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Implementing Your Degree Plan and Beginning Your Course work

The B.S. and B.A. degree plans are very similar for about the first year and a half, which makes it unnecessary to choose one over the other when you first enter the program. You will want to make a decision around the middle of your sophomore year, however. The B.S. is the more rigorous degree plan, in terms of chemistry and math, while the B.A. plan allows a more individualized course of study. We will be glad to discuss the pros/cons of each with you.

By answering the questions below, you will be prepared to register for your first semester as a chemistry major at Texas A&M University.

HOW DO I DETERMINE WHICH COURSES I SHOULD REGISTER FOR AND HOW MANY HOURS I SHOULD TAKE?

The simple answer is that most chemistry majors register for the courses listed in the first semester of the B.S. or the B.A. degree plan. This is 16 credit hours and is a "normal" load. It includes the following courses: CHEM 100, CHEM 101 or CHEM 103 and CHEM 113, ENGL 104, MATH 171 or 151, KINE 198 and HIST 105.

However, your course choice may vary depending on your background, AP credit, credit by exam (CBE), or previous college level work. A brief description of the various courses offered, and how to decide which ones to take, follows.

CHEM 100 HORIZONS IN CHEMISTRY (1-CREDIT) is designed for freshman chemistry majors. The course focuses on broad-based chemical topics that reflect the excitement that initially motivates individuals to pursue further study in chemistry. Through readings, discussions, videos, chemical demonstrations and guest lectures, students in the course are introduced to the many ways in which chemistry influences our lives. There will be opportunities for structured study groups involving chemistry majors registered for the same classes. Drs. Tiner and Hogg will coordinate the course.

CHEM 101, 101H, 103/113, or 227/231 - Which course or course combination is right for me?

There are several possible chemistry courses in which you could begin. It is more important to get you into the correct course, based on your background, than it is to dogmatically place everyone into a single course. We feel there are advantages to registering for the smaller class especially designed for chemistry majors (i.e. CHEM 103/113) or honors students (CHEM 101H), although we realize that some of the best and brightest chemistry majors who've ever graduated from A&M did not take these courses or the subsequent 104/114 or CHEM 102H. We will try to give you the perspective of both faculty and students in our advising discussions.

Use the table below to guide you in your initial selection of your chemistry course.

Yrs HS Chem AP Credit for CHEM 101/102 SAT Recommendation
1 (Soph) No Any Chem 101
1 (Jr/Sr) No <1250 Chem 101
1 (Jr/Sr) No > 1250 Chem 103/113 or 101H
1 or 2 101 only Any Chem 102 or 103/113
2 No > 1250 Chem 103/113 or 101H
2 Yes < 1250 Chem 103/113 or 227/231
2 Yes > 1250 Chem 227/231 or 227H/231

In the past 3 years, 65 of 167 freshmen registered for 101 or 101H, 17 for 102, 51 for 103, 34 for 227 or 227H.

CHEM 103 and 101H will be smaller classes (typically no more than 50 students) in which the material is covered at a slightly more rapid pace, in which a higher-level text is used, and which involve more traditional style exams. Students who are very serious about chemistry take these courses and a strong effort is required in order to do well in the courses. CHEM 101 classes will be significantly larger (up to 300 students per section) and, in general, have a broader spectrum of students with a wider range of abilities.

The sophomore organic chemistry class for majors (i.e. CHEM 227 [503]) normally is less than half the size of the other undergraduate organic classes. Typically about 90% of the students in this class are chemistry majors with a smattering of biochemistry and chemical engineering students enrolled in the course. The 2-credit CHEM 231 laboratory associated with this lecture for chemistry majors prepares these students to enter into the 3-credit CHEM 234 laboratory in the following semester.

ENGL 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC (3-credit)
You must take ENGL 104 and at least one of the nine other Communications courses required by the Core Curriculum. Only ENGL 104 should be taken this semester, unless you have credit for it already. Do not postpone this course beyond the sophomore year or you will not be allowed to take it at A&M. If you already have credit for English 104, you should replace this course in your schedule with one of the courses discussed in the last paragraph on the discussion of electives in this handout.

MATH 150, 151 OR 171 - WHICH COURSE IS RIGHT FOR ME?

We will have to consider your placement in mathematics very carefully. If you've had a calculus or a very good pre-calculus course, then you may register for MATH 171 or MATH 151. The mathematics advisors have said that people should not place out of MATH 151 unless they made a 5 on the Calculus A/B exam. They recommend that even students with a 5 on the Calculus B/C exam should still take MATH 172 or 152 and not enter directly into calculus III (i.e. MATH 221).

MATH 151 and 171 are both first semester calculus classes, which are taught, in slightly different formats but cover the same material. MATH 171 is a slightly more theoretical course with three lectures and one computer lab per week while MATH 151 has three lectures and two labs hours (one with computer) per week. Either course is acceptable for chemistry majors and many students choose on the basis of time, instructor, emphasis on theory, etc. In general, MATH 171 is a smaller course, which utilizes “traditional style” examinations prepared by the specific course instructor. MATH 151 is a larger class, which utilizes common examinations administered at night for all sections of the course at once. Note the common night examination periods for MATH 151/152 listed in the directory of classes when planning your schedule.

If you feel you're not ready for a university level calculus course, then you may choose to register for MATH 150 (Functions, Trigonometry, and Linear Systems). This is the science and engineering "pre-calculus" course and it is taken by a large number of students. MATH 150 may be necessary to strengthen your background but it will not count toward the credits required for graduation. Since the fall of 1993, about 30-35% of the entering freshman chemistry majors have taken Math 150 as their first math course, while about 65-70% have taken Math 171 or 151 with more students registering for 171.

HIST 105 or an Elective (3 CREDITS)?
Although HIST 105 is listed in the first semester, you should understand that the exact placement of courses such as history, political science, and your core curriculum electives and other electives in your program is quite flexible. These courses may be "moved around" without creating problems.

Chemistry majors who wish to keep open the option of attending MEDICAL school, DENTAL school or PHARMACY school may wish to register for BIOL 113 and the laboratory, BIOL 123, during the first semester in place of history, political science or other core course. Admission to medical or dental school normally requires 16 credit hours of biology courses as well as other science courses. Many, but not all, chemistry majors planning to attend medical school will obtain the B.A. degree and choose either a traditional minor in biology or the newly approved biological chemistry track. Don't be misled into thinking that medical or other professional school requirements take priority over the requirements for the chemistry degree. They do not. You should automatically meet the course requirements, with the exception of biology, for medical school if you obtain a degree in chemistry. We will continue to add the biology requirements to your course of study if you continue to maintain an interest in medical school, dental school or pharmacy school. You should acquaint yourself with the services offered by the Office of Professional School Advising in Room 203 Academic Building if you are interested in one of these career options.

If you choose to select an elective, we suggest that you look closely at the courses applicable to the various categories of the required core curriculum. Some courses frequently taken by chemistry majors in the first semester are: PSYC 107 (Intro to Psychology), SOCI 205 (Intro to Sociology), ECON 202 (Principles of Economics) and many others too numerous to list. You may also choose to take HIST 105 or 106 or POLS 206 or 207 at this time and delay your electives until later in your degree program. Any of these may be added to your first semester curriculum as an elective or as a replacement in your schedule for a course for which you already have college credit.

KINE 198 AND 199. (1 CREDIT)
You must take one credit of Health and Fitness (KINE 198) and one of KINE 199, before you graduate. You do not have to take it your first semester if you don't want to. KINE 198 may be taken on a satisfactory or unsatisfactory (S/U) or, in local terminology, pass/fail basis. A grade of C or better must be achieved in courses taken S/U in order to receive a "grade" of S. S-Grades do not influence your GPR but U-grades will count just the same as an F in your GPR calculation. You should indicate your preference when you register for the course but this may be changed (for KINE 198/199 only) through the 10th week of the semester. These courses are not automatic A's. You will also be required to take 1-credit of KINE 199 before you graduate and this must be taken on an S/U basis if it is being used to satisfy the core curriculum requirement in Kinesiology.

In summary, most chemistry majors will register for 13-16 hours in their first semester at Texas A&M University by choosing from the courses described above.

UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING CONTACTS
Dr. John Hogg, Thaman Professor of Undergraduate Teaching Excellence
Chief Undergraduate Advisor and Professor of Chemistry
Office: Room 104, Chemistry
Phone: 979-845-0520
hogg@mail.chem.tamu.edu
Dr. Tammy Tiner, Senior Lecturer
Associate Undergraduate Advisor
Office: Room 108, Chemistry
Phone: 979-845-0520
tiner@tamu.edu		 Ms. Marylin Warren
Office Associate
Office: Room 104, Chemistry
Phone: 979-845-0520
warren@mail.chem.tamu.edu