Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a three-year undergraduate degree which enables each student to develop his or her own interests in a science subject (science major) and related subjects. Students have the flexibility to combine their major subject with other science subjects, as well as subjects from other disciplines across the University.

Chemistry has come a long way since the ancients used it for brewing, cosmetics, pottery, metallurgy and embalming, and since the alchemists tried to use chemistry to find the elixir of life or to change lead into gold.

Today Chemistry permeates every aspect of our world. Virtually everything from life itself to complete geological structure can be expressed in chemical terms, because Chemistry is the science of matter. A seemingly limitless variety of substances derived from elements and compounds and from atoms and molecules form the basic framework of nature and account for its ever changing patterns.

Chemistry may be regarded as the fundamental component of the physical, biological and earth sciences. It concerns the properties, the syntheses, and the transformation of substances and their applications to the way we live and modify our environment. It is through Chemistry that we are beginning to achieve an understanding of, and mastery over, the material and biological world.

Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Chemistry

100-level

200-level

At least five 100- or 200-level CHEM papers, excluding CHEM 204. (Two 100-level CHEM papers strongly recommended.)

300-level

Four of:

CHEM 301 Physical Chemistry

CHEM 302 Organic Chemistry

CHEM 303 Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry

CHEM 304 Environmental Chemistry

CHEM 305 Biological Chemistry

CHEM 306 Forensic Chemistry

CHEM 390 Critical Readings in Chemistry

With Head of Department approval other paper(s) may be substituted for one 300-level CHEM paper

Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science

Total 360

Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) is also available.

A specific aim of the Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) degree is to develop advanced theoretical and research skills and in so doing to provide a platform for an advanced professional or academic career.

Entry criteria

The minimum requirement for students is the completion of a high school qualification plus satisfactory completion of one year's study at an approved tertiary institution or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme.

We also accept the following International qualifications: International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 26 points; GCE Advanced Levels: minimum grade of 8.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 80 (writing 20); Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (TWE 4.5); CIE Cambridge International Examinations Grade E or better in AS English; Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); GCE 'A' Level or 'AS' Level English Language or English Literature - grade C or higher; GCE 'AS' Level General Paper (English) - grade C or higher; APIEL (Advanced Placement International English Language) Examination - grade 3 or higher; IB International Baccalaureate - English at Higher or Standard level in Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, or at Higher level in Language B; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50.