Extended Major Overview

Description

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

Chemistry describes the structure and properties of matter and its transformations. It is an enabling science that is central to virtually all areas of modern science and technology, especially multi-disciplinary areas such as molecular genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, nanotechnology, medicinal chemistry, drug design and development, and green or environmentally sustainable chemistry. The Chemistry extended major provides students with the specialist and general skills they will need to build secure, satisfying and productive careers. In addition to solid training in chemical principles, Chemistry graduates will acquire a range of generic skills: they will gain experience in writing clearly and succinctly; develop high-level numeracy and computing skills, and they will expand their problem solving and research skills. Furthermore, through extensive laboratory practise, students will develop experimental skills for working with chemicals and sophisticated equipment safely. Chemistry is often called the central science because so many scientists study chemistry at some level. The Chemistry extended major includes studies in synthetic chemistry and physical and analytical chemistry. An extended major in Chemistry will (via honours or master's programs) also feed into strong and active postgraduate research programs in chemistry at UWA.

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. critically review the literature and perform experiments and understand current practices in chemistry
  4. solve basic chemical problems (calculations of yields, dilutions, stoichiometry in chemical reactions) and demonstrate general knowledge and understanding of the principles of chemical safety
  5. critically review the properties of common classes of chemicals and materials
  6. demonstrate general knowledge of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy, reaction mechanisms, equilibria and periodic properties, electronic spectroscopy, advanced chemical analysis and instrumentation, nanotechnology, surfactants, emulsions, and environmental chemistry, Quantum mechanics, Quantum chemistry, crystal engineering and power generation
  7. demonstrate general knowledge of chemical knowledge in the synthesis and reactivity of inorganic compounds, coordination complexes, small organic molecules, and medicinal organic compounds, demonstrate chemical knowledge in primary and secondary metabolism, natural products and metals in biology
  8. Apply relevant employability skills for chemistry.
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 and to pursue as many areas of interest as you can during your course of study. At the same time, we know that many of you value the University's guidance and assistance in planning your enrollment throughout your course, so we offer the following suggestions for your consideration as possible avenues to broaden your degree.

Recommended Minors

Science Communication

Do always remember, however, that there is no wrong way to broaden your studies as long as you complete at least four units not associated with your Degree Specific Major.

Prerequisites

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

Incompatibilities

MJD-CHMPH Chemistry - Physical and Analytical (ID 4853) and MJD-CHMSY Chemistry - Synthetic (ID 4852) and MJD-CHEMS Chemistry (ID 1466)

Courses

Chemistry can only 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 (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry ATAR
or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
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
S1 SCOM1101 Communicating Science
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Applications
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Mathematics 2C/2D or equivalent
Co-requisites
MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Bridging units

Take units if applicable:

Students with ATAR Mathematics: Methods or WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B or equivalent or higher take 6 points of electives. Students with ATAR Mathematics Applications, WACE Mathematics 3A/3B or WACE Mathematics 3C/3D take the complementary unit MATH1721. All other students take MATH1720 and MATH1721.

Students with ATAR Mathematics: Methods or WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B or equivalent or higher take 6 points of electives. Students with ATAR Mathematics Applications, WACE Mathematics 3A/3B or WACE Mathematics 3C/3D take the complementary unit MATH1721. All other students take MATH1720 and MATH1721.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
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

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (30 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
N/A CHEM2003 Chemical Synthesis
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
Enrolment in
Unit(s) CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
N/A CHEM2004 The Chemistry of Reactions
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
Co-requisites
Successful completion of
or Enrolment in
CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Incompatibility
Unit(s) CHEM3007 The Chemistry of Reactions
N/A CHEM2005 The Molecules of Life
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics (ID 1188)
or CHEX1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics
and
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity (ID 1191)
or CHEX1002 Chemistry Structure and Reactivity
and CHEM2001 Core Chemical Concepts and Techniques
Incompatibility
Unit(s) CHEM3008 The Molecules of Life (ID 6085)
and CHEM2221 Biological and Medicinal Chemistry (ID 6331)

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (36 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 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
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
S2 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