Chemistry major

Note: this major is only available to re-enrolling students.

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.

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Prerequisites

Mathematics: Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher and Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher.

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 3 complementary units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2

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:
Chemistry ATAR
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
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 Modern Methods in Organic Chemistry
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

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.

General degrees

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. and Bachelor of Science courses, 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 .