Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Chemistry

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Pennsylvania

Program Overview

The B.A. in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania provides a broad foundation in the study of matter and chemical change, preparing students for careers in chemical research, teaching, scientific communication, and the health professions. The program combines general, organic, physical, biological, and inorganic chemistry with laboratory work, mathematics, physics, and Penn’s College of Arts & Sciences general education curriculum, requiring 36 course units for graduation.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the fundamentals of chemistry, mathematics, and laboratory science, typically taking CHEM 1011/1012/1151 – Introduction to General Chemistry I, General Chemistry I, or Honors Chemistry I, followed by the second-semester general chemistry course. CHEM 1101 & CHEM 1102 – General Chemistry Laboratory I and II provide the corresponding practical foundation, while MATH 1400 – Calculus, Part I begins the required mathematics sequence.

Second Year: Students progress into molecular structure and chemical reactivity through CHEM 2411 – Principles of Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory and CHEM 2421 – Principles of Organic Chemistry II with Laboratory. Alongside organic chemistry, students complete MATH 1410 – Calculus, Part II and PHYS 0150/0151 – Principles of Physics I and II, strengthening the quantitative and physical-science foundation required for upper-level chemistry.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into advanced areas of chemistry through CHEM 2210 – Physical Chemistry I, CHEM 2220 – Physical Chemistry II, and CHEM 2230 – Experimental Physical Chemistry I, combining theoretical concepts with experimental laboratory work. Students also study CHEM 2510 – Principles of Biological Chemistry and CHEM 2610 – Inorganic Chemistry I, broadening their understanding of chemistry across biological and inorganic systems.

Fourth Year: Students consolidate their chemistry training through the CHEM 2460 – Advanced Synthesis and Spectroscopy Laboratory, where advanced experimental techniques become part of the final major requirements. Students interested in deeper research preparation can pursue the Chemistry Honors pathway, which includes advanced chemistry coursework and CHEM 3999 – Independent Research.

Focus Areas: General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Experimental Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Chemical Research, Health Professions, Scientific Communication.

Learning Outcomes: Understanding of matter and chemical change, chemical theory, organic and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, biological chemistry, quantitative analysis, laboratory experimentation, chemical synthesis, spectroscopy, scientific research, scientific communication.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Not stated: The official 2026–27 Penn Chemistry B.A. program catalog identifies the degree requirements and curriculum but does not state an ACS accreditation/certification for the B.A. program.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Not stated by the official Penn Chemistry program page: the official program documentation does not publish a program-specific employability ranking for the Chemistry B.A.; therefore, no ranking is assigned here. The University of Pennsylvania does identify Chemistry as an undergraduate major within the College of Arts & Sciences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.A. in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania combines substantial laboratory work with the theoretical study of chemistry, allowing students to develop experimental and analytical skills throughout the degree. Students work in Penn’s dedicated chemistry teaching laboratories and can progress from general and organic chemistry experiments to Experimental Physical Chemistry I and the Advanced Synthesis and Spectroscopy Laboratory, where they work with synthesis and modern spectroscopic techniques. Students interested in deeper research can also pursue CHEM 3999 Independent Research through the Chemistry Honors program.

Students gain hands-on experience through:

General Chemistry Laboratories: CHEM 1101 General Chemistry Laboratory I and CHEM 1102 General Chemistry Laboratory II provide the foundational laboratory component of the major.
Organic chemistry laboratory experience: CHEM 2411 Principles of Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory and CHEM 2421 Principles of Organic Chemistry II with Laboratory integrate practical experimentation with organic chemistry concepts.
Experimental physical chemistry: CHEM 2230 Experimental Physical Chemistry I gives students dedicated experimental experience as part of the physical chemistry sequence.
Advanced synthesis and spectroscopy: CHEM 2460 Advanced Synthesis and Spectroscopy Laboratory involves synthesis, structural analysis, and characterization of organic and inorganic compounds, including infrared, ultraviolet, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
Independent research: Students pursuing the Chemistry Honors pathway can complete CHEM 3999 Independent Research, providing an opportunity to undertake research beyond the standard laboratory curriculum.
Chemistry teaching laboratories: Penn's 1958 Chemistry Wing houses the General Chemistry Teaching Labs and Organic Chemistry Teaching Labs, providing dedicated spaces for undergraduate laboratory instruction.
Research facilities: The 1973 Chemistry Wing provides research and teaching space and houses the Chemistry Library, while the wider Chemistry complex connects to additional research facilities and laboratories.
High-throughput experimentation: Penn's High-Throughput Experimentation and Screening Facility (HTSF) is an advanced research laboratory used by Penn students and researchers for parallel chemical experimentation, including 24- and 96-well assays, automated chromatography (UPLC, GC and SFC), and mass spectrometry.
Interdisciplinary research environment: Chemistry students can encounter research facilities such as the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology, which contains wet-chemistry and optics research laboratories and collaborative spaces supporting energy-related research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.A. in Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania provides a broad chemistry foundation that can support careers in scientific research, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, education, and other fields, while also leaving room for interdisciplinary study. Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences notes that its graduates pursue careers across science, engineering, healthcare, technology, education, government, consulting, law, medicine, and business, with many continuing into professional or graduate education.

Typical career roles: Chemist, Laboratory Research Assistant, Pharmaceutical Research Associate, Biotechnology Researcher.

Career development and progression are supported through:

Career Services: Penn Career Services provides undergraduate students with career advising, employer events, career fairs, networking opportunities, workshops, and job and internship listings through Handshake. Its Life & Physical Sciences resources also include ChemIDP, a career-planning tool specifically designed for chemists.
Employer recruiting: Penn's Career Services coordinates on-campus interviews for internships and full-time positions, with employers able to arrange virtual or in-person interviews through Handshake.
Research and internships: College of Arts and Sciences students can pursue internships with support from Career Services, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF), faculty, and other Penn programs. Penn also highlights research opportunities in university laboratories, hospitals, and interdisciplinary research settings.
Employment and salary outcomes: For the Penn Class of 2025 overall, 91% of graduates were working full-time or continuing their education within six months, and the median starting salary for full-time employed graduates was $103,418. These figures are university-wide undergraduate outcomes and are not specific to Chemistry graduates, so a Chemistry-specific salary should not be inferred from them.
Chemistry-related industry connections: Penn's broader chemical-sciences ecosystem includes research relationships involving organizations such as Axalta Coating Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, the Monell Chemical Senses Center, the Wistar Institute, and the Chemical and Nanoparticle Synthesis Core. These documented partnerships are particularly associated with Penn's Master of Chemical Sciences and research ecosystem rather than being stated as guaranteed placements for B.A. Chemistry students.
Innovation and commercialization: The Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) facilitates connections between Penn researchers and private-sector organizations through sponsored research, corporate alliances, licensing, collaborative research agreements, and venture formation, giving students an environment connected to the translation of scientific discoveries into applications.
Graduation outcomes: Penn reports a 97% six-year undergraduate graduation rate, while 19.6% of the Class of 2025 pursued further education, with more than one-third of those continuing into doctoral degrees. Penn's First Destinations system also allows outcomes to be explored by class year, school, and major/concentration, including employers, job titles, and graduate schools.
Professional recognition: Accreditation/ACS status: Penn's official undergraduate Chemistry pages should be used to verify any current program-specific professional accreditation or American Chemical Society certification; no current official source located here establishes ACS certification for this specific B.A. in Chemistry, so no accreditation claim is made.

Further Academic Progression: After the B.A. in Chemistry, students can pursue master's or Ph.D. programs in chemistry and related sciences, as well as professional pathways such as medicine, dentistry, law, or other health-related programs. Penn specifically notes that students in the College can major in chemistry or another discipline and still complete the required pre-med science core before applying to medical school, while its Career Services and College resources support applications to graduate and professional schools.