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First Year Chemistry Students

(Including New Start Students who are not Transfers)

This page is primarily intended to provide information about registration for students who are entering OSU as chemistry majors in their first-year and who have not attended college previously. Transfer students should also see the following link.  Transfer

You will meet with a chemistry departmental adviser who will help you choose the courses you will take Fall term and make sure you are signed up for an option in chemistry.   

Your adviser should have your file which includes basic admission information and your score on the math proficiency test.  Sometimes the files are missing information and you can help your adviser fill in the blanks.

In particular, your adviser will focus on some of the following issues.

1. Placement in the correct mathematics course.  Important pieces of information include your score on the University math test, the highest level math course you took in high school, your SAT math course, and your assessment of your math skills.

2. High school chemistry background. It is important know if you took AP chemistry and if you took the AP tests.

3. Advanced Placement (AP) results.  It is important to know what AP courses (chemistry, calculus, writing, history) for which you have received (or may receive) college credit. 

4. The chemistry degree (B.S. or B.A.) and option you have chosen.  All B.S chemistry majors are required to declare an option (you can change to a different option at any time).  It is important to declare an option because it affects your choices for some courses that you will want to take the first year. 

5. Language courses  you took in High school. Two years of foreign language in high school or equivalent are required for your college degree. 

6. Before you leave the advising session, you will: 

a) fill out the courses you will take Fall term on your "student list" and have it signed by the adviser,
b) obtain your personal identification number (PIN) from your adviser, and
c) fill out the "undergraduate academic program" form with your option choice and sign it (your adviser will process the form).

More detail about some of these issues follows.

Typical Course Timing For First-Year Students

For any chemistry degree or option, students must take one year of general chemistry (CH 221-223) and three calculus courses (MTH 251, 252, 254).  Typical timing schedules are shown below.  They differ according to the first math course you take.  Honors students will take the CH 224-226 sequence.  Chemistry majors in the CH 221-223 sequence should enroll in the recitation/lab session designated for chemistry majors. 

Chemistry and Math Courses

Skills and Perspective Courses

Students should take some Baccalaureate Core Courses including the Writing I course (WR 121) and 2 or 3 Perspective courses or one or more biology courses.

For some of the options, it can be advantageous to take some other courses during the first year because these courses are required courses for the option and also prerequisites for other courses.  Here are a few suggestions.

Baccalaureate Core Requirements

Odyssey and FOOTSteps

Students may wish to enroll in ALS 111 (OSU Odyssey) or  ALS 112 (OSU Odyssey:FOOTSteps). Head advisers have outlines of the course curriculum, brochures and class lists. Click here for more information.

Facts about OSU Odyssey:

-OSU Odyssey (ALS 111 and ALS 112) are 1 credit, P/N student orientation courses designed to help new students with their transition to OSU. Course topics include: academic success, resources, connecting with faculty, time management and much more. ALS 112 includes an outdoor trip before the start of Fall term classes.

-OSU Odyssey provides an important opportunity for personalized attention during a student's first-term of college.

-OSU Odyssey is the third step in the new student orientation process (START-OSU CONNECT-OSU ODYSSEY).

-77 sections of OSU Odyssey will be offered this Fall (25 students each).

-Teachers include: President Risser, Provost White, counselors, faculty members, student services professionals, deans, advisers, Dr's, and many others who volunteer to teach OSU Odyssey each year.

-Over half of our new students take OSU Odyssey each Fall.

-Retention rates are higher for those first-year students who take OSU Odyssey.

-Students who have taken OSU Odyssey, report feeling connected to campus and aware of important resources.

-ALS 112 (FOOTSteps) provides new students the opportunity to go on an overnight or day trip before the start of Fall classes (with their OSU Odyssey classmates and teacher). No outdoor experience is necessary. Fees are applied to their OSU bill. Trips include: backpacking, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, hiking, whale watching, and the challenge course.

Suggested timetables for all 4 years for B.S. and B.A. degrees and options are found on the chemistry curriculum page -  click on course timetable for a given option.

Options for B.S. chemistry majors (see option signup)

Your summer adviser will help you fill out the University form that declares your option.  Be sure and sign it.  Your adviser will process the form for you.  Below are the option codes.  The major code for chemistry is 520 and the code for science is 8.

Transfer students should also see the following link.  Transfer

last updated 03/01/2010

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