGL 101	Critical Reading and Composition	3
MATH 141	Calculus I ³	4
CHEM 141	Principles of Chemistry I ⁴	3
CHEM 141L	Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory ⁴	1
Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement ^5,6		3
UNIV 101	The Student in the University (or Carolina Core Requirement) ⁶	3
	Credit Hours	17
Spring
ENGL 102	Rhetoric and Composition	3
MATH 142	Calculus II	4
CHEM 142	Principles of Chemistry II ⁴	3
CHEM 142L	Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory ⁴	1
PHYS 211	Essentials of Physics I	3
PHYS 211L	Essentials of Physics I Lab	1
Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement ^5,6		3
	Credit Hours	18
Second Year
Fall
MATH 241	Vector Calculus ⁷	3
CHEM 333	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHEM 333L	Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	2
PHYS 212	Essentials of Physics II ⁷	3
PHYS 212L	Essentials of Physics II Lab ⁷	1
Foreign language or Carolina Core Requirement ^5,6		3
	Credit Hours	15
Spring
CHEM 322	Analytical Chemistry	3
CHEM 322L	Analytical Chemistry Laboratory	1
CHEM 334	Organic Chemistry II	3
CHEM 334L	Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Laboratory II	2
MATH course above MATH 214 (242 recommended) ⁷		3
History ⁸		3
Carolina Core Requirement		3
	Credit Hours	18
Third Year
Fall
CHEM 550 or CHEM 555	Biochemistry or Protein Biochemistry and Metabolism	3
CHEM 541 or CHEM 542	Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics or Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy	3
CHEM 541L or CHEM 542L	Physical Chemistry Laboratory I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics or Physical Chemistry Laboratory II: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy	2
STAT 509 or STAT 515	Statistics for Engineers ^7,9 or Statistical Methods I	3
Cognate or Minor Course or Elective ^7,10		0-3
Humanities or Fine Arts		3
	Credit Hours	14-17
Spring
CHEM 621	Instrumental Analysis	3
CHEM 621L	Instrumental Analysis Lab	1
CHEM 541 or CHEM 542	Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics or Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy	3
CHEM 541L or CHEM 542L	Physical Chemistry Laboratory I: Thermodynamics and Kinetics or Physical Chemistry Laboratory II: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy	2
Cognate or Minor Course or Elective ^7,10		3
Carolina Core Requirement ⁶		3
	Credit Hours	15
Fourth Year
Fall
CHEM 511	Inorganic Chemistry	3
Cognate or Minor Course or Elective ^7,10		3
Cognate or Minor Course or Elective ^7,10		3
Social Science		3
Carolina Core Requirement (only if needed) ⁶		0-3
	Credit Hours	12-15
Spring
CHEM 496	Undergraduate Research ((-CHEM 499)) ¹¹	3
Minor Course or Elective ^7,10		3
Minor Course or Elective ^7,10		3
CSCE 106 or CSCE 145	Scientific Applications Programming or Algorithmic Design I	3-4
Carolina Core Requirement (only if needed) ⁶		0-3
	Credit Hours	12-16
	Total Credit Hours	121-131

¹: Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.
²: Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses.
³: Students who do not place into MATH 141 will be required to successfully complete MATH 112, 115, or 116 before taking MATH 141.
⁴: CHEM 111 and CHEM 111L may be taken in place of CHEM 141 and 141L, and CHEM 112 and CHEM 112L may be taken in place of CHEM 142 and 142L.
⁵: Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.
⁶: The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
⁷: The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. For B.S. degrees, grades of D are acceptable for completion of the cognate requirement, except where restricted by the major program. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement. Students may use MATH 241 & higher math, STAT 509/515, and PHYS 212 and 212L to fulfill the cognate requirement, but would need to complete additional electives to meet hours to graduate.
⁸: The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.
⁹: If CHEM 141, 142, 322, and 322L (or CHEM 141, 142, 322, and 322L) are all completed at USC, STAT 509 or 515 is not required. Also, if CHEM 621 and 621L are completed at USC, STAT 509 or 515 is not required. Students who exempt STAT 509 or 515 through this process will be required to take an approved elective to reach minimum hours for graduation.
¹⁰: No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
¹¹: Students are encouraged to start undergraduate research as early as possible to allow participation in long-term projects. Three credits of undergraduate research are required, but additional research experience is recommended. Extramural Research opportunities, such as REU’s may qualify for CHEM 496-499 credit; however, a request form must be submitted and preapproved by the Department of Chemistry. If the undergraduate research is not in an approved area of biochemistry or inorganic chemistry, CHEM 550L - Biochemistry Laboratory must also be taken.

Program Notes:

ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 must be completed in the student’s first 60 semester hours of work in order for these courses to be credited toward graduation. CHEM 142 is a prerequisite for subsequent required courses and may delay progression if not taken in a timely manner.
The course requirements for the B.S.C. in Chemistry degree automatically meet qualifications for ACS certification.
CHEM 401 Industrial Chemistry Capstone Experience is a recommended elective that prepares students for future roles in chemistry.
Chemistry majors may enroll in a chemistry course a maximum of twice to earn the required grade of C or higher.
A Chemistry major must receive a grade of C or higher in any chemistry course in order for it to be used to satisfy a major requirement.
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

2026-2027 Academic Bulletin