<p>I know someone who was accepted as a transfer for this major, and she's trying to decide between UCB and UCLA...can anyone give any info or thoughts about the major? Is it just as rigorous as the B.S. but with more humanities? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>As seen here...
<a href="http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM%5B/url%5D">http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_view_req?p_dept_cd=CHEM</a></p>
<p>"Chemistry Major in the College of Letters and Science (B.A. Degree)</p>
<p>Mathematics: 1A, 1B, 53, 54. Physics: 7A, 7B. Chemistry: 4A, 4B, 104A, 104B (103 and 135 may be taken in place of 104A, 104B), 112A, 112B, 120A, 120B, and a choice of one of the following: 105, 108, 115, 125, C170L, C182. </p>
<p>Chemistry Major in the College of Chemistry (B.S. Degree)</p>
<p>The requirements for a B.S. degree in the College of Chemistry, with a Chemistry major, are: A total of 120 semester units; Mathematics 1A, 1B, 53, 54; Physics 7A, 7B; Chemistry 4A, 4B, 104A, 104B, 112A, 112B, 120A, 120B, 125, and a choice of 105, 108, 115, or 146. In addition to these specified courses, the B.S. chemistry major consists of 15 units of advanced study in chemistry and related fields, including at least one lecture course in chemistry. These courses permit the student to emphasize chemistry in areas of personal interest or to specialize in some related field, such as physics, biology, geology, mathematics, materials science, nuclear science; or to complete premedical requirements. In addition to these 15 units of advanced scientific courses, a portion of the 15 units of breadth electives (see below) can be used for coherent programs in interdisciplinary areas. "</p>
<p>It is a bit less rigorous and allows for quite a bit more flexibility. Just a heads up, the UCB Chemistry department is quite possibly the best Chemistry department anywhere, whether or not being in L&S rather than CoC effects the kind of attention you'll get is not something I know much about.</p>
<p>It's pretty damn hard, from what I hear, and more rigorous than IB. The major is well-respected.</p>
<p>Chem at berk is #1 for grad school, and from taking upper div classes, I can say that some of that prestige does trickle down to undergrad education. For example, you learn the latest in synthetic organic techniques. However, the courses are demanding in depth and scope. They'll stress all types of knowledge. Ochem is mostly memorization; pchem is math, and ichem is just weird. Be prepared to work hard. With that said, Berk is probably a better prep for grad school and research than UCLA for chem.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/about/honors/grad/%5B/url%5D">http://www.berkeley.edu/about/honors/grad/</a></p>
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<p>Yeah one of her concerns was having a Chem B.A. from Cal versus a Chem B.S. from LA, if it matters if she were to get a job after graduating instead of attending grad (pharm) school. Anybody else have thoughts about this? Thanks.</p>
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Yeah one of her concerns was having a Chem B.A. from Cal versus a Chem B.S. from LA, if it matters if she were to get a job after graduating instead of attending grad (pharm) school. Anybody else have thoughts about this? Thanks.
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<p>It hardly matters. Whatever difference might exist is easily going to be dwarfed by whatever other factors are at play in your interview. </p>
<p>Just think of it this way. Do you really ihink of an employer would say that they are really highly impressed by your knowledge and want to hire you, but you have only a BA and not a BS degree, so they won't hire you? </p>
<p>Besides, let me put it to you this way. Harvard and Princeton chemistry students can only get BA degrees (actually AB degrees, but it's the same thing). Yet I highly doubt that they're hurting for jobs.</p>
<p>Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the Cal vs. LA prestige factor, just a B.S. vs. B.A. I thought a B.S. was better because it requires more rigor and focus on the subject matter. Which brings me back to asking, how much less chemistry do you do in the upper-division for the B.A. compared to the B.S. at Cal? Or is it pretty much the same?</p>
<p>Like I said, in the real world, the difference between a BS and a BA is negligible. You're going to be hired or not hired based on criterion far more important than that. </p>
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Which brings me back to asking, how much less chemistry do you do in the upper-division for the B.A. compared to the B.S. at Cal? Or is it pretty much the same?
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<p>It's pretty much the same. It's all in what you make of it. If you want to do the absolute bare minimum while getting the BS, you could do that. If you want to take every single chem class you possibly can while getting your BA, you could do that too.</p>
<p>My recommendation would be to go for the B.S. only if you are strictly in love with chemistry. If you like Chemistry and History, or Chemistry and something else I would recommend the B.A. as you are allowed a bit more room in terms of electives.</p>