BA/BS · 2025-2026
Chemistry & Biochemistry
College of Creative Studies — Chemistry & Biochemistry
Official sources · CCS
College of Creative Studies requirements
CCS uses its own General Education system (not LASAR or GEAR). IGETC completion fulfills CCS GE requirements. Courses must be approved by faculty advisor or pre-approved program list.
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses · Ethnicity required · 6-quarter CCS residency
Application requirements
CCS admission is separate from the UC application. Apply via the CCS online application in addition to UCSB.
- Letter of intentRequired — separate from UC application essay
- Letters of recommendation2 required (PDF upload)
- TranscriptsUnofficial scans from all institutions
- Supplemental materialsEncouraged — research, projects, or work samples
- • Letter of intent to CCS Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty — separate from UC application essay.
- • At least two recommenders familiar with your chemistry/biochemistry background.
- • Upload unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended.
Official major sheet — 2025-2026
Parsed from department major sheet. Verify on GOLD progress check.
Lower division
- Chem CS 11A · 3 units (or CHEM 1A, CHEM 3A)Must earn 3 units per CCS Chem 11 course
- Chem CS 11B · 3 units (or CHEM 1B, CHEM 3B)
- Chem CS 11C · 3 units (or CHEM 1C, CHEM 3C)
- CHEM 2AL · 3 units
- CHEM 2BL · 3 units
- CHEM 3L · 2 units
- CHEM 130A · 4 units (or CHEM 109A)
- CHEM 130B · 4 units (or CHEM 109B)
- CHEM 130C · 4 units (or CHEM 109C)
- CHEM 6AL · 3 units
- CHEM 6BL · 3 units (or CHEM 6BH)
- CHEM 6CL · 2 units (or CHEM 6CH)
- MATH 3A · 4 units (or MATH 2A)
- MATH 3B · 4 units (or MATH 2B)
- MATH 4A · 4 units
- MATH 4B · 4 units
- MATH 6A · 4 units
- PHYS 7A · 4 units
- PHYS 7B · 4 units
- PHYS 7C · 4 units
- PHYS 7L · 1 units
Biochemistry track also requires MCDB 1A, 1B, EEMB 2, MCDB 1LL.
BS Chemistry track — Physical Chemistry
- CHEM 113A · 4 units
- CHEM 113B · 4 units
- CHEM 113C · 4 units
BS Chemistry track — Laboratory & Inorganic
- CHEM 116AL · 3 units
- CHEM 116BL · 3 units
- CHEM 116CL · 2 units
- CHEM 173A · 4 units
- CHEM 173B · 4 units
BS Chemistry track — Other required
- CHEM 142A · 4 units (or CHEM W 142A)
- CHEM 150 · 4 units
BS Biochemistry track — Physical & Biochemistry
- CHEM 112A · 4 units (or CHEM 113A)
- CHEM 112B · 4 units
- CHEM 112C · 4 units
- CHEM 142A · 4 units (or CHEM W 142A)
- CHEM 142B · 4 units
- CHEM 142C · 4 units
- CHEM 173A · 4 units
Upper-division electives
12 units required- CHEM 141
- CHEM 145
- CHEM 151
- MCDB 101A
BS Chemistry: 4 UD electives (3 units min each). BS Biochemistry: 6 units core + 5 additional units from approved list.
- • Example schedule follows BS Chemistry track from major sheet. GE and electives as schedule allows.
Major regulations
- Minimum grade
- C- or better in major courses
45 UD Chemistry units (BS Chemistry) or 46 UD Chemistry units (BS Biochemistry).
Courses marked ◊ on schedule are offered only in listed quarter.
Quarterly faculty advisor approval required.
Combined degree pathways
Optional programs beyond the standard B.S. — verify eligibility with department advisors.
BS Chemistry track
BS
45 UD chemistry units including physical chemistry, labs, inorganic, and 4 electives.
- • Example 4-year schedule in major sheet.
BS Biochemistry track
BS
46 UD chemistry units with biochemistry emphasis; includes MCDB lower division.
- • Example schedule in major sheet; Chem 112 series instead of 113 for biochemistry track.
4-year plan — 180 units
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses (unrelated to major) · Ethnicity required. From official major sheet — verify on GOLD.
Year 1
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 2
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 3
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 4
Fall
Winter
Spring
Data sources
Course lists are snapshots from official UCSB pages—not a live scrape. Verify prerequisites in the UCSB General Catalog.
College-wide CCS rules (8 GE courses unrelated to major, Ethnicity, 180 units, quarterly faculty advising) apply in addition to major requirements. See Student Handbook and UCSB Catalog — CCS degrees.