First-Year Advising Frequently Asked Questions
Review the Chemistry Department’s ’26-’27 Advanced Credit Guide to understand how AP/IB/GCE A-Level and other international exams can contribute to Chemistry major requirements.
Q: I already have college-level General Chemistry credit. Does it transfer in?
A: First, if the college-level course was taught at your high school, then we strongly recommend that you take CH109/110 in your first year. High school courses, even at a high-level of rigor, cannot replace college-level first-year chemistry, and students who skip this find themselves at a disadvantage later on (especially in the laboratory).
If you took chemistry at a local college, then it may transfer in to BU. Depending on the rigor of the course, it may count as your first semester of chemistry. However, it is still highly recommended that you take general chemistry at Boston University (CH109/110) to prepare you for future coursework down the road. To see if it will count, you can also utilize BU’s Transfer Equivalency Website (TES) & Transferology to view courses BU has accepted from other US colleges/universities. If the course is listed on TES, you will just need to submit an official transcript for the course to BU. If the course is not listed on TES, please submit the course & lab syllabi via the MyBU Applicant Portal. If you no longer have access to the MyBU Applicant Portal, you need to submit syllabi as PDF documents to credeval@bu.edu. Learn more about submitting high school/dual enrollment credit here.
Q: I finished all of the required math courses (including multivariate calculus) for my major. What should I take instead?
Students who have already completed their calculus requirement should consider taking their calculus-based physics requirement during their first semester: PY211 or PY251. We recommend you speak with an academic advisor to pick the appropriate course for you.
- Please note that students can get credit for only one of the following versions of multivariate calculus: CH225 and MA225
- Please note that PY105 & PY106 (AP/IB Physics 1 & Physics 2 credit) cannot count towards the General Physics requirements Chemistry majors. However, students are allowed to receive credit for multiple General Physics course sequences: PY105 + PY106, PY211 + PY212, and/or PY251 + PY252.
Q: I am nervous about CH109 and want to be a Chemistry major; what do I do?
A: Please speak with a faculty advisor in the chemistry department. CH109 is likely the right course for you and we will offer you support and resources to succeed. Meeting with an advisor will help you make an informed decision about which level of General Chemistry is appropriate for you.
Q: I am getting conflicting advice from the pre-health office. What should I do?
A: The pre-health office has great general advice for all students. That said, their general advice is not specific to all majors. The pre-health guidance on our website is tailored specifically for Chemistry majors and was created in collaboration with the Director of Pre-Health Advising. It is the advice that you should follow so that you don’t get behind in your major. Many of our chemistry majors go on to medical school, and their success rate is amongst the highest!
Q: I am getting conflicting advice about fulfilling my BU Hub requirements. What should I do?
A: Your Hub general education requirements are an important part of your degree, and you have all four years to finish them. The Chemistry major has many pre-requisites that need to be completed in your first year and they will allow you to “double dip” and also fulfill Hub requirements. If you have questions about planning to fulfill your Hub requirements, you should speak with your academic advisor. You can also use planning advice and planning tools like “My Roadmap” available on the BU Undergraduate Advising website.
Q: How does AP Chemistry apply to the Chemistry Degree?
A: It doesn’t. AP Chemistry will provide students credit for CH131 which is not applicable to a Chemistry major. To figure out which chemistry course you should start in (CH109 or CH101) review the General Chemistry Advising website
- Please note that students can get credit for only one of the following versions of General Chemistry 1: CH101, CH109, CH111(when offered), CH131, and CH171.
- Please note that students can get credit for only one of the following versions of General Chemistry 2: CH102, CH116, CH110, and CH112 (when offered).
- Students can take CH102 and then also get credit for either CH172 or CH174 (but not both CH172 and CH174)
Q: How do Calculus AP credits apply towards the Chemistry Degree?
A: Students with a score of 4 or 5 on AP Calculus AB can skip MA123. Students with a score of 4 or 5 on AP Calculus BC can skip both MA123 and MA124. That said, many students are most comfortable repeating MA124; only students who have a strong calculus foundation are encouraged to go directly into MA225 (fall or spring) or CH225 (fall only)
Q: What’s the difference between the B.A. in Chemistry and the B.A. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology programs?
A: Quite a bit, but not in the first year. The Chemistry department offers a BA in Chemistry: Chemical Biology, which requires completion of the Chemistry requirements plus a few additional biology courses. There is also the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) degree, which falls between the Chemistry and (and mainly) Biology departments and has a more biological focus. If you are thinking about switching between Chemistry and BMB make sure to take MA123 and MA124 which count for both majors.
Q: Why are Chemistry degrees awarded as B.A. instead of B.S.?
A: All science degrees at BU are awarded a Bachelor’s of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). A “BS” (Bachelor’s of Science) degree implies that there were very limited liberal arts or general education courses taken, while a “BA” is the full degree (same as a BS) and also the liberal arts components. It is widely known that a BA in Chemistry is a rigorous degree program with no distinction in the chemistry from a BS at other universities.
Q: What about study abroad?
A: Study abroad is recommended for Chemistry majors in the fall of their sophomore year. Some of the most popular programs that offer Organic Chemistry 1 include Madrid Science, Grenoble Science, and Dublin STEM. The Auckland Study Abroad program offers Inorganic Chemistry (CH232) and can be completed sophomore or junior spring. If you are interested in learning more about study abroad in chemistry, please make sure to attend the advising events during the fall semester and speak with an advisor. Your advisor can explain the pros and cons of taking Chemistry courses abroad. Alternatively, students are always welcome to complete a summer study abroad program. You should also plan to attend the CAS First-Year Study Abroad Fair that is hosted each fall semester in collaboration with the Study Abroad office & CAS Office of Student Programs & Leadership.
Q: How large are chemistry classes for freshmen?
A: That depends on the course and course component. Our intensive general chemistry course (CH109/110) has about 60 students, where as the CH101 and CH102 general chemistry courses can more than 200 students per section. All of the courses have a lecture, pre-lab, lab, and discussion section. The labs and discussion sections are generally kept to below 20 students.
Q: How do I find a Chemistry major advisor?
A: The Chemistry department’s academic advisor, Michelle Njoroge, will be assigned to you once you have declared your chemistry major. You may approach any chemistry faculty member and ask if they would be willing to serve as your faculty. If they are able to serve in such a role, inform the Chemistry Undergraduate Coordinator (chemuaa@bu.edu) in the chemistry office. Please note that all first-year students will not be assigned a faculty mentor until their second semester at BU.
Q: Can I do undergraduate research as a freshman?
A: Not yet! Not usually. We strongly encourage you to get familiar and comfortable with chemistry, and the department, before joining a research lab. To see what opportunities are available, go to www.bu.edu/chemistry/undergrad/research.
Q: None of my questions are on here! Who should I turn to for help?
A: Please connect with your assigned academic advisor listed on MyBU Student!