The major consists of a minimum of 11.5 full courses (or the equivalent).
Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major, with the exception that one chemistry course in which a student has earned a grade of D may be used to fill the requirements of the major.
*No courses in which a student has earned a D grade may be counted as prerequisites.
The normal general chemistry sequence is CHEM 101 (fall) and CHEM 102 (spring).
For students with strong high school preparation, CHEM 103 (fall) can substitute for CHEM 101/102. Placement in CHEM 103 is based either on an Oberlin placement exam or on AP, IB, or A-level scores. CHEM 103 also has a co-requisite of MATH 133 (Calculus I).
Prior approval is required for chemistry course work taken away from Oberlin.
Please note that, except for classes transferred in at the time of entry by transfer students, we cannot accept courses taken at community colleges.
Without explicit approval from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, no major may complete more than half of the full courses (or equivalent) required for the major while away from Oberlin.
Normally, transfer credit for chemistry courses numbered 300 and above will not count toward the requirements of the biochemistry major.
Students with outstanding records are invited to apply to participate in the Honors Program. Selection of honors students occurs in the spring semester for the following fall.
Seniors in the program elect a minimum of 1.5 full courses of CHEM 525/526 (with at least one half course in the first semester) and work year-long (including Winter Term) on a research project.
Honors students write a thesis based on their research, give two presentations, and take an oral examination. Students majoring in both chemistry and biochemistry must choose which major will be applied to any honors conferred.
View the detailed procedure and required forms for the transfer of credit process.