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Chemistry

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Administered by: Department of Chemistry and Biology
Program Format: Full-time, four-year program.
Full-time, five-year co-op program.

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses, including Grade 12 U courses in: English, Advanced Functions (MHF4U), two of Biology (SBI4U) or Chemistry (SCH4U) or Physics (SPH4U).

Notes:

  1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
  2. The grade(s) required in the subject prerequisites (normally in the range of 70 percent) will be determined subject to competition. 
  3. Completion of all three science courses is recommended. Chemistry (SCH4U) is strongly recommended. 
  4. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

 

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry and Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry Co-operative degrees have received full accreditation from the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) [Pending renewal in 2023-2024].

First Year: The BSc (Hons) in Chemistry shares a point of entry with the programs in Biology and Medical Physics. This allows students to explore various science-based routes to degree completion before they commit to the Chemistry program. In addition to foundation courses, the first year of studies will include an introduction to the use of computers as scientific tools, and an orientation course that will support students in making a successful transition to university and planning their steps to degree completion. All students in Science programs must enroll in SCI 180 in their first semester of studies.

Upper Years: Because this is a strongly applications-oriented program, a large proportion of student learning will take place in the laboratory. Lab hours account for a significant amount of learning time in every semester, supported by a solid grounding in the theory and principles of chemical science. In the upper years of the curriculum, students will focus on developing their technological expertise and exploring the research and industrial applications of chemical science. Depending on the course sequence selected they may pursue a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry, Chemistry with a Biology Minor, Chemistry with an option in Applied Physics.

In the final year, with permission of the Department, students may opt to undertake an independent, faculty-supervised thesis project.

Chemistry with a Biology Minor: Students who wish to pursue a Biology Minor may do so by selecting six biology courses from Table I as open electives, subject to the Biology Minor requirements and restrictions. Please refer to the Minors Policy chapter of this calendar for further information.

Co-operative Program

An optional co-operative program is available which provides the graduating students with up to 12 months of work experience that enhances their organizational and technical abilities as well as their oral and written communication skills.

Although the Career & Co-op Centre (opens in new window)  cannot guarantee a work term employment, they provide assistance in locating suitable positions and counseling of students in their search for suitable jobs. This co-operative program enables students to earn competitive wages to offset the costs of a university education.

Students who have completed the first year of the Chemistry program can apply through the Career & Co-op Centre for admission to the co-operative education program at the end of first year during our spring/summer admissions period. This is the only time for students to apply to Co-op. Enrolment in the co-op program is limited.  Admission will be based on a criteria which includes the student's grade point average, courses completed, a resume, statement of intent and interview if deemed necessary.  To be admitted into the co-­op program, students must have all first year courses completed and a CLEAR Academic Standing. Students who are direct entry/transfer are not permitted into the program except on an exceptional case by case basis. Students who are ahead with significant course credits are not permitted into the program except on an exceptional case by case basis.  All decisions regarding admission into the program are final and at the discretion of the Career and Co-op Centre.

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

  Fall Winter Spring/Summer
Year 1 1st Semester 2nd Semester --
Year 2 3rd Semester 4th Semester WKT 405 - Work Term I
Year 3 5th Semester WKT 505 - Work Term II WKT 506 - Work Term III
Year 4 WKT 605 - Work Term IV or 6th Semester 6th Semester or 7th Semester WKT 606 - Work Term V
Year 5 7th Semester or 8th Semester 8th Semester --

Work terms are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Each work term is assessed by the School's Faculty Advisor on the basis of the student's comprehensive written report and the employer's evaluation of the student's performance on the job.

Students must successfully complete 3 co-op WKT’s  in order to graduate from their program of study with a Co-op designation. Once the requirements are satisfied being able to do another work term is at the discretion of the Career & Co-op Centre.

The co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Chemistry. The regular program can be completed in four years.

All co-op placements must be approved by the Career & Co-op Centre and the Faculty Advisor for the Chemistry co-op program.

Additional information about co-op can be found on the Co-operative Education website.

Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OS MS)

Students can enrich their studies and hone their management skills with the Optional Specialization in Management Sciences. Courses within the optional specialization cover four major areas in management sciences: Strategic Engineering Management, Operations Management/Operations Research, Finance and Organizational Behaviour. For eligibility, registration, and course information see Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OS MS).

Research Practicum

  • SCI 999 - Research Practicum gives students the chance to gain hands-on research experience, in a lab or in the field, by engaging in the research work of a faculty member. Toronto Met records participation in the practicum on the student’s Official Transcript.
  • SCI 999 is a non-credit, pass-fail course that is not used to fulfil degree program requirements. Students who meet the expectations for the research will get a passing grade. These expectations will be worked out between the student and the professor at enrolment. To take part in SCI 999, students must have a CGPA of 2.5 or more, and they must commit to a minimum of 5 to 10 hours each week (on average) for one term.
  • There are no tuition fees associated with this practicum.

How to Enrol

  1. Students must first find a supervisor. Descriptions of faculty research are available on the Faculty of Science website (opens in new window) .
  2. Students should contact supervisors whose research interests them by email or in person. Students must give their potential supervisor an unofficial transcript (opens in new window) , a one-page resumé and a brief covering letter. This package must include their contact information, degree program and stream, a brief statement of their career goals and how this research experience would further those goals, and any relevant work experience (paid or volunteer).
  3. Follow the instructions available in the  (PDF file) Research Practicum Application Form. (opens in new window) 

Career Opportunities

The field of chemistry is diversifying in many exciting ways, from the creation of new materials and advances in analytical chemistry, to the growth of entire new opportunities in biological chemistry arising from developments in computational chemistry, proteomics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. As a graduate from the program, you'll be in demand.

Here are just a few examples of career directions:

  • Scientist, Researcher, or Science Manager (government, academia, or industry) through further studies and completion of a master's degree or a PhD
  • Regulatory Official (biotechnology and environment sector)
  • Product Development (chemical, food, biopharmaceutical and cosmetic industries)
  • Quality Control (food, biopharmaceutical and cosmetic industries)
  • Patent Agent/Lawyer (pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, law firms, patent agency)
  • Laboratory Analytical Services (health sciences, environmental assessment, regulatory compliance)
     

Liberal Studies

Students must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

PCS 111, BLG 181, BMS 150, CHY 182, CHY 183 and SCI courses are not available for credit.

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

BLG 599, BLG 699, BLG 850, CHY 583, MTH 511, and MTH 599 are not available for credit.

Minors

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

Chemistry - Common First Year

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1: One course from the following:

  • CPS 109 Computer Science I
  • CPS 118 Introductory Programming for Scientists


* This course is graded on a pass/fail basis. 

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

Chemistry (Regular Program)

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE:  One Open Elective

 

  

7th & 8th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2023-2024 for students admitted Fall 2020 and after.

7th Semester

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table I

OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table I

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester (Offered in Fall Term Only)

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

6th Semester

Revised curriculum begins Winter 2024 for students admitted Fall 2020 and after.

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table I.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

7th & 8th Semester

Last offered 2023-2024 for students admitted Fall 2019. Students admitted Fall 2020 and after see revised curriculum below.

7th Semester

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Four courses from Table I.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table I.

  

7th & 8th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2024-2025 for students admitted Fall 2020 and after.

7th Semester

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table I

OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table I

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

Co-operative Work Terms

The following table shows the sequence of academic and work terms for this program:

  Fall Winter Spring/Summer
Year 1 1st Semester 2nd Semester --
Year 2 3rd Semester 4th Semester WKT 405 - Work Term I
Year 3 5th Semester WKT 505 - Work Term II WKT 506 - Work Term III
Year 4 WKT 605 - Work Term IV or 6th Semester 6th Semester or 7th Semester WKT 606 - Work Term V
Year 5 7th Semester or 8th Semester 8th Semester --

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Chemistry - Applied Physics Option

This option will be of interest to students who wish to pursue a chemistry degree with a greater emphasis on physical chemistry and a more interdisciplinary focus toward physics. By selecting from a range of core electives, students may acquire expertise in solid state physics, biophysics, radiation biology or medical diagnostic techniques – all within the context of an undergraduate chemistry program. This option begins in third semester. Students who wish to select the Applied Physics Option must make an Academic Plan change when choosing their courses for second year. Students may choose to pursue a regular or co-operative educational program within this option.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CHY 242 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHY 382 Physical Chemistry II
  • MTH 430 Dynamic Systems Differential Equations
  • PCS 228 Electricity and Magnetism

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester

REQUIRED:


CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table II.

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • PCS 335 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
  • PCS 401 Quantum Mechanics I

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B – Upper Level Liberal Studies (opens in new window)     

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table II

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

7th & 8th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2023-2024 for students admitted Fall 2020 and after.

7th Semester

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table II

OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table II

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • CHY 242 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHY 382 Physical Chemistry II
  • MTH 430 Dynamic Systems Differential Equations
  • PCS 228 Electricity and Magnetism

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table II.

 

6th Semester

Revised curriculum begins Winter 2024 for students admitted Fall 2020 and after.

REQUIRED:

  • PCS 335 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
  • PCS 401 Quantum Mechanics I

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B – Upper Level Liberal Studies (opens in new window)    

CORE ELECTIVE: One course from Table II

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

  

7th & 8th Semester

Last offered 2023-2024 for students admitted Fall 2019. Students admitted Fall 2020 and after see revised curriculum below.

7th Semester

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Four courses from Table II.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONALLY-RELATED:
Three courses from Table II.

  

7th & 8th Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2024-2025 for students admitted Fall 2020 and after.

7th Semester

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table II

OPEN ELECTIVE: Two Open Electives

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

CORE ELECTIVE: Two courses from Table II

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective

Co-operative Work Terms

The following table shows the sequence of academic and work terms for this program:

  Fall Winter Spring/Summer
Year 1 1st Semester 2nd Semester --
Year 2 3rd Semester 4th Semester WKT 405 - Work Term I
Year 3 5th Semester WKT 505 - Work Term II WKT 506 - Work Term III
Year 4 WKT 605 - Work Term IV or 6th Semester 6th Semester or 7th Semester WKT 606 - Work Term V
Year 5 7th Semester or 8th Semester 8th Semester --

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Mr. Pradeep Agrawal
CEO and owner
Electro-Pack Inc

Dr. Andre Arsenault
Chief Technology Officer
Opalux

Dr. M. Cynthia Goh
Professor, Chemistry
University of Toronto

Ms. Anna Petrov
R&D Laboratory Tech
Apollo Health and Beauty Care 

Dr. Ravi Ramachandran
Manager, Product Chemistry and Chemical Services
Syngenta

Dr. Rui Resendes
Executive Director
Green Centre Canada