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Chemistry (CH)

Includes Biochemistry Concentration 

Please note:  Chemistry is required for many science majors, Pre-Health Programs (pre-med, pre-vet, etc) and the 3-2 Engineering Program. Registration in Chemistry requires an online diagnostic that can be found at /apps/chm/index.php. It is not possible to enroll without first taking the placement diagnostic. As the 100-level chemistry courses are quantitative reasoning courses, Quantitative Reasoning placement is also required.

Jump to recommended courses: Chemistry Major

Jump to recommended courses: CH-Biochemistry Major Concentration

Description of the Chemistry and CH-Biochemistry concentration majors

The Chemistry Department offers two major programs: chemistry and chemistry with a biochemistry concentration. For students interested in careers in the health professions, the major with a biochemistry concentration helps students to complete all the required basic science courses required for admission. The coursework for each of these majors is designed to prepare students to enter graduate school, medical or veterinary school, or the workforce as laboratory, sales, or service personnel in chemical, biochemical, biotechnological, pharmaceutical or related fields. (See what recent graduates have done). Students pursuing careers in the chemical sciences can have their major certified by the American Chemical Society.

Chemistry placement

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø offers two pathways through the first-year chemistry curriculum.  All students planning to enroll in a chemistry course are required to first take the online Chemistry Placement Diagnostic. The diagnostic takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and can be accessed at any time via the Chemistry Department homepage at www.skidmore.edu/chemistry.  Students should take the diagnostic without studying for it to provide the most accurate results.  Students may use a calculator and scratch paper to take the diagnostic. More information about the diagnostic can be found by visiting the chemistry website.

Based on your Chemistry Diagnostic score, you will be placed into either Fundamentals of Chemistry (CH 115) or Principles of Chemistry (CH 125).  Both courses are only offered in the Fall with seats reserved for first year students. CH 125 has a pre-requisite of either placement based on the diagnostic or completion of CH 115. Enrollment in CH 115 requires placement in the course. Students placed into CH 115 will need to complete it before enrolling in Principles of Chemistry. Without a placement, you will not be able to register for a first-year Chemistry course. Please complete the diagnostic at least 24 hours before you register.

For Science, Pre-health (pre-med, pre-vet, etc.) and Pre-engineering Students:

CH 115 is only offered in the Fall.  For students who place into CH 115 and plan to go directly from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø to medical school, it is important to enroll in CH 115 during the fall semester of the first year. Spots are held in CH 115 for first-year students. Choosing to defer CH 115 until the sophomore year will make it more challenging to go to medical school immediately after graduation. For students who complete CH 115, CH 126 Principles of Chemistry is offered in the Spring. CH 126 is identical to CH 125, but requires CH 115 as a prerequisite instead of placement through the diagnostic. Students in the FYE in London program should contact the Chemistry Department Chair, Associate Professor Steven Frey (email: sfrey@skidmore.edu, phone: 518–580–5124).

CH 125 is only offered in the Fall. As CH 125 is only offered in the Fall, students who place directly into CH 125 and are interested in pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-physician’s assistant, or pre-dental tracks or majoring in Chemistry or CH-Biochemistry, are strongly recommended to take CH 125 in the Fall of their first year, especially if they are hoping to study abroad for a semester during their junior year given those tracks require multiple semesters of chemistry. Spots are held in CH 125 for first-year students. Students interested in majoring in a scientific discipline that requires chemistry (Biology, Neuroscience, Health & Human Physiological Sciences, Geosciences, Environmental Science) or a career in nursing, physical therapy, or engineering are encouraged to enroll in CH 125.  Students in the FYE in London program should contact the Chemistry Department Chair, Associate Professor Steven Frey (email: sfrey@skidmore.edu, phone: 518–580–5124).

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Recommended courses for a prospective Chemistry major

Recommended courses for a prospective CH major with a Biochemistry concentration

* Students must take the Chemistry Placement Diagnostic prior to registration, and will be placed in either CH 115 or CH 125. Students in the FYE in London program should contact the Chemistry Department Chair, Associate Professor Steven Frey (email: sfrey@skidmore.edu, phone: 518–580–5124). CH 115 is an FQR course while CH 125 is an AQR course. Accordingly, both courses also require Quantitative Reasoning placement before registration.

**For students who complete CH 115 in the Fall, CH 126 is offered in the Spring to enable them to complete their introductory chemistry sequence. CH 126 has a CH 115 pre-requisite (placement into CH 126 is not necessary) and is only offered in the Spring. Note that CH 126 is identical in content to CH 125.

Chemistry Department Site

2nd floor, Dana Science Center 
518-580-5120