Advice on Selecting Your First Chemistry Course
Self-Administered Chemistry Placement Evaluation
General Advice
New students trying to select their first chemistry course should first decide if they want to eventually study chemistry at a more advanced level. Students who want to study chemistry to fulfill a distribution requirement can opt for Chemistry 113 or 115. Students who want to become a science major or prepare for medical school should start at either Chemistry 122, 123, or 128. Students who want to take chemistry to fulfill a distribution requirement are also welcomed to take these courses.
Of the courses offered in chemistry to entering students who want to eventually pursue the study of chemistry at a more advanced level, most will take Chemistry 123 Principles of Chemistry or Chemistry 128 Principles of Environmental Chemistry as their first course. Both Chemistry 123 and Chemistry 128 are one-term courses designed for students who have had a good high school chemistry course. Although taught from slightly different perspectives, all sections of Chemistry 123 or Chemistry 128 will cover the fundamental topics that prepare students for further work in chemistry, biology, geology, or medicine. A section of Chemistry 123 with problem solving is also offered for students who wish to further develop their general analytical and critical thinking skills. This smaller section will have additional class meetings for problem solving and review. Chemistry 123 with problem solving is appropriate for students who would like to have more scheduled time to work with a faculty member on developing their scientific reasoning skills and understanding of the foundations of chemistry.
Students who have not had a high school chemistry course should take Chemistry 122. Chemistry 122 An Introduction to Chemistry is a course designed to prepare students with little or no prior work in chemistry to take Chemistry 123 or Chemistry 128. Students planning to take Chemistry 122, 123 or 128 should take the self-administered Chemistry Placement Evaluation, which can be found on the Chemistry Department's Web site.
Advanced Placement Advice
Students with previous college-level chemistry experience or appropriate advanced placement exam scores are eligible to receive Carleton credit in chemistry and to be placed into more advanced chemistry courses.
Transfer students or other students with prematriculation chemistry credit should contact the Chemistry Department Chair to determine the best starting point for their study of chemistry at Carleton.
Students who have taken the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or International Baccalaureate (IB) advanced placement exams will be awarded Carleton credit and placement as follows:
CEEB AP Score of 4 or 5. 6 credits in chemistry granted. Placement is awarded into Chemistry 230 Equilibrium and Analysis (recommended) or Chemistry 233 Organic I.
IB AP Score of 5, 6, or 7. 6 credits in chemistry granted. Placement is awarded into Chemistry 230 Equilibrium and Analysis (recommended) or Chemistry 233 Organic I.
Self-Administered Chemistry Placement Evaluation
This self-administered Chemistry Placement Evaluation will help give you an idea of which introductory chemistry course is right for you: Chemistry 122 An Introduction to Chemistry or Chemistry 123 Principles of Chemistry. The evaluation contains 10 multiple choice problems. You are welcome to, and will need to in most cases, use a calculator, a chemistry book, and scrap paper for working out these problems. After you work through the problems the first time, your score will be reported and you will have the opportunity to take the test a second time, if you'd like. If you are happy with your first score, you don't need to repeat the questions.
Your results from this evaluation will be reported to the Chemistry Department. This information will help us advise you about the best choice for an introductory chemistry course. Please feel free to contact any faculty in the department to discuss your score after taking the test.
Follow these steps to take the self-administered Chemistry Placement Evaluation:
- Prepare for the exam by reviewing some relevant topics and trying a couple review exam questions: Review Topics and Exam Questions
- Take the placement examination. This will open in a new window and require a log in using your username and password: Self-Administered Chemistry Placement Evaluation
- Use the score table to determine the best choice for an initial chemistry course: Score Table