Chemistry Department

Chemistry is the central science and is essential to our understanding of biology, geology, medicine, engineering and other sciences. Chemistry also affects our daily lives in a variety of ways. A college course in Chemistry can help you see how a scientist thinks about the world and how to solve problems. The knowledge and skills learned in a chemistry course will benefit you in many career paths and allow you to become a better informed citizen in an increasingly complex world.

The Chemistry Department offers a variety of courses including a pre-college course (CHEM 1104) and first- and second-year university transfer courses. Small class sizes, typically 36 students, allow for considerable student-instructor interaction in both the classroom and laboratory. Students are encouraged to work together both during tutorial sessions in the classroom and in a number of specific laboratory experiments. The faculty use a wide variety of instructional methodologies and technologies including lecturing, problem solving, problem-based learning, videodisc and multimedia presentations, films, transparencies and the Internet.

Department Website

For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.

Career/Further Educational Opportunities

Chemistry courses taken at Douglas College can be transferred to a wide variety of receiving institutions (see the Provincial Transfer Guide for details). Students require first-year chemistry ( CHEM 1110 and CHEM 1210) to complete BSc degrees at universities and university colleges. Second-year Organic Chemistry (CHEM 2321 and CHEM 2421) is a prerequisite for medical, dental, and chiropractic schools and is required for a variety of programs including microbiology and biochemistry. An Associate Degree in Science or BSc would allow the student to pursue careers in the chemical or environmental industries, including numerous analytical laboratories and environmental consulting companies located in the Lower Mainland.

Location

First-year courses are offered at the David Lam and New Westminster campuses while the second-year chemistry courses (CHEM 2303, CHEM 2310, CHEM 2315, CHEM 2321, CHEM 2410, CHEM 2421) are only offered at the New Westminster campus.

Intake Dates/Application Deadlines

**Application deadlines may be extended.
Chemistry courses are offered in all three semesters - Fall, Winter and Summer. See Application Deadlines.

Prerequisite Compliance

1. General Admission Requirements
2. English 12 with a minimum grade of "C" or approved substitution

Students who are requesting transfer credit from other institutions or submitting high school transcripts from outside of BC to satisfy prerequisite compliance are required to apply and submit those documents no later than three months in advance of the intake.

Credentials

Courses can be applied towards the Associate Degree in Science, the Associate Degree in Environmental Science, and the Diploma in Science (see the Credentials section for details).

Recommended Course Sequence

The Chemistry Department offers a pre-college course (CHEM 1104) and first- and second-year university transfer courses. Students intending to transfer into the second year of a university program are advised to refer to the appropriate university calendar for the specific course requirements. To obtain credit for the first year in the Faculty of Science at UBC, the following courses are required: CHEM 1110/1210, PHYS 1110/1210 (or PHYS 1107/1207) and MATH 1120/1220. (Some optional courses are required to complete the first year.) For course transfer to other post secondary institutions in British Columbia, please check the BCCAT Transfer Guide at www.bctransferguide.ca/

Mathematics is required in many university programs and most chemistry courses offered at the College require mathematics prerequisites. For this reason, students are advised to consider carefully the sequence of math and chemistry courses taken. The following sequence is suggested to permit students to progress smoothly through chemistry and mathematics in the minimum number of semesters. Students should start at the level consistent with their previous experience.

1. Students with little or no previous mathematics must take MATH 11 (or equivalent) before registering in CHEM 1104.
2. Students with CHEM 1104 (or Chemistry 11) and MATH 11 (or equivalent) should take CHEM 1108 and MATH 1110.
3. Students with Chemistry 12 and Math 12 should take the following:

   Semester 1- CHEM 1110 and MATH 1120
   Semester 2 - CHEM 1210 and MATH 1220

4. Students may take their third and fourth semesters of chemistry at Douglas College. These transfer as second-year university courses, e.g. CHEM 2321 and CHEM 2421 transfer as UBC Chemistry 231/232. For other course transfers, see www.bctransferguide.ca for the latest status.

The following is a possible arrangement:

Semester 3 - CHEM 2310, and/or CHEM 2321 , and/or CHEM 2303, MATH 2321
Semester 4 - CHEM 2410, and/or CHEM 2421 , and/or CHEM 2315, MATH 2421