Different types of chemistry degree requirements are usually based on the level of degree a student is working on and any additional concentration or specialization he or she may want. Undergraduate programs often require that students complete a number of courses in general studies, which include subjects such as language and social sciences. Chemistry degree requirements for someone in an undergraduate program also typically include courses that focus on chemistry and other science classes. In a graduate program, students should expect to focus even more strongly on science, typically taking classes in a particular concentration such as organic chemistry or biochemistry.
Undergraduate chemistry degree requirements are typically intended to ensure that students have a broad, yet somewhat focused, education. This means these programs usually require that students take classes in general studies such as language and social sciences like history or sociology. Completion of these courses ensures that students have an understanding of and are introduced to a wide range of different subjects and ideas, including those outside of their particular field of study.
In addition to these general courses, chemistry degree requirements also tend to include a number of classes that focus on math and science. While chemistry is typically the focus of many of these, secondary fields such as biology and physics may also be required of students. Classes in mathematics are often important, especially since many mathematical concepts are used in chemistry. Some schools may offer programs with chemistry degree requirements for students interested in a concentration in a particular subject, such as pre-medicine, which usually requires additional certain classes.
There are typically different chemistry degree requirements for someone who has completed an undergraduate education and has chosen to continue toward a graduate degree. These programs usually require that students complete additional classes with a focus on chemistry. While an undergraduate education is meant to expose students to a wide range of ideas, graduate coursework is usually intended as a way to ensure better understanding of particular subjects in chemistry.
This means that chemistry degree requirements for a graduate program usually include additional classes in chemistry, related sciences, and mathematics. Other courses focusing on research and the preparation of oral presentations may also be required, which are typically meant to prepare a student for his or her dissertation or thesis. To complete a graduate degree, most students must create and defend a dissertation based on research in a particular field. The exact nature of this work depends a great deal on the requirements of a particular graduate program, though it is typically based on the particular field of chemistry in which a student specializes.
