Chemistry Electives for Chemical Engineering. oChem, iChem or pChem?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

Hi, I am a first year transfer student in UCSD, majoring in ChemE and our curriculum requires 3 upper division courses from Organic, Inorganic or Physical Chemistry. My question is which courses do you think will be most useful in fuels, chemical and materials industries?

Pchem:
130. Quantum Mechanics: quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, and molecular structure.
131. Thermo I: Thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, phase equilibrium, and chemistry of solutions.
132. Thermo II: Chemical statistics, kinetic theory, and reaction kinetics.

Ochem:
140A. Organic I: Bonding theory, isomerism, stereochemistry, chemical and physical properties. Introduction to substitution, addition, and elimination reactions.
140B. Organic II: Methods of analysis, chemistry of hydrocarbons, chemistry of the carbonyl group. Introduction to the reactions of biologically important molecules.

Ichem:
120A. Inorganic I: The chemistry of the main group elements in terms of atomic structure, ionic and covalent bonding. Structural theory involving s, p, and unfilled d orbitals. Thermodynamic and spectroscopic criteria for structure and stability of compounds and chemical reactions of main group elements in terms of molecular structure and reactivity.
120B Inorganic II: A continuation of the discussion of structure, bonding, and reactivity with emphasis on transition metals and other elements using filled d orbitals to form bonds. Coordination chemistry in terms of valence bond, crystal field, and molecular orbital theory. The properties and reactivities of transition metal complexes including organometallic compounds.

I have already taken one semester of Organic at CSU but it didn’t get transferred as credit for 140A because we used a different textbook. Also I didn’t get a good grade in that class, so I am down to take 140A in UCSD if needed.

2

Is Physical Chemistry a required course at UCSD?

3

http://nanoengineering.ucsd.edu/undergrad-programs/degree/bs-chemical-engineering/major-req lists the UCSD chemical engineering degree requirements.

4

Pchem is not required. You just need 3 upper division chem courses form their list.

5

It looks like many other chemical engineering majors require one or two courses in each of organic chemistry and physical chemistry. Since you have had a course in organic chemistry (even if not counted for transfer subject credit), you may want to prioritize physical chemistry for at least one of the courses.

The UCSD web site does suggest “Two recommended options are CHEM 140A, 114A (or BIBC 100), and 143A for those interested in biochemical/organic; CHEM 120A, 130, and 140A for those interested in inorganic/materials” (emphasis added). Note that the latter also looks closer to being a generalist option.

You may want to ask your major advisor about applicability to specific subareas of your interest.