The Associate of Science degree in Chemistry is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the fundamental principles of chemistry, including organic and inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry. This degree prepares students for a variety of career paths in fields such as pharmaceuticals, materials science, environmental science, and chemical engineering. Additionally, this degree is intended to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related field. Upon transfer to a four-year institution, students may choose to specialize in one particular aspect of chemistry, such as Environmental Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry, or Physical Chemistry.
To graduate with the A.S degree in chemistry, students must complete the following required courses plus the general breadth requirements for the Associate's Degree (minimum total = 60 units). Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution and major in Chemistry should consult with a STEM counselor or general counselor regarding the transfer process and lower division requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| CHEM 150 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 151 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHEM 212 | Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 213 | Organic Chemistry II | 5 |
| MATH 250 | Single Variable Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Single Variable Calculus II | 4 |
| Total Units | 28 | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Courses: 1 | ||
| CHEM 205 | Quantitative Chemical Analysis | 5 |
| PHYSIC 202 | Physics I | 4 |
| or PHYSIC 151 | General Physics for the Life Sciences I | |
| PHYSIC 203 | Physics II | 4 |
| or PHYSIC 152 | General Physics for the Life Sciences II | |
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These courses are typically prerequisites for third year chemistry majors. Students are encouraged to complete the recommended courses to prevent the postponement of continued coursework in this major.
To earn an SBVC Associate Degree students must complete one of the following General Education (GE) patterns:
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply fundamental principles of chemistry, including stoichiometry, bonding theory, thermodynamics, equilibrium, and kinetics, to solve quantitative and qualitative problems and predict the properties and behavior of chemical systems.
- Demonstrate proficiency in organic chemistry by predicting reaction mechanisms, products, and synthetic pathways, as well as analyzing the stability and reactivity of organic compounds based on their structures and functional groups.
- Interpret and analyze spectroscopic data, including infrared (IR), mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, to elucidate the structures of organic compounds and justify reaction predictions.
- Exhibit competency in laboratory techniques, including assembling experimental setups, collecting and analyzing data, performing calculations, and effectively communicating the results of experiments.