Undergraduate Overview
WHAT IS CHEMISTRY UNBOUND?
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A curriculum designed to reflect the way chemists think, solve problems, and explore the world.
Chemistry Unbound is Emory’s innovative undergraduate chemistry curriculum, developed to break down the traditional barriers between subdisciplines and help students see chemistry as a connected, vibrant science. Launched in 2018, our redesigned curriculum weaves core scientific practices and recurring themes across four years of study, ensuring that students apply, revisit, and build on key ideas rather than encountering them in isolated courses.
Instead of the conventional sequence of general chemistry followed by organic chemistry, Chemistry Unbound integrates chemical concepts from the start, emphasizes authentic scientific practices, and encourages connections to real-world challenges. With greater flexibility in advanced coursework and earlier exposure to different subfields, Chemistry Unbound aims to help students develop deeper understanding and confidence in their ability to think, reason, and solve problems like chemists.
Read more about the design and development of Chemistry Unbound in this Spotlight article in the Journal of Chemical Education.
CORE SEQUENCE
Back to topLearn more about the core courses that serve as the foundation of both our BA and BS programs.
- * CHEM 150/Lab: Structure and Properties
- How and why atoms of various elements bond together to form molecules, and how that bonding influences molecular properties.
- * CHEM 202/Lab: Principles of Reactivity
- How molecular structure and reaction conditions together influence reactivity, with emphasis on the acid-base chemistry of organic molecules and nucleophilic substitution reactions.
- * CHEM 203/Lab: Advanced Reactivity
- Exploration of organic and organometallic reactions and how molecular orbital effects influence mechanisms.
- * CHEM 204/Lab: Macromolecules
- Structure, properties, reactivity, and synthesis of polymers from plastics to proteins.
- * CHEM 205/Lab: Light and Matter
- How the properties of molecular wave-functions underlie spectroscopic techniques in chemistry, energy flow in the atmosphere, and photonic technologies.
- CHEM 300L: Analytical Tools and Techniques
- Methods for rigorous quantitative measurements of chemicals.
* Please Note: Labs are co-requisites of lectures; they must be completed concurrently or after the lecture.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Back to topBoth BA and BS majors must complete the core sequence and all accompanying labs, plus 300L.
- BA students take two additional chemistry electives at the 300-level or above. These can include advanced labs, graduate-level classes, or even a 400-level capstone (though capstone priority goes to BS students). Research-for-credit courses do not count toward these two electives.
- BS students take four 300-level+ non-lab electives, two upper-level lab courses (one with a writing focus), and a capstone in their final year. CHEM 499R can substitute for the non-writing lab elective, and CHEM 495BW (Honors Thesis) can substitute for the writing-intensive lab elective. Directed reading and Learning Assistant courses do not count toward BS electives.
Non-chemistry course requirements – In addition to the core courses and electives outlined above, BA and BS majors must also complete:
- Biology 141 (via AP/IB credit or by taking BIOL 141 + BIOL 141L at Emory)
- Physics 141 and 142 (or 151 and 152)
- Calculus - One semester for the BA degree or two semesters for the BS
For a quick visual breakdown of both degrees, check out the Advising Grid.
Declare Your Major
- Submit the Declaration of Major form in OPUS under Course Planning and Enrollment. Within a week, you will receive a welcome email from the Undergraduate Program Coordinator and be added to the Chemistry Canvas site and student listserv.
- Students are encouraged to choose their own faculty advisor by reaching out directly. Otherwise, an advisor will be assigned. Visit our People page and filter by faculty to explore your options.
- If choosing your own advisor, forward the Undergraduate Program Coordinator a confirmation from that faculty member and your advisor will be updated in OPUS.
GUIDANCE FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
Back to topIf you’re transferring to Emory, your entry point into Chemistry Unbound may vary.
After one year of general chemistry:
- Chemistry majors may be eligible to join the Z-track sequence (CHEM 202Z/202ZL in the fall, followed by CHEM 203Z/203ZL in the spring).
- Non-majors and pre-health students typically begin with CHEM 202, in either fall or spring; lab courses may not align perfectly, but the sequence is still manageable.
After one year of organic chemistry:
- Students can take CHEM 204 (Macromolecules) and/or CHEM 205 (Light and Matter), both offered each semester with labs.
Check out the Advising Guide for a deeper look into transfer options.
OUR CLASSROOMS AND LABS
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Active-Learning Classrooms
Our active-learning classrooms are designed to foster collaboration, critical thinking, and hands-on engagement — key elements of the Chemistry Unbound curriculum’s evidence-based approach to teaching.
Collaborative Lab Spaces
These thoughtfully designed spaces provide authentic, inquiry-driven lab experiences. They encourage students to apply scientific practices, develop critical skills, and explore real-world chemical problems in a supportive, hands-on environment.
Grade disputes or re-grade requests will be considered only when students can show that a grade was assigned incorrectly due to a grading calculation error, that there was inconsistent grading compared with other students, or that there was a failure to follow the stated grading rubric.
Students should first meet with their faculty instructor to resolve the issue. If no resolution is reached, the student may then meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). If the DUS is also the instructor, the student should instead contact the department chair.
If the concern remains unresolved, the student may submit a brief written summary (1-page) to the Undergraduate Committee. This committee, excluding any involved faculty, will review the case, consult as needed, and issue a final decision.
The Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) requires academic departments to provide online visibility of their grade dispute policy.
CONTACT US
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