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2025-2026

Chemistry, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science in Science (Brightpoint Community College)
Brightpoint Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Science in Science

Completing the associate degree will waive VCU's general education requirements.

Program description

The curriculum in chemistry prepares students for graduate study in chemistry and related fields and for admission to schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. It prepares students to teach in secondary schools or to work in chemical and industrial laboratories and in related fields of business and industry.


With the proper selection of electives, the degree satisfies admission requirements to most professional school such as schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.


The biochemistry concentration focuses on the biological aspects of chemistry, including molecular genetics and molecular biotechnology.


The chemical modeling concentration emphasizes areas of overlap between chemistry and the mathematical sciences and computer science. Students in this concentration will focus on learning the chemistry and computer technology for modeling the structure, properties and reactivity of molecules.


The chemical science concentration is tailored for the pre-professional study of the health sciences and other interdisciplinary areas where an emphasis on chemistry is sought. This concentration for the bachelor's degree in chemistry permits students to select more courses from other disciplines. With fewer requirements in mathematics, physics and chemistry, this concentration is one option for students planning to study medicine or dentistry.


The professional chemist concentration requires a greater number of chemistry courses, and is designed for students whose future studies or career plans involve chemistry as a central theme. With the proper combination of courses, this degree can be certified as meeting the requirements of the American Chemical Society.


The capstone requirement includes upper level lecture and upper level laboratory courses to include a research component.

Career opportunities
The employment pathways for chemical professionals can be divided into five main sectors: industry, academia, government, non-profit, and entrepreneurship.  Within each of these sectors, areas of career opportunity include research and development, quality control/regulatory, environment and health, law and policy, manufacturing,  education, military and law enforcement, and technical communication. Common skills include science, critical thinking, reading, active listening, mathematics, and both deductive and inductive reasoning. Technical skills are highly preferred in areas such as analytical/scientific software, computer aided design (CAD), databases/query software, graphics, and Office suite. With the proper selection of electives, the degree satisfies admission requirements to most schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
Bachelor-level job titles
  • Business Intelligence Analysts
  • Chemical Technician
  • Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
  • Food Technologist
  • Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
  • Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
  • Operations Research Analysts
  • Quality Control Analysts
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialists
  • Secondary School Teachers
  • Survey Researchers
  • Technical Writers
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Chemist
  • College Professor
  • Material Scientist
  • Research Director
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Students are guaranteed admission to this degree program with:

  • Completion of the associate degree
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5
  • All courses completed with a "C" grade or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 201 or higher
Science required
  • 5+ additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Chemistry with concentration in Biochemistry, Chemical Modeling, Chemical Science, Professional Chemist, Professional Chemist with Honors

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2025-2026

Chemistry, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Science)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Department of Chemistry, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Schedule an advising appointment with your Brightpoint advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes and use tutoring to get ahead.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Explore financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and VCU to celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Research housing options for next year.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Department of Chemistry, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2025-2026

Chemistry, Bachelor of Science (NEXT STEP Pathway)

Brightpoint Community College (Associate of Science in Science)

Brightpoint Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111 3 General education
MTH 161 Precalculus l MATH 141 3 General education
CHM 111 General Chemistry I CHEM/Z 101 4 Major
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
Arts/Humanities Elective (select one from approved BCC list) VCU equivalent 3 General education
Communication or Foreign Language (select one from approved BCC list) VCU equivalent 3 to 4 General education
MTH 162 Precalculus ll MATH 151 3 Elective
CHM 112 General Chemistry II CHEM/Z 102 4 Major
Social/Behavioral Science Elective (select one from approved BCC list) VCU equivalent 3 General education
MTH 245 Statistics l STAT 210 3 Major
PHY 201 General College Physics I (Additional Course Option: PHY 241) Note: students interested in the Chemical Modeling or Professional Chemist concentrations should select PHY 241 PHYS 201 4 Major
MTH 263 Calculus I MATH 200 4 Major
Social/Behavioral Science Elective (select one from approved BCC list) VCU equivalent 3 General education
Literature Elective (select one from approved BCC list) VCU equivalent 3 General education
PHY 202 General College Physics II (Additional Course Option: PHY 242) Note: students interested in the Chemical Modeling or Professional Chemist concentrations should select PHY 242 PHYS 202 4 Major
MTH 264 Calculus II MATH 201 4 Major
History Elective (select one from approved BCC list) VCU equivalent 3 General education
Approved transfer elective: CHM 241 Organic Chemistry I CHEM 301 3 Major
Brightpoint credits transferred to VCU 60 to 62
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Concentration in chemical science
CHEZ 301 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2 Major
CHEM 302 Organic Chemistry II 3 Major
CHEZ 302 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2 Major
CHEM 309 Quatitative Analysis 3 Major
CHEZ 309 Quantitative Analysis Laboratory 2 Major
CHEM 313 or CHEM 314 Physical Chemistry I or Physical Chemistry I with Math Modules 3 to 4 Major
CHEZ 313 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I 2 Major
CHEM 315 Physical Chemistry II 3 Major
CHEM 320 Inorganic Chemistry I 3 Major
CHEM 398 Professional Practices and Perspectives Seminar 1 Major
CHEM 499 Chemistry Capstone Experience 0 Major
Select at least one two-credit 400-level CHEZ course or two credits of CHEM 392 or CHEM 492 and at least one three-credit 400- or 500-level CHEM course 5 Major
Foreign Language 101-102 Note: students are eligible for a waiver of VCU's language requirement if they successfully completed through the third level of a foreign language in high school. 6 Major (Ancillary)
Electives: consider a minor Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits (300- or 400-level courses) to graduate from VCU. 23 to 25 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 58 to 60
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree 120
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours including CHEM 302, CHEZ 302, CHEM 309, CHEZ 309 and CHEM 320; and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 .