Dear Prospective Chemistry/Biochemistry Major,
Our Department has several dedicated faculty advisors who are available throughout the Fall and Spring semesters to assist our students.
Ê We also offer workshops specifically designed for new and transfer students entering into our programs, and workshops for juniors and
seniors who are preparing for graduation.Ê Students are required to meet with an advisor at least once a year to assess their progress
towards their degree and answer questions about courses, electives University policies and procedures, research and scholarship opportunities,
and career options.Ê Our goal in these various advising sessions is to help our students navigate through our degree programs and graduate
in a timely manner.
If you have any questions regarding our program, you may contact us or the department staff by phone (415.338.1288), e-mail (chemist@sfsu.edu) or drop by for a visit (Thornton Hall 806). Another source of information about the Department and our courses may be found on our Web page located at: http://www.chemistry.sfsu.edu/.
Information on any University course or other aspects of the academic program, or just general information about San Francisco State may be obtained at the University web page: http://www.sfsu.edu/.
We look forward to meeting you and would be very pleased to welcome you into our program as a chemistry or biochemistry major.
Sincerely,
Cliff Berkman, Chair
Pete Palmer, Associate Chair
Why Consider a BA/BS degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry at SFSU?
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers an outstanding
environment for undergraduate students. Some reasons you should consider
our program include the following:
• Our faculty provides quality instruction across a wide
range of specialties.
• Class sizes are typically small and students receive
individualized instruction.
• Students have the opportunity to pursue undergraduate
research under the direct supervision of faculty.
• The Department has an excellent collection of modern
facilities and instrumentation, including an NMR Facility, Mass Spectrometry
Facility, and the Computational Chemistry and Visualization (CCV) Laboratory.
• The student-run Chemistry and Biochemistry Student Association
(CBSA) offers a variety of activities including social events and free tutoring.
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is housed in two adjacent buildings:
Thornton Hall and the Science building. Some relevant facts and figures
about the Department are listed below.
• The Department currently employs 19 tenured and tenure-track
full-time faculty.
• The Department currently has 275 undergraduate students
in chemistry and biochemistry degree programs.
• The Department currently has 47 graduate students in
chemistry and biochemistry.
• Department faculty bring in a total of approximately
$1,000,000 in grant funds per year to the University.
What Career Opportunities do these Degree Programs Prepare You For?
The Department’s degree programs are designed to prepare students for a
variety of chemistry/biochemistry-oriented positions in industry or government
labs. These same programs also can be used as a foundation for students
interested in alternate career paths, such as high school science teaching,
sales or marketing, management, environmental advocacy, patent law, technical
writing, and forensic science to name just a few. Many of our graduates
use their degrees as preparation for graduate studies in chemistry or biochemistry.
A chemistry and biochemistry degree provides excellent preparation for medical,
pharmacy, dental, and veterinary schools.
What are the Requirements for Entry into these Degree Programs?
Minimal high school preparation for SFSU’s undergraduate programs in chemistry
and biochemistry include two years of algebra, one year of geometry, one half
year of trigonometry, one year of physics, and one year of chemistry.
Students who have not had these classes may take the equivalent courses at
SFSU listed below.
Students are expected to meet basic mathematics requirements prior to enrollment
at SFSU. This can be achieved by passing the SAT math exam or ELM exam
with a total score of 550 or higher or by meeting the appropriate coursework
with grades of C- or better. For more details on the various exemptions,
students are urged to refer to the SFSU Bulletin (www.sfsu.edu/~bulletin)
or consult with an advisor.
MATH 60 Algebra I equivalent to 1st
year high school algebra
MATH 70 Algebra II equivalent to 2nd
year high school algebra
MATH 107 Plane Trigonometry prereq:
grade of C or better in MATH 70
MATH 109 Pre-Calculus Mathematics prereq:
grade of C or better in MATH 70
PHYS 101 Conceptual Physics prereq:
high school algebra
CHEM 100 Preparation for Chemistry prep
for college chemistry
Transferring from Another College or University
Many of our majors are transfer students who have come here from local community
colleges or other 4-year schools. Most have already completed some chemistry,
math, and physics courses at these other institutions. Many of these
courses are essentially equivalent to comparable SFSU courses. The
process of determining equivalency is called articulation.
Articulation requires a formal, written agreement that identifies courses
(or sequences of courses) on a "sending" campus that are comparable to, or
acceptable in lieu of, specific course requirements at a "receiving" campus.
Successful completion of an articulated course(s) assures the student and
the faculty that the student has taken the appropriate course(s), received
the necessary instruction and preparation, and that similar outcomes can be
assured, enabling progression to the next level of instruction at the receiving
institution.
The equivalency of many math and science courses at local institutions has
already been evaluated. However, this process of evaluating equivalency
is ongoing, as academic institutions are constantly revising their programs
and courses, and hence the equivalency of a specific course from some other
university may not be known. Given that determining equivalency of courses
offered at every other university in California, the U.S., and the world
is an impossible task, determination of equivalency must often done on a
case-by-case basis. In such cases, students should refer to their advisor
for more information. In order to facilitate this process, students
should bring along an unofficial copy of their transcript from the university
certifying their completion of the course and stipulating the letter grade,
and a copy of the syllabus from the course which will aid the advisor in
determining equivalency.
Students should note that in meeting the University requirements for the
number of upper-division credits, no course transferred from a community college
may count towards upper division credit. The most common example where
this problem occurs is in organic chemistry. Although organic chemistry
courses transferred from a community college may meet the Department’s degree
requirements, it does not count towards meeting the total number of upper
division units required for graduation with a degree in SFSU’s chemistry and
biochemistry programs.
For more information on articulation and course equivalencies, students
can refer to the following web sites. The first site is for ASSIST
(Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer), which
allows the user to request information on course equivalencies between the
university where the course was taken and the “receiving” university.
The second site includes a list of known equivalencies from local community
colleges and universities.
http://www.assist.org/cgi-bin/WaReps_2/P1.pl
http://ariel.sfsu.edu/adm/db/Chemistry.htm
BA Chemistry, BS Chemistry, and BS Biochemistry Degrees
The BA in Chemistry is well suited for students whose career goals involve
the integration of chemistry with other fields of study such as secondary
education, business, technical sales, and forensic science. It includes
fewer units in the major and can be combined with a minor in engineering,
business, social sciences, or the humanities to prepare students for alternate
career paths (see section on career opportunities above). Students considering
a career in teaching science at the K-12 level should consult with an advisor
from the Education Department, as specific courses are required for the credential
program.
The BS in Chemistry, which is approved by the American Chemical Society,
prepares students to pursue careers in traditional chemical-oriented positions.
Compared to the BA in Chemistry, this program has a heavier emphasis on chemistry,
calculus, and physics. The extensive lab training provides excellent
preparation for a career in industry and a strong foundation for graduate
studies or entry into a medical or dental school.
The BS in Biochemistry is designed for students who wish to be well qualified
for a career in biochemistry, modern areas of biology, or the rapidly growing
field of biotechnology. This program allows students to tailor their
program to pursue additional courses in molecular biology and clinical sciences.
The extensive lab training provides excellent preparation for a career in
the pharmaceutical industry and a strong foundation for graduate studies or
entry into a medical or dental school.
Information for Prospective Students:
Services: Information on applying to SFSU, entrance requirements,
entry level English and math exams, residency requirements, tours of campus,
etc.
Provider: Student Outreach Services
Location: Student Services Building room 106
Phone: 338-2355
Website: http://www.sfsu.edu/prospect
New Student Orientation:
Services: General orientation sessions for new and transfer
students.
Provider: Advising Center
Location: Administration Building room 212
Phone: 338-2101
Website: http://www.sfsu.edu/~advising