Welcome to the Chemistry Department. This video is going to outline the courses you should take for your first semester at USF.


A student typically registers for 4 classes per semester, which turns out to be 17-18 units. 


First-year chemistry majors typically register for the following:
General Chemistry Lecture, Lab, and Recitation 
Pre-Calculus or Calculus
Rhetoric and Composition, Gen Bio or Foreign Language or something else!


First year chemistry majors typically sign up for General Chemistry 111 (3 units), a concurrent lab section of Chem 112 (1 unit), and CHEM 186 Quantitative Approaches to General Chemistry I (1 unit). CHEM 186 is a recitation section in which you work on problems in a small class setting. All three courses must be taken at the same time, for a total of 5 units.
 
For your second course, you should register for MATH 108, Pre-calculus, or MATH 109, Calculus and Analytic Geometry I. Before you can register, you should first take the USF Math Diagnostic Test. You may register for Math 108 Precalculus if you score 61 or higher on the online USF Math Diagnostic Test. If you score 76 or above, you may register for Math 109 Calculus I. Alternatively, if you took a standardized test, you can register for Pre-calculus if you have a Math SAT score of at least 500 OR a Math ACT score of at least 19.


Here are some options for your remaining classes.


You can consider registering for a composition course. Developing good writing and speaking skills is essential to your success in the classes you will take at USF.  Make sure to complete the directed self placement to determine which rhetoric and composition course to take. 


If you are planning to major in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry, you should enroll in General Biology 105 lecture and lab.


As a science major, you need to take two semesters of foreign language. If you already have some familiarity with a language, you should take the foreign language placement test. It will indicate whether you should start at the first or second semester of a language. If you place into the third semester, you have already fulfilled your language requirement.


You can enroll in Public Speaking which is an important course to take early in your college career.  This course fulfills your Core A1 Public Speaking requirement.  


Or, you can choose any other core course such as Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, Ethics, or Visual and Performing Arts.


Once you have selected your classes, your schedule should resemble something like this:

CHEM 111 General Chem I
CHEM 112 General Chem lab
CHEM 186 Quantitative Approaches to General Chemistry I
MATH 108 or 109 Pre-calculus or Calculus I
RHET 110 Written Communication I
Elective


If you are a transfer student, you may have completed some of these courses. It is important for you to review your degree evaluation to determine which courses you need to complete.


Spend some time navigating the Schedule of Classes to familiarize yourself with the layout of the website. Look for courses that you would like to register for, including specific sections.  Spend some time doing this to find a schedule that works for you. You should also keep a backup list in case some classes are closed.
 
If you have any questions, please contact us.
415.422.6157
chemistry@usfca.edu
 
We look forward to meeting you during Orientation. During Orientation, we will review the major requirements and you will have the opportunity to meet faculty and fellow students.


Welcome to USF!