BS Chemistry at University of California, Santa Barbara

Programme overview

A major in Chemistry leads one to a trail head at graduation from which many career paths may be taken. One path leads to medical school, or veterinary school or nursing; that is, to a career in the health sciences. Another path leads to graduate studies in chemistry or biochemistry, fore-shadowing a life of teaching and research.

Faculty: College of Letters and Science | Department: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry | Study mode: full-time | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, United States

What you will study

Major requirements are organised as I. Pre-Major Requirements: CHEM 1A, CHEM 2A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 2B, RWL2Y0O9fe5JWMsCaxeo, CHEM 1C, CHEM 2C, CHEM 2BL, SS1JkuJiBCRO9BRFOYm6, CHEM 6AL, CHEM 6BL, CHEM 6BH, CHEM 130A, CHEM 109A; Ii. Preparation For The Major: CHEM 6CL, CHEM 6CH, MATH 4B, MATH 6A; Upper-Division Major. A UC GPA of 2.00 or above in each of the six sequences of courses, listed in Area I, is required for admission to the full Chemistry major.

Career pathways

Graduate and professional pathways include Medical School; Pharmacology; Diagnostic Research; Environmental Research; Agricultural Regulation; Chemistry & Biochemistry Research.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to UCSB is to the university and a college (College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, College of Creative Studies), not to the individual major; applicants must meet the University of California subject requirements for first-year or transfer applicants and apply through the UC Application. Selective-major and second-choice-major rules are described by UCSB Undergraduate Admissions.

Entry term: fall. First-year and transfer applicants apply for fall 2027 through the UC Application.

First-year and transfer applications for fall 2027: UC Application filing period October 1 - November 30, 2026 (opens August 1). Application fee: $80 per campus for U.S. residents, $95 per campus for international students. Transfer applicants also submit the UCSB TAG Application September 1-30. First-year decisions mid-March; transfer decisions mid-April; Statement of Intent to Register May 1 (first-year) and June 1 (transfer).

SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission selection or scholarships; submission is optional and may be used for course placement. Students applying to College of Creative Studies majors submit a supplemental application; Dance and Music B.M. applicants complete an audition.

Graduate applicants apply through the UCSB online graduate application; the deadline is set by each department. Application fee: $135 for US citizens and permanent residents, $155 for all others, payable by credit card, check or money order. GRE required only by some programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/

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