Chemistry major

Do you want to be part of the major advances that are being made in medicine, drugs, nanotechnology, new materials and the environment? Chemistry is central to virtually all areas of modern science and technology, providing a foundation for fields such as biochemistry, green chemistry, chemical engineering, food science, materials science, geology, nanotechnology and pharmacology. It is the science of the molecular scale, and encompasses the synthesis and study of molecules and materials, the exploration of their properties and the development of ways to use them. Students develop an understanding of the mechanisms, reactions and processes that occur at the molecular level. Students also study the elements that make up all matter and how they interact with each other to construct living organisms, transmit power from the sun, produce minerals and fuel environmental processes.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) analyse chemical data, develop and test hypotheses, interpret experimental results and present outcomes in oral and written formats; (2) write coherent reports and prepare and deliver coherent presentations, using appropriate software as required; (3) use the chemical literature; (4) solve basic chemical problems (calculations of yields, dilutions, stoichiometry in chemical reactions); (5) demonstrate general knowledge and understanding of the principles of chemical safety; (6) demonstrate general knowledge of the properties of common classes of chemicals and materials; and (7) demonstrate general knowledge of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy, reaction mechanisms, equilibria and periodic properties.

Degree-specific major

Chemistry can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

BP004 Bachelor of Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)

Overview of unit sequence

Chemistry is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
  • two Level 1 complementary units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; NS = non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
S1, S2 CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry, CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry
Complementary units
Students with ATAR Mathematics: Methods or WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B or equivalent or higher take 12 points of electives. Students with ATAR Mathematics Applications, WACE Mathematics 3A/3B or WACE Mathematics 3C/3D take the complementary unit MATH1721 and a 6 point elective. All other students take MATH1720 and MATH1721.
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
NS, S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50)
or
with permission.
Incompatibility:
Mathematics Applications ATAR (with a scaled score of 50
or
greater)
or
equivalent
or
higher.
S1, S2 MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Prerequisites:
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or
Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50)
or
equivalent .
Incompatibility:
WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B; MATH1038 Calculus and its Applications; MATH1045 Intermediate Calculus; Mathematics Specialist ATAR; MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1; MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2; MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus; MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods;
or
STAT1520 Economics and Business Statistics.

Level 2

Physical and Analytical specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Prerequisites:
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics (may be substituted with CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry provided a mark of at least 70 percent is achieved)
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility:
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry
Synthetic specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Prerequisites:
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics (may be substituted with CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry provided a mark of at least 70 percent is achieved)
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility:
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry

Level 3

Physical and Analytical specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM3309 Chemistry in the Workplace
S2 CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Prerequisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
S1 CHEM3005 Chemical Spectroscopy and Structure
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
or
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3304 Analytical and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM3006 Chemistry Beyond the Laboratory
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
or
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3310 Environmental Chemistry
Synthetic specialisation
Degree-specific major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM3309 Chemistry in the Workplace
S2 CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Prerequisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
S1 CHEM3003 Advanced Chemical Synthesis
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
or
CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3301 Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM3004 Synthetic Applications
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
or
CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry )
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
and
CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Incompatibility:
CHEM3306 Modern Organic Synthesis

Choosing your degree-specific major

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Chemistry degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science course.

Physical and Analytical specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-CHEMS-1
Synthetic specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-CHEMS-2

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. or Bachelor of Science course, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

The following example illustrates how the Chemistry degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science course.

Physical specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-CHEMS-Generic-1
Synthetic specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSP004-CHEMS-Generic-2

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .

Chemistry can also be taken as a second major.

Second major

Chemistry can be taken as a second major in the following degree courses:

Overview of unit sequence

The Chemistry second major is a single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • two Level 2 units
  • four Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

Level 1

Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
S1, S2 CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Prerequisites:
ATAR Chemistry
or
WACE Chemistry 3A/3B
or
TEE Chemistry
or
equivalent
or
CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry
or
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry, CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry

Level 2

Physical and Analytical specialisation
Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Prerequisites:
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics (may be substituted with CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry provided a mark of at least 70 percent is achieved)
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility:
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry
Synthetic specialisation
Second major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Prerequisites:
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics (may be substituted with CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry provided a mark of at least 70 percent is achieved)
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility:
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry

Level 3

Physical and Analytical specialisation
Second major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM3309 Chemistry in the Workplace
S2 CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Prerequisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
S1 CHEM3005 Chemical Spectroscopy and Structure
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
or
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3304 Analytical and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM3006 Chemistry Beyond the Laboratory
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
or
CHEM2220 Analytical and Physical Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3310 Environmental Chemistry
Synthetic specialisation
Second major units
Take all units (24 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Prerequisites:
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Incompatibility:
CHEM3309 Chemistry in the Workplace
S2 CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Prerequisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
S1 CHEM3003 Advanced Chemical Synthesis
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
or
CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry)
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Incompatibility:
CHEM3301 Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM3004 Synthetic Applications
Prerequisites:
(CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
or
CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry )
and
(CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or
CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry)
Co-requisites:
CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
and
CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Incompatibility:
CHEM3306 Modern Organic Synthesis

Choosing a second major

The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you the option of including a second major. You have the choice to either nominate your second major when you first enrol in the course or delay it until your second year. For a major to be recorded on your academic record it must be nominated before the requirements of the course are completed.

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how Chemistry can be included as a second major in an undergraduate degree course.

Physical and Analytical specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSPGeneric-DSMGeneric-CHEMS-1
Synthetic specialisation
Course Study Plan: CSPGeneric-DSMGeneric-CHEMS-2

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .

Chemistry can also be taken as a degree-specific major.