Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemical Sciences Minor


Chemistry is often known as “the central science” because of the key position it occupies in modern science and engineering. Most phenomena in the biological and earth sciences can be described in terms of the chemical and physical behavior of atoms and molecules, and chemical principles also underlie much progress in medicine and engineering. For these reasons, chemistry is a natural and useful minor for students majoring in other science and engineering disciplines. The Chemical Sciences minor allows students to pursue interests in chemistry in some depth without requiring the breadth of course work and extensive laboratory time required for the Chemical Sciences major.

Minimum Requirements


To be awarded a minor in Chemical Sciences, students must successfully complete at least 17 units.

Lower Division Chemistry Course [4 units]


 Complete the following course:

Upper Division Chemistry Courses [13-17 units]


All five of these courses must be taken for a letter grade. At least four of these courses must be unique to the CHEM minor, i.e. they may not also be used to satisfy a major requirement. If more than one of the required courses for the CHEM minor is also needed to satisfy major requirements, one or more additional upper division or graduate CHEM courses (worth at least 3 units) must be completed.

  • [3 units]
  • Any three additional upper division CHEM courses (courses numbered 100-200), other than research and independent study, each worth at least 3 units.  Graduate level CHEM courses may be substituted with instructor approval.

Laboratory Requirement [1-2 units]


Complete one of the following laboratory courses:

Chemical Sciences Minor Program Learning Outcomes


1. Students will be able to describe the major concepts and theoretical principles in chemistry. They can identify the central ideas underlying the principal subfields of chemistry–analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry–as well as the broader interdisciplinary subfields of biological, environmental and materials chemistry.

 2. Students will be able to operate modern chemical instrumentation, perform chemical syntheses and carry out other essential chemical experiments with strict adherence to sound laboratory techniques as well as good safety and hygiene practices. They know how to use modern web-based methods to effectively search the scientific literature.

Guidelines Applying to all Natural Sciences Minors


To declare a minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 (C) or better. Students should consult an advisor in the School of Natural Sciences to officially declare the minor and plan their courses. The following guidelines must be adhered to:

  • At least five courses, four of which must be upper division, must be taken for a letter grade.
  • At least three of the required courses must be taken at UC Merced.
  • Only one course may be used to satisfy two minor programs’ requirements.
  • Only one course may be used to satisfy both a minor and a major requirement.
  • Work for the minor must be completed within the 150 unit maximum limit for graduation. If the student’s major and minor are in different schools, the higher unit maximum will apply.
  • Students must consult the course descriptions for prerequisites to required courses.
  • The minor will appear on the student’s transcript.