Roadmaps to Graduation

General Information

Note: We are moving to semesters in Fall 2020.   If you enter our program in quarters, and graduate under semesters, you will still have a path to graduation in four years (freshman) or two years (transfer with lower division requirements in the major completed). However, meeting with a faculty advisor is essential to make sure you are on track!  Visit the CSUSB Advising Center to see a complete listing of semester roadmaps:

Undergraduate Semester Roadmaps

Bridge course information: 

If you have started by not finished a year-long sequence in organic chemistry or biochemistry, you will need to take bridge classes to complete you path:

Chem 221A -> Chem 222A -> Chem 223A (completed under quarters)

Chem 221A -> Chem 222A -> Chem 2230AQ2S (completed under semesters, last quarter only)

Chem 221A -> Chem 2220AQ2S -> Chem 2500 (started under quarters, first quarter only)

Chem 221B -> Chem 222B -> Chem 223B (completed under quarters)

Chem 221B -> Chem 222B -> Chem 2230BQ2S (completed under semesters, last quarter only)

Chem 221B -> Chem 2220BQ2S -> Chem 2500L (started under quarters, first quarter only)

Chem 321 -> Chem 322 -> Chem 323 (completed under quarters)

Chem 321 -> Chem 322 -> Chem 3230Q2S (completed under semesters, last quarter only)

Chem 321 -> Chem 3220Q2S + Chem 3220LQ2S -> Chem 3500 (started under quarters, first quarter only)

Chem 436A -> Chem 437A -> Chem 4380AQ2S (completed under semesters, last quarter only)

Chem 436A -> Chem 4370AQ2S -> Chem 4200 (started under quarters, first quarter only)

Chem 436B -> Chem 437B -> Chem 4380BQ2S (completed under semesters, last quarter only)

Chem 436B -> Chem 4370BQ2S -> Chem 4200 (started under quarters, first quarter only)

Sequential Course Programs

For a chemistry major, the key point to keep in mind is that the chemistry program is sequential. It is therefore crucial that you begin taking your chemistry courses as soon as possible because one course is prerequisite to the next.  At the same time it is important that you possess the appropriate background before taking your first chemistry class. For Chem 2100/2100L (General Chemistry I) this means being enrolled in calculus preparation mathematics either math 1401 or 1403, and either one year of high school chemistry, or an introductory chemistry course at the college level. If you are weak or deficient in either of these areas, you are advised to take the appropriate courses at CSUSB: Math 1402 and Chem 2050. This will not hinder your progress, but will help to ensure your success. Taking statistical thinking, modeling with functions, or mathematics and society are NOT appropriate mathematics courses for the Chemistry major.

For transfer students who have already taken college-level chemistry there are some general guidelines here but you should be advised further during your SOAR (Student Orientation and Registration) session after admission.

1. If you have completed a year of general chemistry (equivalent to Chemistry 2100/2100L and 2200/2200L at CSUSB) you are ready to begin the organic chemistry sequence with Chemistry 3400.
2. If you have also taken a year of organic chemistry there are two possible scenarios. If the organic chemistry was taken at a community college (lower division) you will need to take Chemistry 3600, Intermediate Organic Chemistry to meet the requirements at CSUSB. If the organic chemistry was upper division and taken at a four- year college, then it will meet our requirement and you should move on to Chemistry 4500 (Physical Chemistry), assuming you have completed physics and the required calculus if you are a Chemistry Concentration major, or Chem 4100/4100L if you are a Biochemistry Concentration majors.