Courses

Students may begin their study of chemistry with one of three courses:  
  • Chemistry 101, General Chemistry I, is usually the first course for an entering student who has taken fewer than two years of high school chemistry. It covers the foundations of reaction chemistry, thermochemistry, electronic structure, chemical bonding, and acid-base chemistry.
  • Chemistry 100 (offered when staffing allows) covers the same material as Chemistry 101, but spends more time in class on reviewing the techniques and mechanics of quantitative problem solving. Students with no previous high school chemistry experience, or who want to reinforce their problem-solving skills, should consider taking Chemistry 100.
  • Chemistry 201, General Chemistry II, is usually the appropriate choice for students who have taken two years of high school chemistry, completed A-level chemistry or the International Baccalaureate, taken the Advanced Placement examination in chemistry with a score of 4 or 5, or taken the Achievement Test in chemistry with a score of 650 or higher. This course covers electronic structure, equilibrium, spontaneity, electrochemistry, and some descriptive chemistry of the elements.

New students should take the department’s placement exam to determine the appropriate starting chemistry course.

Students may pursue independent work at any time in their Mount Holyoke careers. Usually independent work is on a problem allied to the research interests of a faculty member. Details are available from the chemistry department office. In addition, a number of students participate in the department’s summer research program each year, which consists of eight to ten weeks of paid, full-time research.

Learn More