Associate in Science, Emphasis in Chemistry | Paradise Valley Community College

The Associate in Science (AS), Emphasis in Chemistry provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in chemistry or are preparing for graduate programs in the area. With an associate`s degree, students may qualify as a chemical technician or chemical equipment operator and tender. With a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue a career as a chemist, chemical engineer, or materials scientist. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a career as a chemistry professor.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Construct qualitative and quantitative models to draw conclusions concerning physical and chemical phenomena.
Using a fundamental understanding of scientific inquiry, solve problems within the discipline of chemistry.
Design experiments and collect data, using appropriate technology and equipment.
Analyze and interpret data, using technology as appropriate.
Report data, results, and analysis and the experimental processes used to generate those data in formal and informal settings.
Design a procedure that promotes safety and manages risk in a laboratory setting.
Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior appropriate to the chemistry discipline.
Analyze real world problems and synthesize real world solutions applying chemistry theory and principles.
Collaborate with diverse individuals and groups to solve problems.
Effectively communicate in an articulate, respectful, ethical and culturally responsive manner.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Chemical Engineers

$87,070 Show expanded career information for Chemical Engineers

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

$38,500 Show expanded career information for Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

Chemical Technicians

$40,300 Show expanded career information for Chemical Technicians

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

$77,000 Show expanded career information for Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Chemists

$65,030 Show expanded career information for Chemists

Materials Scientists

$90,480 Show expanded career information for Materials Scientists

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2019.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the available transfer institutions and what degrees you may be able to transfer into.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Associate in Science, Emphasis in Chemistry
Arizona State University (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Chemistry, Bachelor of Science
Northern Arizona University, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Grand Canyon University, Bachelor of Science, Chemistry

Full-time
Part-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements: Cultural [C] and Global [G] or Historical [H] Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

No additional coursework is required to transfer to Northern Arizona University.

No additional coursework is required to transfer to Grand Canyon University.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
(CHM150 and CHM151LL) or CHM150AA or (CHM151 and CHM151LL) or CHM151AA	(General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I or (General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM150 or CHM151 or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151 or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM130 & CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or 1 yr of high school chemistry taken within the last 5 yrs] & C or better in MAT151 or higher or satisfactory score on placemt exam, or permission of the Instructor or Dept or Div Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM150 or CHM151 or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151 or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory placement), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		SQ and SQ in combination with CHM150 or CHM151	4–5
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC	3
SB	Social and Behavioral Sciences				3
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or an appropriate District placement.	Critical course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite.	MA	4–5
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
(CHM152 and CHM152LL) or CHM152AA	(General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory) or General Chemistry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM152 or Corequisites: CHM152. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.	SQ	4
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	L	0–3
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.	FYC	3
MAT230 or MAT231	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent.	MA	4–5
PHY115 or PHY121	University Physics I or University Physics I: Mechanics	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220 or MAT221 or permission of Department or Division. One year of High School physics or PHY111 and PHY112 suggested but not required.		4–5

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
CHM235 and CHM235LL	General Organic Chemistry I and General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or (CHM154 and CHM154LL), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 or Corequisites: CHM235. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.			4
MAT240 or MAT241	Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231.		MA	4–5
PHY116 or PHY131	University Physics II or University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in PHY115 and (MAT230 or MAT231). Corequisites: MAT241. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department or Division and PHY121. Corequisites: MAT241 or permission of Department or Division.		SQ	4–5
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design				3
L or Elective	Literacy & Critical Inquiry or Elective		Recommend selecting a course that satisfies [L] and [SB] or [L] and [HU] or [L] and (COM) or [L] and CRE101 requirements simultaneously. or Students intending to transfer to ASU to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry recommended to select one of the following courses (to partially fulfill the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Science and Society elective requirement at ASU): ASB100 Introduction to Global Health (3) OR ASM/FOR275 Forensic Anthropology (4) OR + GPH210 Society and Environment (3) OR + GPH211 Landform Processes (4) 3-4		0–3

Term 4 Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4 Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
CHM236 and CHM236LL	General Organic Chemistry IIA and General Organic Chemistry IIA Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 and CHM235LL, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM236 or Corequisites: CHM236. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.			4
MAT277 or MAT276	Modern Differential Equations or Modern Differential Equations	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department/Division Chair. or Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230, or MAT231, or permission of Department or Division.		MA	3–4
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites	COM230 Recommended	SB or L	3
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design			HU	3
SB	Social and Behavioral Sciences				3
Transfer Option	Transfer Option				0–3
MAT225	Elementary Linear Algebra	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT212 or MAT213 or MAT220 or MAT221, or equivalent.			3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements: Cultural [C] and Global [G] or Historical [H] Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

No additional coursework is required to transfer to Northern Arizona University.

No additional coursework is required to transfer to Grand Canyon University.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or an appropriate District placement.	OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite.	MA	4–5
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+).		FYC	3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MAT230 or MAT231	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent.		MA	4–5
PHY115 or PHY121	University Physics or University Physics I: Mechanics	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220 or MAT221 or permission of Department or Division. One year of High School physics or PHY111 and PHY112 suggested but not required.			4–5

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MAT240 or MAT241	Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231.		MA	4–5
PHY116 or PHY131	University Physics II or University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in PHY115 and (MAT230 or MAT231). Corequisites: MAT241. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department or Division and PHY121. Corequisites: MAT241 or permission of Department or Division.		SQ	4–5

Term 4 Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4 Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
(CHM150 and CHM151LL) or CHM150AA or (CHM151 and CHM151LL) or CHM151AA	(General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I or (General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I	No requisites and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM150 or CHM151 or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151 or Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM130 & CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or 1 yr of high school chemistry taken within the last 5 yrs] & C or better in MAT151 or higher or satisfactory score on placement exam or permission of the Instructor or Dept or Div Chair. or Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM130 & CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or 1 yr of high school chemistry taken within the last 5 yrs] & C or better in MAT151 or higher or satisfactory score on placemt exam, or permission of the Instructor or Dept or Div Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM150 or CHM151 or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151 or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.	SQ in combination with CHM150 or CHM151 or SQ or SQ	3–5
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	L	0–3
Transfer Option
MAT225	Elementary Linear Algebra	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT212 or MAT213 or MAT220 or MAT221, or equivalent.		3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
CHM152	General Chemistry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.	SQ	3
CHM152LL	General Chemistry II Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM152 or Corequisites: CHM152.	SQ	1
MAT276 or MAT277	Modern Differential Equations or Modern Differential Equations	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department/Division Chair. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department/Division Chair.	MA	3–4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC	3
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design			HU	3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
CHM235 and CHM235LL	General Organic Chemistry I and General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or (CHM154 and CHM154LL), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 or Corequisites: CHM235. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.		4
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites	SB or L	3
SB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
CHM236 and CHM236LL	General Organic Chemistry IIA and General Organic Chemistry IIA Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 and CHM235LL, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM236 or Corequisites: CHM236. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.	In addition to the courses listed, recommend completing CHM298. CHM298 is recommended but not required. CHM298 is offered in three different modules, CHM298AA or CHM298AB or CHM298AC. Selection of which CHM298 module is depend on advice from mentor.		4
SB

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
HU	Humanities, Arts, & Design (HU) Course				3
L or Elective	Literacy & Critical Inquiry or Elective		Recommend selecting a course that satisfies [L] and [SB] or [L] and [HU] or [L] and (COM) or [L] and CRE101 requirements simultaneously. or Students intending to transfer to ASU to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry recommended to select one of the following courses (to partially fulfill the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Science and Society elective requirement at ASU): ASB100 Introduction to Global Health (3) OR ASM/FOR275 Forensic Anthropology (4) OR + GPH210 Society and Environment (3) OR + GPH211 Landform Processes (4) 3-4		0–3

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

C = Cultural Diversity in the US
CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
FYC = First Year Composition
G = Global Awareness
H = Historical Awareness
HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design

L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
MA = Mathematics
SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
SG = Natural Sciences General
SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s curriculum website for the Associate in Science in Associate in Science, Emphasis in Chemistry (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=165740).