About the Program

Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemical Biology is intended for students who are interested in careers as professional chemists, or in the biological sciences including the biomedical, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries. Chemical Biology offers a solid background in chemistry, so that students understand the chemical principles of biological functions. In addition to an introductory set of math and physics courses and a broad selection of chemistry courses similar to those required for the chemistry major, students pursuing the chemical biology major take courses in general and cell biology, biochemistry, biological macromolecular synthesis, and bioinorganic chemistry. There is a strong emphasis on organic chemistry, quantitative thermodynamics, and kinetics necessary for understanding the logic of biological systems.

Admission to the Major

For information on admission to the major, please see the College of Chemistry Admissions page in this Guide.

Minor Program

There is no minor program in Chemical Biology.

Visit Department Website

Major Requirements

In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.

General Guidelines

1. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in all courses undertaken at UC Berkeley, including those from UC Summer Sessions, UC Education Abroad Program, UC Berkeley in Washington Program, and XB courses from University Extension.
2. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken in the college is required in order to advance and continue in upper division courses.
3. A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all upper division courses taken at the University is required to satisfy major requirements.
4. Chemical Biology majors who receive a grade of D+ or lower in a chemistry course for which a grade of C- or higher is required must repeat the course at UC Berkeley.

For information regarding grade requirements in specific courses, please see the notes sections below.

For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.

Please note, the Academic Guide is updated once a year. For the most up to date requirements information, please take a look at the College of Chemistry website.

Lower Division Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Units
CHEM 4A & CHEM 4B	General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis and General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis	10
CHEM 96	Introduction to Research and Study in the College of Chemistry	1
CHEM 12A	Organic Chemistry	5
CHEM 12B	Organic Chemistry	5
MATH 1A	Calculus	4
MATH 1B	Calculus	4
MATH 53	Multivariable Calculus	4
MATH 54	Linear Algebra and Differential Equations	4
PHYSICS 7A	Physics for Scientists and Engineers	4
PHYSICS 7B	Physics for Scientists and Engineers	4
BIOLOGY 1A	General Biology Lecture	3
BIOLOGY 1AL	General Biology Laboratory	2

Notes

1. Students should take CHEM 4A and CHEM 4B during their freshmen year, and CHEM 12A and CHEM 12B during their sophomore year.
2. A grade of C- or better is required in CHEM 4A before taking CHEM 4B, in CHEM 4B before taking more advanced courses, and in CHEM 12A before taking CHEM 12B.
3. A grade of C- or better is recommended in CHEM 12A before taking BIOLOGY 1A.
4. Students who join the program after completing a general chemistry sequence that does not include quantitative analysis are required to take CHEM 4B, CHEM 15, or CHEM 105.
5. Students who join the program after completing CHEM 3A plus CHEM 3AL and CHEM 3B plus  CHEM 3BL at Berkeley are allowed to substitute those courses for CHEM 12A and CHEM 12B. Students who join the program after completing only CHEM 3A plus CHEM 3AL at Berkeley are recommended to take CHEM 12B.
6. Students must take CHEM 96 during the fall term of their sophomore year at Berkeley.
7. Students should start MATH 1A in the first semester of their freshman year. MATH 10A and MATH 10B may be substituted for MATH 1A and MATH 1B. 
8. Students should start PHYSICS 7A in the second semester of the freshman year. Substitution of PHYSICS 8A and PHYSICS 8B is allowed, but PHYSICS 7A and PHYSICS 7B are recommended. PHYSICS 5A and PHYSICS 5B plus PHYSICS 5BL may be substituted for PHYSICS 7A and PHYSICS 7B.
9. Students may substitute PHYSICS 89 for MATH 54.

Upper Division Requirements 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
CHEM 103	Inorganic Chemistry in Living Systems	3
CHEM C110L	General Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory	4
CHEM 120A	Physical Chemistry 1	3
CHEM 120B	Physical Chemistry 1	3
CHEM 135	Chemical Biology 2	3
MCELLBI 110	Molecular Biology: Macromolecular Synthesis and Cellular Function 2	4
Select one of the following:
CHEM 105	Instrumental Methods in Analytical Chemistry [4]
CHEM 125	Physical Chemistry Laboratory [3]
CHEM C170L	Biochemical Engineering Laboratory [3]
CHEM C182	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Laboratory [3]
Select 7 units of upper division chemistry and allied subjects (see below for list) 3
One must be an additional lecture course (or laboratory/lecture course) in chemistry as approved by your staff adviser

1	A grade of C- or higher is required in CHEM 120A and CHEM 120B if taken before CHEM 125 or CHEM C182.
2	BIOLOGY 1A plus BIOLOGY 1AL and CHEM 135 satisfy the prerequisites for MCELLBI 110.
3	Advanced Placement, Advanced Level, and International Baccalaureate credit cannot be applied to this requirement. No more than 4 units of research (e.g., CHEM H194 and CHEM 196) may be used to satisfy this requirement. If a course is used to satisfy another requirement, the course cannot also be used to satisfy the upper division Chemistry and Allied Subjects requirement.

Upper Division Chemistry and Allied Subjects List 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
ASTRON C162	Planetary Astrophysics	4
BIO ENG 100	Ethics in Science and Engineering	3
BIO ENG 104	Biological Transport Phenomena	4
BIO ENG 111	Functional Biomaterials Development and Characterization	4
BIO ENG C112	Molecular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Cell	4
BIO ENG 115	Tissue Engineering Lab	4
BIO ENG 116	Cell and Tissue Engineering	4
BIO ENG C117	Structural Aspects of Biomaterials	4
BIO ENG C118	Biological Performance of Materials	4
BIO ENG C119	Orthopedic Biomechanics	4
BIO ENG 121	BioMEMS and Medical Devices	4
BIO ENG 131	Introduction to Computational Molecular and Cell Biology	4
BIO ENG 132	Genetic Devices	4
BIO ENG 143	Computational Methods in Biology	4
BIO ENG 147	Principles of Synthetic Biology	4
BIO ENG 150	Introduction of Bionanoscience and Bionanotechnology	4
BIO ENG 151	Micro/Nanofluidics for Bioengineering and Lab-On-A-Chip	4
BIO ENG 163	Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biophotonics	4
BIO ENG C181	The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass	3
CHM ENG 140	Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis	4
CHM ENG 141	Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics	4
CHM ENG 142	Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering	4
CHM ENG 150A	Transport Processes	4
CHM ENG 150B	Transport and Separation Processes	4
CHM ENG 154	Chemical Engineering Laboratory	4
CHM ENG 160	Chemical Process Design	4
CHM ENG 162	Dynamics and Control of Chemical Processes	4
CHM ENG 170A	Biochemical Engineering	4
CHM ENG 170B	Biochemical Engineering	4
CHM ENG C170L	Biochemical Engineering Laboratory	3
CHM ENG 171	Transport Phenomena	3
CHM ENG 176	Principles of Electrochemical Processes	3
CHM ENG C178	Polymer Science and Technology	3
CHM ENG 179	Process Technology of Solid-State Materials Devices	3
CHM ENG 180	Chemical Engineering Economics	3
CHM ENG H194	Research for Advanced Undergraduates 2	2-4
CHM ENG 195	Special Topics	2-4
CHM ENG C195A	The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass	3
CHM ENG 196	Special Laboratory Study 2	2-4
CHEM 100	Communicating Chemistry (limited to 2 units)	2
CHEM 104A	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (limited to 2 units) 1	3
CHEM 104B	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (limited to 2 units) 1	3
CHEM 105	Instrumental Methods in Analytical Chemistry	4
CHEM 108	Inorganic Synthesis and Reactions	4
CHEM C110L	General Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory	4
CHEM 113	Advanced Mechanistic Organic Chemistry	3
CHEM 114	Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry	3
CHEM 115	Organic Chemistry--Advanced Laboratory Methods	4
CHEM 122	Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy	3
CHEM 125	Physical Chemistry Laboratory	3
CHEM C130	Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life	4
CHEM 130B	Biophysical Chemistry (limited to 2 units) 1	3
CHEM C138	The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass	3
CHEM 143	Nuclear Chemistry	2
CHEM 146	Course Not Available
CHEM C150	Introduction to Materials Chemistry	3
CHEM C170L	Biochemical Engineering Laboratory	3
CHEM C178	Polymer Science and Technology	3
CHEM C182	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Laboratory	3
CHEM C191	Quantum Information Science and Technology	3
CHEM 192	Individual Study for Advanced Undergraduates	1-3
CHEM H194	Research for Advanced Undergraduates 2	2-6
CHEM 195	Special Topics	3
CHEM 196	Special Laboratory Study 2	2-6
CIV ENG C106	Air Pollution	3
CIV ENG 111	Environmental Engineering	3
CIV ENG 112	Environmental Engineering Design	3
CIV ENG 114	Environmental Microbiology	3
CIV ENG 115	Water Chemistry	3
CIV ENG C116	Chemistry of Soils	3
CIV ENG C133	Engineering Analysis Using the Finite Element Method	3
COMPSCI 160	User Interface Design and Development	4
COMPSCI 162	Operating Systems and System Programming	4
COMPSCI 164	Programming Languages and Compilers	4
COMPSCI 170	Efficient Algorithms and Intractable Problems	4
COMPSCI 174	Combinatorics and Discrete Probability	4
COMPSCI 184	Foundations of Computer Graphics	4
COMPSCI C191	Quantum Information Science and Technology	3
EPS 103	Introduction to Aquatic and Marine Geochemistry	4
EPS 111	Petroleum Geology	3
EPS C129	Biometeorology	3
EPS 131	Geochemistry	4
EPS C162	Planetary Astrophysics	4
EPS C180	Air Pollution	3
EPS C181	Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics	3
EPS C182	Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Laboratory	3
EPS C183	Carbon Cycle Dynamics	3
ECON C103	Introduction to Mathematical Economics	4
EDUC 223B	Special Problems in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (graduate-level; requires consent of instructor)	2-6
EDUC 224A	Mathematical Thinking and Problem Solving (graduate-level; requires consent of instructor)	3
ENGIN 117	Methods of Engineering Analysis	3
ENGIN 128	Advanced Engineering Design Graphics	3
ESPM 119	Chemical Ecology	2
ESPM 120	Science of Soils	3
ESPM C128	Chemistry of Soils	3
ESPM C129	Biometeorology	3
ESPM C138	Introduction to Comparative Virology	4
ESPM C148	Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology	3
ESPM 162	Bioethics and Society	4
ESPM 162A	Health, Medicine, Society and Environment	4
ESPM C180	Air Pollution	3
IND ENG 172	Probability and Risk Analysis for Engineers	3
INTEGBI 106A	Physical and Chemical Environment of the Ocean	4
INTEGBI 115	Introduction to Systems in Biology and Medicine	4
MAT SCI 102	Bonding, Crystallography, and Crystal Defects	3
MAT SCI 103	Phase Transformations and Kinetics	3
MAT SCI 104	Materials Characterization	3
MAT SCI 111	Properties of Electronic Materials	4
MAT SCI 112	Corrosion (Chemical Properties)	3
MAT SCI 113	Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials	3
MAT SCI 117	Properties of Dielectric and Magnetic Materials	3
MAT SCI C118	Biological Performance of Materials	4
MAT SCI 120	Materials Production	3
MAT SCI 121	Metals Processing	3
MAT SCI 122	Ceramic Processing	3
MAT SCI 123	ELECTRONIC MATERIALS PROCESSING	4
MAT SCI 125	Thin-Film Materials Science	3
MAT SCI 130	Experimental Materials Science and Design	3
MAT SCI 140	Nanomaterials for Scientists and Engineers	3
MAT SCI 151	Polymeric Materials	3
MATH C103	Introduction to Mathematical Economics	4
MATH 104	Introduction to Analysis	4
MATH H104	Honors Introduction to Analysis	4
MATH 105	Second Course in Analysis	4
MATH 110	Linear Algebra	4
MATH H110	Honors Linear Algebra	4
MATH 113	Introduction to Abstract Algebra	4
MATH H113	Honors Introduction to Abstract Algebra	4
MATH 114	Second Course in Abstract Algebra	4
MATH 115	Introduction to Number Theory	4
MATH 121A	Mathematical Tools for the Physical Sciences	4
MATH 121B	Mathematical Tools for the Physical Sciences	4
MATH 123	Ordinary Differential Equations	4
MATH 125A	Mathematical Logic	4
MATH 126	Introduction to Partial Differential Equations	4
MATH 128A	Numerical Analysis	4
MATH 128B	Numerical Analysis	4
MATH 130	Groups and Geometries	4
MATH 135	Introduction to the Theory of Sets	4
MATH 136	Incompleteness and Undecidability	4
MATH 140	Metric Differential Geometry	4
MATH 142	Elementary Algebraic Topology	4
MATH 170	Mathematical Methods for Optimization	4
MATH 185	Introduction to Complex Analysis	4
MATH H185	Honors Introduction to Complex Analysis	4
MATH 189	Mathematical Methods in Classical and Quantum Mechanics	4
MEC ENG 107	Course Not Available
MEC ENG C115	Molecular Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of the Cell	4
MEC ENG C117	Structural Aspects of Biomaterials	4
MEC ENG 118	Introduction to Nanotechnology and Nanoscience	3
MEC ENG C176	Orthopedic Biomechanics	4
MEC ENG C180	Engineering Analysis Using the Finite Element Method	3
MCELLBI C100A	Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life	4
MCELLBI C103	Bacterial Pathogenesis	3
MCELLBI 104	Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology	4
MCELLBI 110	Molecular Biology: Macromolecular Synthesis and Cellular Function	4
MCELLBI C110L	General Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory	4
MCELLBI C112	General Microbiology	4
MCELLBI C112L	General Microbiology Laboratory	2
MCELLBI C114	Introduction to Comparative Virology	4
MCELLBI C116	Microbial Diversity	3
MCELLBI 118	The Cancer Karyotype: What it is and What it Does	1
MCELLBI 133L	Physiology and Cell Biology Laboratory	4
MCELLBI 135A	Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology	3
MCELLBI 140	General Genetics	4
MCELLBI 140L	Genetics Laboratory	4
MCELLBI 141	Developmental Biology	4
MCELLBI 143	Evolution of Genomes, Cells, and Development	3
MCELLBI C148	Microbial Genomics and Genetics	4
MCELLBI 150	Molecular Immunology	4
MCELLBI 150L	Immunology Laboratory	4
MCELLBI 160L	Neurobiology Laboratory	4
NUC ENG 101	Nuclear Reactions and Radiation	4
NUC ENG 104	Radiation Detection and Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory	4
NUC ENG 107	Introduction to Imaging	3
NUC ENG 120	Nuclear Materials	4
NUC ENG 124	Radioactive Waste Management	3
NUC ENG 130	Analytical Methods for Non-proliferation	3
NUC ENG 150	Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory	4
NUC ENG 161	Nuclear Power Engineering	4
NUC ENG 162	Radiation Biophysics and Dosimetry	3
NUC ENG 170A	Nuclear Design: Design in Nuclear Power Technology and Instrumentation	3
NUC ENG 170B	Nuclear Design: Design in Bionuclear, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Therapy	3
NUC ENG 180	Introduction to Controlled Fusion	3
NUSCTX 103	Nutrient Function and Metabolism	3
NUSCTX 108A	Introduction and Application of Food Science	3
NUSCTX 110	Toxicology	4
NUSCTX 115	Principles of Drug Action	2
NUSCTX 160	Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases	4
NUSCTX 171	Nutrition and Toxicology Laboratory	4
PHYSICS 7C	Physics for Scientists and Engineers (must be completed with a grade of C- or better)	4
PHYSICS 105	Analytic Mechanics	4
PHYSICS 110A	Electromagnetism and Optics	4
PHYSICS 110B	Electromagnetism and Optics	4
PHYSICS 112	Introduction to Statistical and Thermal Physics	4
PHYSICS 130	Quantum and Nonlinear Optics	3
PHYSICS 137B	Quantum Mechanics	4
PHYSICS 138	Modern Atomic Physics	3
PHYSICS 141A	Solid State Physics	4
PHYSICS 141B	Solid State Physics	3
PHYSICS C191	Quantum Information Science and Technology	3
PLANTBI C103	Bacterial Pathogenesis	3
PLANTBI C112	General Microbiology	4
PLANTBI C112L	General Microbiology Laboratory	2
PLANTBI C114	Introduction to Comparative Virology	4
PLANTBI C116	Microbial Diversity	3
PLANTBI 120	Biology of Algae	2
PLANTBI 120L	Laboratory for Biology of Algae	2
PLANTBI 122	Bioenergy	2
PLANTBI C124	The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass	3
PLANTBI 135	Physiology and Biochemistry of Plants	3
PLANTBI C148	Microbial Genomics and Genetics	4
PLANTBI 150	Plant Cell Biology	3
PLANTBI 160	Plant Molecular Genetics	3
PLANTBI 170	Modern Applications of Plant Biotechnology	2
PLANTBI 180	Environmental Plant Biology	2
PB HLTH C102	Course Not Available
PB HLTH 142	Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health	4
PB HLTH 162A	Public Health Microbiology	4
PB HLTH 162L	Public Health Microbiology Laboratory	2
STAT 134	Concepts of Probability	4
STAT 135	Concepts of Statistics	4
STAT 140	Probability for Data Science	4

1	For CHEM 104A, CHEM 104B, and CHEM 130B only 2 of the 3 units will count towards Allied Subject requirement since there are overlapping concepts with required major courses. However, students will receive the full 3 units of credit towards their GPA and the 120 unit graduation requirement.
2	No more than 4 units of research (e.g., CHEM H194 and CHEM 196) may be used to satisfy this requirement.

College Requirements

All students in the College of Chemistry are required to complete the University requirements of American Cultures, American History and Institutions, and Entry-Level Writing.  In addition, they must satisfy the following College requirements:

Reading and Composition

In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College requires lower division work in composition.

• Chemical Engineering majors: A-level Reading and Composition course (e.g., English R1A) by end of the first year
• Chemical Biology and Chemistry majors: A- and B-level courses by end of the second year
• R&C courses must be taken for a letter grade
• English courses at other institutions may satisfy the requirement(s); check with your Undergraduate Adviser
• After admission to Berkeley, credit for English at another institution will not be granted if the Entry Level Writing requirement has not been satisfied

Humanities and Social Sciences Breadth Requirement: Chemistry & Chemical Biology majors

The College of Chemistry’s humanities and social sciences breadth requirement promotes educational experiences that enrich and complement the technical requirements for each major.  

• 15 units total; includes Reading & Composition and American Cultures courses
• Remaining units must come from the following L&S breadth areas, excluding courses which only teach a skill (such as drawing or playing an instrument):

Arts and Literature
Foreign Language^1,2
Historical Studies
International Studies
Philosophy and Values
Social and Behavioral Sciences

To find course options for breadth, go to the Berkeley Academic Guide Class Schedule, select the term of interest, and use the 'Breadth Requirements' filter to select the breadth area(s) of interest.

• Breadth courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis (excluding Reading and Composition)
• AP, IB, and GCE A-level exam credit may be used to satisfy the breadth requirement

¹ Elementary-level courses may not be in the student's native language and may not be structured primarily to teach the reading of scientific literature.

² For Chemistry and Chemical Biology majors, elementary-level foreign language courses are not accepted toward the 15 unit breadth requirement if they are used (or are duplicates of high school courses used) to satisfy the Foreign Language requirement.

Foreign Language (Language Other Than English [LOTE]) Requirement

Applies to Chemistry and Chemical Biology majors only.

The LOTE requirement may be satisfied with one language other than English, in one of the following ways:

• By completing in high school the third year of one language other than English with minimum grades of C-.
• By completing at Berkeley the second semester of a sequence of courses in one language other than English, or the equivalent at another institution. Only LOTE courses that include reading and composition, as well as conversation, are accepted in satisfaction of this requirement. LOTE courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.
• By demonstrating equivalent knowledge of a language other than English through examination, including a College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement Examination with a score of 3 or higher (if taken before admission to college), an SAT II: Subject Test with a score of 590 or higher, or a proficiency examination offered by some departments at Berkeley or at another campus of the University of California.

Humanities and Social Sciences Breadth Requirement: Chemical Engineering major

• 22 units total; includes Reading and Composition and American Cultures courses
• Breadth Series requirement: As part of the 22 units, students must complete two courses, at least one being upper division, in the same or very closely allied humanities or social science department(s).  AP credit may be used to satisfy the lower division aspect of the requirement.
• Breadth Series courses and all remaining units must come from the following lists of approved humanities and social science courses, excluding courses which only teach a skill (such as drawing or playing an instrument):

Arts and Literature
Foreign Language^1,2
Historical Studies
International Studies
Philosophy and Values

To find course options for breadth, go to the Berkeley Academic Guide Class Schedule, select the term of interest, and use the 'Breadth Requirements' filter to select the breadth area(s) of interest.

• Breadth courses may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis (excluding Reading and Composition)
• AP, IB, and GCE A-level exam credit may be used to satisfy the breadth requirement

¹ Elementary-level courses may not be in the student's native language and may not be structured primarily to teach the reading of scientific literature.

² For chemical engineering majors, no more that six units of language other than English may be counted toward the 22 unit breadth requirement.

Class Schedule Requirements

• Minimum units per semester: 13
• Maximum units per semester: 19.5
• 12 units of course work each semester must satisfy degree requirements
• Chemical Engineering freshmen and Chemistry majors are required to enroll in a minimum of one chemistry course each semester
• After the freshman year, Chemical Engineering majors must enroll in a minimum of one chemical engineering course each semester

Semester Limit

• Students who entered as freshmen: 8 semesters

• Chemistry & Chemical Biology majors who entered as transfer students: 4 semesters

• Chemical Engineering and Joint majors who entered as transfer students: 5 semesters

Summer sessions are excluded when determining the limit on semesters. Students who wish to delay graduation to complete a minor, a double major, or simultaneous degrees must request approval for delay of graduation before what would normally be their final two semesters. The College of Chemistry does not have a rule regarding maximum units that a student can accumulate.

Senior Residence

After 90 units toward the bachelor’s degree have been completed, at least 24 of the remaining units must be completed in residence in the College of Chemistry, in at least two semesters (the semester in which the 90 units are exceeded, plus at least one additional semester).

To count as a semester of residence for this requirement, a program must include at least 4 units of successfully completed courses. A summer session can be credited as a semester in residence if this minimum unit requirement is satisfied.

Juniors and seniors who participate in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) for a full year may meet a modified senior residence requirement. After 60 units toward the bachelor’s degree have been completed, at least 24 (excluding EAP) of the remaining units must be completed in residence in the College of Chemistry, in at least two semesters. At least 12 of the 24 units must be completed after the student has already completed 90 units. Undergraduate Dean’s approval for the modified senior residence requirement must be obtained before enrollment in the Education Abroad Program.

Minimum Total Units

A student must successfully complete at least 120 semester units in order to graduate.

Minimum Academic Requirements

A student must earn at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in all courses undertaken at UC, including those from UC Summer Sessions, UC Education Abroad Program, and UC Berkeley Washington Program, as well as XB courses from University Extension.

Minimum Course Grade Requirements

Students in the College of Chemistry who receive a grade of D+ or lower in a chemical engineering or chemistry course for which a grade of C- or higher is required must repeat the course at Berkeley.

Students in the College of Chemistry must achieve:

• C- or higher in CHEM 4A before taking CHEM 4B

• C- or higher in CHEM 4B before taking more advanced courses

• C- or higher in CHEM 12A before taking CHEM 12B 

• GPA of at least 2.0 in all courses taken in the college in order to advance to and continue in the upper division

Chemistry or chemical biology majors must also achieve:

• C- or higher in CHEM 120A and CHEM 120B if taken before CHEM 125 or CHEM C182

• 2.0 GPA in all upper division courses taken at the University to satisfy major requirements

Chemical engineering students must also achieve:

• C- or higher in CHM ENG 140 before taking any other CBE courses

• C- or higher in CHM ENG 150A to be eligible to take any other course in the 150 series

• 2.0 GPA in all upper division courses taken at the University to satisfy major requirements

Chemical engineering students who do not achieve a grade of C- or higher in CHM ENG 140 on their first attempt are advised to change to another major. If the course is not passed with a grade of C- or higher on the second attempt, continuation in the Chemical Engineering program is normally not allowed.

Minimum Progress

To make normal progress toward a degree, undergraduates must successfully complete 30 units of coursework each year. The continued enrollment of students who do not maintain normal progress will be subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Dean. To achieve minimum academic progress, the student must meet two criteria:

1. Completed no fewer units than 15 multiplied by the number of semesters, less one, in which the student has been enrolled at Berkeley. Summer sessions do not count as semesters for this purpose.

2. A student’s class schedule must contain at least 13 units in any term, unless otherwise authorized by the staff adviser or the Undergraduate Dean.

Student Learning Goals

Mission

Each Chemistry graduate will have completed an integrated, rigorous program which includes foundational course work in chemistry and in-depth course work in chemistry or chemistry-related fields. The ACS-certified degree further emphasizes laboratory experience and the development of professional skills. Advanced coursework and educational activities outside the traditional classroom, such as independent research, provide students the opportunity to conduct individual research projects or participate as a member of a research team. Many undergraduate students also benefit from taking our graduate courses in synthetic and physical chemistry.

At graduation, Chemistry majors will have a set of fundamental competencies that are knowledge-based, performance/skills-based, and effective.

Learning Goals for the Major

All our graduates will be able to:

1. Master a broad set of chemical knowledge concerning the fundamentals in the basic areas of the discipline (organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biological chemistry).
2. Solve problems competently by identifying the essential parts of a problem and formulating a strategy for solving the problem. They will be able to rationally estimate the solution to a problem, apply appropriate techniques to arrive at a solution, test the correctness of the solution, and interpret their results.
3. Use computers in data acquisition and processing and use available software as a tool in data analysis.
4. Employ modern library search tools to locate and retrieve scientific information about a topic, chemical, chemical technique, or an issue relating to chemistry.
5. Successfully pursue their career objectives in advanced education in professional and/or graduate schools, in a scientific career in government or industry, in a teaching career in the school systems, or in a related career following graduation.

Skills

All our graduates will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Understand the objective of their chemical experiments, properly carry out the experiments, and appropriately record and analyze the results.
2. Use standard laboratory equipment, modern instrumentation, and classical techniques to carry out experiments.
3. Know and follow the proper procedures and regulations for safe handling and use of chemicals.
4. Communicate the concepts and results of their laboratory experiments through effective writing and oral communication skills.

Courses

Chemical Biology

Faculty and Instructors

+ Indicates this faculty member is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.

Faculty

Paul Alivisatos, Professor. Physical chemistry, semiconductor nanocrystals, nanoscience, nanotechnology, artificial photosynthesis, solar energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy.
Research Profile

Richard A. Andersen, Professor. Chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry.
Research Profile

John Arnold, Professor. Organometallic chemistry, organometallic catalysis, materials chemistry, coordination chemistry.
Research Profile

Anne Baranger, Adjunct Professor. Chemical education, chemical biology, organic chemistry.
Research Profile

Kwabena Bediako, Assistant Professor. Inorganic Materials Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Low-Dimensional Materials, Quantum Transport, Optoelectronics.
Research Profile

Kristie A. Boering, Professor. Physical chemistry, climate change, atmospheric chemistry, environmental chemistry, ozone, earth and planetary science, isotopic compositions of atmospheric trace gases, stratospheric ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, molecular hydrogen, methane.
Research Profile

Carlos J. Bustamante, Professor. Nanoscience, structural characterization of nucleo-protein assemblies, single molecule fluorescence microscopy, DNA-binding molecular motors, the scanning force microscope, prokaryotes.
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Jamie Cate, Professor. Molecular basis for protein synthesis by the ribosome, RNA, antibiotics, a thermophilic bacterium, escherichia coli.
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Christopher J. Chang, Professor. Chemistry, inorganic chemistry, neuroscience, bioinorganic chemistry, general physiology, organic chemistry, new chemical tools for biological imaging and proteomics, new metal complexes for energy catalysis and green chemistry, chemical biology.
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Michelle Chang, Associate Professor. Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, and Synthetic Biology.
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Ronald C. Cohen, Professor. Physical chemistry, water, climate, air pollution, atmospheric chemistry, environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, ozone, nitrogen oxides, CO2, clouds.
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Jennifer A. Doudna, Professor. RNA machines, hepatitis C virus, RNA interference, ribosomes.
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Felix Fischer, Associate Professor. Organic and Inorganic Materials Chemistry, Supramolecular Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Molecular Electronics.
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Graham R. Fleming, Professor. Chemistry, proteins, chemical and biological dynamics in the condensed phase, ultrafast spectroscopy, body dynamics, liquids, solutions, glasses, photosynthetic proteins, role of solvents in chemical reactions, complex electric fields, electron transfer.
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+ Matt Francis, Professor. Materials chemistry, drug delivery, organic chemistry, Protein modification, artificial photosynthesis, water purification.
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+ Phillip Lewis Geissler, Professor. Statistical mechanics, theoretical chemistry, microscopic behavior of complex biological and material systems, biomolecular structure and dynamics, nonlinear vibrational spectroscopy.
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Naomi Ginsberg, Associate Professor. Physical and biophysical chemistry, light harvesting, spectroscopy, and imaging.
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Jay T. Groves, Professor. Chemistry, physical chemistry of cell membranes, molecular organization in cell membranes, receptor-ligand binding, spatial rearrangement of receptors, ligands.
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John F. Hartwig, Professor. Inorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, organic chemistry.
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Martin Head-Gordon, Professor. Theoretical chemistry, electronic structure calculations, development of novel theories and algorithms, quantum mechanics.
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Teresa Head-Gordon, Professor. Computational chemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, biomolecules, materials, computational science.
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John Kuriyan, Professor. Structural and functional studies of signal transduction, DNA replication, cancer therapies, phosphorylation.
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Stephen R. Leone, Professor. Physical chemistry, molecular dynamics, atomic, molecular, nanostructured materials, energy applications, attosecond physics and chemistry, radical reactions, combustion dynamics, microscopy, Optical physics, chemical physics, soft x-ray, high harmonic generation, ultrafast laser, aerosol chemistry and dynamics, neutrals imaging.
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David Limmer, Assistant Professor. Theoretical chemistry.
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Jeffrey R. Long, Professor. Inorganic and solid state chemistry, synthesis of inorganic clusters and solids, controlling structure, tailoring physical properties, intermetal bridges, high-spin metal-cyanide clusters, magnetic bistability.
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Thomas Maimone, Assistant Professor. Organic synthesis, total synthesis, natural products chemistry, catalysis, synthetic methodology, medicinal chemistry.
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Michael A. Marletta, Professor. Chemical biology, molecular biology, structure/function relationships in proteins, catalytic and biological properties of enzymes, cellular signaling, nitric oxide synthase, soluble guanylate cyclase, gas sensing, cellulose degradation, polysaccharide monooxygenases.
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Susan Marqusees, Professor. Director of QB3 and Eveland Warren Endowed Chair Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology.
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Evan W. Miller, Assistant Professor. Chemical biology, organic chemistry, fluorescence microscopy, neuroscience, imaging .

Luciano G. Moretto, Professor. Chemistry, nuclear science, statistical and dynamical properties of nuclei, nuclear reactions, multifragmentation, thermal scaling, monovariant and bivariant regions.
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Daniel Neumark, Professor. Physical chemistry, molecular structure and dynamics, spectroscopy and dynamics of transition states, radicals, and clusters, frequency and time-domain techniques, state-resolved photodissociation, photodetachment of negative ion beams.
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Eric Neuscamman, Assistant Professor. Electronic Structure Theory, Quantum Chemistry.
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Daniel K. Nomura, Associate Professor. Chemical Biology and Analytical Chemistry.
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Eran Rabani, Professor. Theory of nanomaterials.
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Jonathan Rittle, Assistant Professor. Inorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology: Applying structure and spectroscopy to understand and augment the reactivity of metalloenzymes and transition metal clusters.
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Richmond Sarpong, Professor. Organic and organometallic chemistry.
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+ Richard J. Saykally, Professor. Physical chemistry, surface science, analytical chemistry, materials solid state chemistry, laser spectroscopy methods, X-ray spectroscopy, molecular astrophysics, novel forms of matter, nonlinear optical molecular imaging(NMI), water clusters.
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Kevan M. Shokat, Professor. Chemistry, bio-organic chemistry, diabetes, protein phosphorylation, fundamental signal transduction pathways in cells and whole organisms, kinase, drug development, asthma, multiple forms of cancer, neurological disorders, drug addiction.
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+ Angelica Stacy, Professor. Chemistry, solid states, physical and inorganic chemistry, emerging technologies, synthesis and characterization of new solid state materials with novel electronic properties, magnetic properties, development of new synthetic methodologies.
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T. Don Tilley, Professor. Inorganic, organometallic, polymer and materials chemistry, synthetic, structural, and reactivity studies on transition metal compounds, catalysis, new chemical transformations, advanced solid state materials, renewable energy, solar fuels.
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Dean F. Toste, Professor. Organometallic chemistry, organic, development of new synthetic methods, enantioselective catalysts, strategies for the synthesis of natural products, synthesis of complex molecules, formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds, olefins.
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K. Peter Vollhardt, Professor. Organic and organometallic chemistry, transition metals, novel synthetic methodology, synthesis of complex natural and unnatural products, assembly of novel oligometallic arrays, phenylenes, organic magnets and conductors.
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K. Birgitta Whaley, Professor. Chemistry, physical and theoretical chemistry, cluster and nano science, quantum information and computations, quantum mechanics of clusters and advanced materials, elucidating and manipulating chemical dynamics in strongly quantum environments.
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Evan Williams, Professor. Spectroscopy, molecular structure and dynamics, analytical chemistry, biophysical chemistry, structure and reactivity of biomolecules and biomolecule/water interactions, mass spectrometry, separations, protein conformation, protein and DNA sequencing.
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Ke Xu, Assistant Professor. Biophysical chemistry, cell biology at the nanoscale, super-resolution microscopy, single-molecule spectroscopy.
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Ting Xu, Professor. Polymer, nanocomposite, biomaterial, membrane, directed self-assembly, drug delivery, protein therapeutics, block copolymers, nanoparticles.
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Omar Yaghi, Professor. Reticular chemistry.
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Peidong Yang, Professor. Materials chemistry, sensors, nanostructures, energy conversion, nanowires, miniaturizing optoelectronic devices, photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, solid state lighting.
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Lecturers

Michelle Christine Douskey, Lecturer.

Peter C. Marsden, Lecturer.

Maryann Robak, Lecturer.

Emeritus Faculty

Paul A. Bartlett, Professor Emeritus. Bio-organic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, enzyme inhibitors, combinatorial chemistry, peptide conformation, proteomimetics.
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Robert G. Bergman, Professor Emeritus. Organic and inorganic chemistry: synthesis and reaction mechanisms, organotransition metal compounds, homogeneous catalysis.
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Joseph Cerny, Professor Emeritus. Nuclear chemistry, nuclei, radioactivity, isotopes.
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Jean M. J. Frechet, Professor Emeritus. Materials chemistry, catalysis, drug delivery, analytical chemistry, organic synthesis, polymer science, macromolecules, chiral recognition, control of molecular architecture at the nanometer scale, reactive surfaces.
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Charles B. Harris, Professor Emeritus. Physical chemistry, surface science, theoretical chemistry, chemical dynamics, femtosecond lasers in the visible and infrared, energy transfer, relaxation, primary processes in chemical reactions in liquids, the dynamical properties of electrons.
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Robert A. Harris, Professor Emeritus. Molecules, radiation, theoretical chemistry, atoms, weak interactions, condensed matter .
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John E. Hearst, Professor Emeritus. Nucleic acid structure, psoralen photochemistry.
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Clayton H. Heathcock, Professor Emeritus. Organic synthesis, organic chemistry, large-molecule synthesis.
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Darleane C. Hoffman, Professor Emeritus. Nuclear chemistry, actinide, transactinides, superheavy elements, liquid-liquid extractions, solid-phase chromatographic extractions, gas-phase chromatographic separations, meitnerium, nuclear decay properties of the heaviest elements, decay.
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Sung-Hou Kim, Professor Emeritus. Computational genomics, Structural Biology, drug discovery, disease genomics.
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Judith P. Klinman, Professor Emeritus. Catalytic and regulatory mechanisms in enzyme-catalyzed reactions, kinetic, spectroscopic, stereochemical biological techniques, peptide- derived cofactors, Nuclear tunneling and role of protein dynamics in catalysis, enzymatic activation of molecular oxygen.
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Yuan T. Lee, Professor Emeritus.

William Lester, Professor Emeritus. Theoretical and physical chemistry, advances in basic theory, computational methods, study of molecular electronic structure, quantum Monte Carlo method, Born-Oppenheimer approximation.
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Marcin Majda, Professor Emeritus. Electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, electrode and solution interfaces, electron tunneling, bioanalytical chemistry.
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Samuel S. Markowitz, Professor Emeritus. Nuclear chemistry, environmental chemistry, nuclear reactions for chemical analyses.
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Richard Mathies, Professor Emeritus. Genomics, biophysical, bioanalytical, physical chemistry, laser spectroscopy, resonance Raman, excited-state reaction dynamics photoactive proteins, rhodopsins, microfabricated chemical biochemical analysis devices, forensics, infectious disease detection.
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William H. Miller, Professor Emeritus. Theoretical chemistry, chemical dynamics, quantum mechanical and semiclassical theories, dynamical chemical processes at the molecular level, photodissociation, femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, calculations of rate constants for chemical reactions.
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C. Bradley Moore, Professor Emeritus.

Steven F. Pedersen, Professor Emeritus.

Norman E. Phillips, Professor Emeritus. Materials, solid state chemistry, low-temperature specific heat measurements, microscopic theories, models for condensed matter, macroscopic properties, microscopic structures, measurements on nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes.

+ Alexander Pines, Professor Emeritus. Theory and experiment in magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging, quantum coherence and decoherence, novel concepts and methods including molecular and biomolecular sensors and microfluidics, laser hyperpolarization and detection, laser and zero-field NMR, in areas from material science to biomedicine .
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John O. Rasmussen, Professor Emeritus.

Kenneth N. Raymond, Professor Emeritus. Chemistry, bacteria, bioinorganic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, coordination, design of specific chelating agents for metal ions, human iron storage and transport proteins, low-molecular weight chelating agents, metals in medicine, metal-ligands.
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Kenneth Sauer, Professor Emeritus.

Charles V. Shank, Professor Emeritus.

David Shirley, Professor Emeritus.

Gabor A. Somorjai, Professor Emeritus. Physical chemistry, catalysis, surface science, low-energy electron diffraction, solid state chemistry, macroscopic surface phenomena, adhesion, lubrication, biocompatibility, bonding, and reactivity at solid surfaces, scanning tunneling.
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Andrew Streitwieser, Professor Emeritus.

David E. Wemmer, Professor Emeritus. Nuclear magnetic resonance, nucleic acids, biophysical chemistry: proteins, NMR spectroscopy, magnetic resonance methods, structure of proteins and DNA, conformational fluctuations, biopolymers.
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