UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING
Students are invited to chat with Dean Atkinson, Interim Chair of the Department of Chemistry, via Zoom on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9:30 - 11 AM. Please join to ask questions, get some advising, and/or provide feedback on how things are going in our classes!
Information about mandatory first-year advising
How to prepare for advising
A student majoring in chemistry is required to take a minimum of 70 credits in the subject and will take courses in the core areas of general chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and biochemistry. For transfer students, a minimum of 20 credits in upper-division chemistry courses must be earned at PSU. In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, the major in chemistry must meet the following departmental requirements.
Departmental Advisors
Andrea Goforth, amgofort@pdx.edu, by appointment only
All courses used to satisfy the departmental major requirements, whether taken in the department or elsewhere, including courses from supporting departments (e.g., mathematics, physics, and biology), must be graded C- or above, with a combined GPA of 2.25 or higher, except for those major course requirements offered only on a pass/no pass basis. If an unsatisfactory grade is received in an upper-division course offered in the Department of Chemistry, a student will be allowed to retake the course to improve their grade only once.
TRANSFER INFORMATION
The pathway to Chemistry careers for many of our graduates has involved transferring into the PSU Chemistry program from a community college. Review our minimum admission requirements for transfer students, and explore the various routes to becoming a PSU student, which include co-admission/dual enrollment with several area community colleges. Learn whether co-admission is right for you. Transitioning from community college can provide a cost-efficient and flexible route to your degree and be beneficial to those desiring smaller class sizes and/or college preparatory coursework, provided that the following points are understood:
You are NOT required to earn a Transfer or Associate’s degree prior to transfer, and doing so will almost dertainly delay your time to degree completion. Too often, transfer students are stunned to realize that, although most/all of their community college credits transfer to PSU, many do not count toward the Chemistry or other STEM degrees. Avoid this situation to ensure you can earn your degree on time without accruing unnecessary financial debt.
Please ensure your transfer coursework will count toward the chemistry degree by:
- Reviewing our Chemistry degree requirements to understand which courses are required for the degree. Note that Math 111 and 112 (Algebra II and Trigonometry) are perquisites of several science courses required for the degree. Find out about our math placement tests.
- Determining whether a certain community college course will transfer to PSU using the course equivalency tool. Note, however, that PSU may accept credit from other accredited institutions even though transfer tables are not displayed online. Talk with an adviser if you have questions about this.
NOTE: This link contains specific guidance addressing the transfer of a lower-division organic chemistry sequence from an Oregon community college to Portland State University.
- Talking with a Chemistry adviser or transfer adviser from PSU about course equivalency or other aspects of the transfer process. These advisers regularly visit area community colleges; see their visit schedule. Your community college adviser can be a great source of information; however, PSU advisers will provide the most reliable and up-to-date information and advice to help you make a seamless transition to PSU and into the Chemistry major! Find on-campus transfer advisers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If after these explorations you think the Chemistry major is right for you, visit our campus and register for an orientation. We look forward to meeting you!
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY HONORS PROGRAM
There is currently a departmental honors structure in Chemistry and a University Honors Program at PSU that
collaborate to provide excellent students with a research and thesis experience. Interested students should meet
with the departmental Honors adviser (Dean Atkinson, atkinsdb@pdx.edu) for details. A minimum GPA of 3.2 at Portland State is required and the student will be asked to register in CH 403, which will require preparation of an Honorʼs thesis and presentation of the honors research to the Chemistry Department at a yearʼs end special seminar.
TEACHING LAB POLICIES
As noted in the Schedule of Classes for each term, the safety focused teaching lab policy is strictly enforced for all lab students. Read the entire teaching lab policy here.
The curriculum, faculty, library, and facilities of the Department of Chemistry are accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Graduating chemistry majors are eligible for certification to become members of the ACS after two years of professional service.