Major Overview

Description

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
  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.

Courses

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

No study plans found for this major. See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027

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
Successful completion of
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (ID 1063)
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or equivalent
S1, S2 CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (ID 1063)
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or equivalent
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 MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50) or equivalent
Incompatibility
MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1
and MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2 and
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
or MATX1011 Multivariable Calculus
and
MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
and
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic 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
N/A CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Prerequisites
Successful completion of two Unit(s)
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
or CHEX1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
or CHEX1002 Chemistry Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility
Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
N/A CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
or Enrolment in
one Unit(s) CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Synthetic specialisation
Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Prerequisites
Successful completion of two Unit(s)
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
or CHEX1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
or CHEX1002 Chemistry Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility
Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
N/A CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Enrolment in
Unit(s) CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques

Level 3

Physical and Analytical specialisation
Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Prerequisites
or Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
S1 CHEM3005 Chemical Spectroscopy and Structure
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
and Unit(s) CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Enrolment in
Unit(s) CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
N/A CHEM3006 Chemistry Beyond the Laboratory
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
two Unit(s) CHEM2002 Physical and Analytical Chemistry
and Unit(s) CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Enrolment in
Unit(s) CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Synthetic specialisation
Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
Prerequisites
or Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
S2 CHEM3002 Chemical Explorations
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
N/A CHEM3003 Advanced Chemical Synthesis
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
or Unit(s) CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry
and Successful completion of
one Unit(s) CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Enrolment in
Unit(s) CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills
N/A CHEM3004 Modern Methods in Organic Chemistry
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
one Unit(s) CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
or Unit(s) CHEM2211 Synthetic and Materials Chemistry
and Successful completion of
one Unit(s) CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
or Unit(s) CHEM2210 Structure Determination and Physical Chemistry
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Enrolment in
Unit(s) CHEM3001 Essential Chemical Skills