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GENERAL QUESTIONS
A: The most important thing to remember is that we are here to help you. Your academic advisor is a focal point for directing you to the correct people of offices to help you resolve your problems. Whether the issue is personal, academic, or related to career plans and opportunities, your academic advisor is the person to start with. Oftentimes, your advisor will be able to answer your procedural questions or direct you to the correct office. Additionally, your advisor is available to just talk things out. All of the department advisors are available by appointment or email, as well as during regular office hours.
Q: Who are the academic advisors? A: For Chemistry MAJORS:
A: A B.S. student takes an additional year of approved science and math. BISC13&14 or EES 1&5 are normally taken, but other courses may be taken to fulfill this requirement. Discuss the options with your advisor.
Q: How do I earn ‘Special Honors’ in Chemistry?
A: In order to receive special honors in chemistry, you need to do at least 3 hours of CHEM 195, and make a presentation of your results, either as a poster or an oral presentation (in addition to the required written report.) Additionally, you need to have a 3.0 GPA in chemistry courses, with grades of A or B in at least 50% of your GWU courses. At least half of your courses have to be taken at GWU. You need to make your desire for special honors known to your advisor by the beginning of the senior year to ensure your candidacy for special honors.
MAJOR I, MAJOR II, MAJOR III, and Major IV A: Major II, which is certified by the American Chemical Society, is suggested for students wishing to pursue chemistry at the graduate level. The differences in curriculum between Major I and Major II are in the additional courses that Major II students take:
A: While you can get credit for any ‘biochemistry’ course within the guidelines of the degree, only Chem 161 will count as the chemistry elective in the Major II sequence. Note that this course is cross-listed as BIOC 101 and BISC 103. Nevertheless, you must enroll in Chem 161!
Q: What is the difference between Major I and Major III (Forensics Chemistry)? A: A student must take BISC 13/14 as the additional science course for the B.S. option. Additionally, you need to take:
A: There is no need to take FORS 103/104. The prerequisites for all of the forensic science courses except 222 (Prerequisite 221) are waived for chemistry majors. If you declare Major III by the end of your sophomore year, you will be able to take all of the necessary courses.
Q: Can I switch between Major I, Major II, Major III and Major IV after I declare?
A: Yes. In order to do so, you should fill out a new declaration form to show the change of major track and the change in the curriculum. Changing to Major II or Major III may require additional chemistry or Forensic Sciences courses, so you should look carefully at your program to make sure all prerequisites can be met in a timely manner.
Q: Does the label ‘Major I’, ‘Major II’, ‘Major III’ or ‘Major IV’ appear on my transcript?
A: No.
TRANFER CREDITS, MINORS, and DOUBLE MAJORS
A: We recommend that you study the sequence of recommended courses in Chemistry and in the other major or minor very carefully. Lay out the full sequence of courses that you will need to take to get your major or minor, and arrange them by semester, paying close attention to prerequisites. Then look very carefully at the times those courses are normally offered. Identify any semester in which 2 mandatory courses are offered only in the same time slot then rearrange your schedule to avoid this problem. Talk to your advisor in the other department to determine if there are any planned changes in the timetable. Once the courses have fallen into place, pick up a “Declaration of Major” form from your advisor or from the CCAS office, Phillips107. Complete the section to add the new major or minor.
Q: I would like to add a minor in Business or Engineering. Since this field is not in the CCAS, what do I do?
A: You are allowed to enroll in a minor outside of the CCAS. This is called a “Secondary Field” since it is outside the CCAS. The same curriculum and scholarship rules apply to secondary fields as minors. You are allowed to apply up to 18 credit hours towards a CCAS Bachelors degree provided that they are toward the “Secondary Field”. You are restricted to 9 hours outside of the CCAS if the courses are not for a Secondary Field. Secondary fields are available in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Business, and the Elliot School of International Affairs.
Q: What is the protocol for getting transfer credit? Who has to sign off on it? A: Follow the following steps:
A: You may take any course at a Consortium School, provided that it is not the same as an existing GW course. If it is an existing GW course, you must show that the GW course cannot be taken because of conflicts with your schedule, or in cases when it is not offered in the current year when you need it to meet requirements (e.g. graduation, prerequisites, etc.). Approval forms are obtained from the registrar and must be signed by your academic advisor.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
A: You can do research as a volunteer/intern, you can receive a scholarship to do research in the summer, and some faculty members may have funding to offer you a paid research position, either in the summer or part time in the semester. You can also do research for credit (Chem 195). In fact, this is a requirement for students in Major II and IV.
Q: Tell me about how to find those paid positions.
A: You should contact individual faculty members directly for this information.
Q: What scholarship opportunities exist for summer research in the department?
Q: How do I select an advisor for CHEM 195 - Research?
A: We recommend that you start looking early. Read departmental literature to learn what research projects each faculty member is engaged in. Talk with as many of the faculty as possible to discuss openings in their groups, new projects, requirements and so on. Talk to undergraduate and graduate students as well to get a feel for what your day-to-day experience will be like in a research lab. This information will help you ensure that there is a good fit between your goals and personality and those of your research advisor.
Q: Can I do research outside of the department and receive credit for CHEM 195?
Q: How many credit hours of CHEM 195 can I get?
A: You can get 1 or 2 credit hours per semester, generally for a maximum of 5 hours.
Q: When can I start doing CHEM 195 research for credit?
A: Normally, students do research in their senior year, although there are occasions in which juniors have taken CHEM 195. Majors may also begin research earlier on a non-credit basis.
PREPARING FOR POST-GRADUATION
Q: What do I need to have credit for to take the MCAT exam?
A: You don't need any credits to take the MCAT exam, but what you will be expected to know includes material covered in CHEM 11/12, CHEM 151/152, and PHYS 21/22, and BISC 13/14. MATH 31/32 is a co requisite for PHYS 21/22. We recommend that you take these courses, which you need to graduate, before taking the MCAT exam.
Q: When should I take the MCAT?
A: It is best to take the MCAT exam in the spring of you junior year. See the pre-med advisor in Phillips 107 for details. 7/16/2006
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