Comprehensive Examinations
(Chemistry 999)
Chemistry 999 Guidelines: Chemistry Comprehensive Examinations Chemistry 999 is a zero unit, credit/no credit class which is taken by students completing the comprehensive examinations (student wishing to earn a B.S. degree). Students who enroll must be within three quarters of graduating, and have senior status. Students will earn a grade of "incomplete" in CHEM 999, until either four comprehensive examinations are passed, or until three quarters have elapsed. Each individual exam is assigned a letter grade, A-F, based on predetermined criteria. A grade of "credit" is assigned to the CHEM 999 course after the student passes four exams in three quarters; a grade of "no credit" is assigned should three quarters pass without successful completion of four exams. Exams may be repeated up to three times within three quarters. Each quarter, a sign up list is posted in the department office; this list indicates the week in which each exam is scheduled, and the faculty member giving the exam. Comprehensive exams are scheduled one time per quarter, during the indicated week, with exact times to be arranged between the students taking the exam and the instructor.
Each student must pass four comprehensive examinations in order to earn the bachelor of science degree in chemistry. If the BS-ACS Certified degree is sought, the four examinations passed must be from among:
- organic chemistry
- physical chemistry
- inorganic chemistry
- analytical chemistry
- biochemistry.
Students enrolled in the BS-Biochemistry track must pass the biochemistry comprehensive examination, as well as three others from the following list:
- organic chemistry
- physical chemistry OR physical chemistry for biochemists
- inorganic chemistry OR bioinorganic chemistry
- analytical chemistry
Each exam has its own "passing" grade criteria. Suggested study guidelines for the exams are attached to this document.
According to the University catalog, a student must earn a "B" average on the comprehensive examinations to attain Department Honors (in addition to other stated requirements). Students may not take any comprehensive examination more than once, for the purpose of improving a grade to earn Department Honors. Any student who wishes to seek Department Honors must also have completed four comprehensive examinations, with a "B" average, by the end of the fifth week of the final quarter before graduation.