There are several organic chemistry pathways at UW. Choosing the right one is a matter of meeting the prerequisites, satisfying your major requirements, and leaving your options open for professional programs and/or graduate school. The requirements for organic chemistry for your major can be found in the chart below, in the UW catalog, or at UW's Degree Programs home page. If your major is followed by an asterisk*, the minimum requirements are not the ones specifically recommended for that major. In all cases, when planning to graduate with a degree, check with a departmental advisor before registering to make sure you are on the right track!
| This Organic Chemistry Course/Sequence | Meets Minimum Requirement for these Majors/Programs |
| CHEM 220 | Botany BA, Conservation of Wildland Resources, Fisheries Option 1, Forest Management, Urban Forestry, Wildlife Science, and the UW Nursing BSN program. |
| CHEM 220, 221 | Biology BS Track 2, Botany BS, Fisheries Option 2, Neurobiology*, and Zoology BA* and BS* |
| CHEM 223, 224 | Biology BS Track 1*, Microbiology, and Chemical Engineering; the pre-veterinarian program |
| CHEM 223, 224, Labs 241, 242 | Environmental Health; pre-med/dent students sometimes take this sequence-- followed by BIOCHEM 405 and 406, but check with the particular medical or dental school for recommendations |
| CHEM 237, 238, 239, Labs 241, 242 | Biochemistry, Chemistry (all degrees); pre-pharmacy program; pre-med/dent students often take this sequence |
| CHEM 237, 238 | Paper Science and Engineering Major |
| CHEM 237, 238, 239 | Oceanography (Biology or Chemical Options) |
| CHEM 335, 336, 337, Labs 345, 346 | Honors sequence not required of any major, but recommended for qualified students |
Official course descriptions are located in UW's Course Catalog.
These courses usually follow CHEM 120, Introduction to General Chemistry, but can be taken after CHEM 142 (General Chemistry) or CHEM 145 (Honors General Chemistry). They are a two quarter survey of both organic chemistry and some biochemistry. Both include a laboratory. This pathway is not intended for most science majors. Prerequisites include a 1.7 in either CHEM 120, 142, or 145. Offered: 220 WSpS; 221 SpS.
A two quarter lecture-only series in organic chemistry, covering many of the topics from the full year sequence, in a less comprehensive way. See below for labs. Prerequisites: 1.7 in Chem 162 or 155.
Offered: 223 A, Summer (A-term); 224 W, Summer (B-term).
The standard sequence of three organic lectures. See below for accompanying labs. Prerequisites: CHEM 237 - 1.7 in 162 or 155; CHEM 238 - 1.7 in 237 or 335; CHEM 239 - 1.7 in 238 or 336. Offered: 237 - A, W, Summer; 238 - W, Sp, Summer; 239 - A, Sp, Summer
The standard organic labs. 241 is designed to accompany 238 and 242 to accompany 239. However, 241 can be taken with 224 or 336. The 241 lab is an introduction to the techniques used in organic laboratories, including distillation, crystallization, extraction, and chromatography. In 242, these techniques are combined with modern spectroscopy and applied to synthesis of unknown identification. CHEM 241 and 242 each have a one hour pre-lab lecture each week and 2 three hour lab sessions per week. Prerequisites for CHEM 241: 1.7 in CHEM 155 or 162, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in either CHEM 224, 238, or 336; for CHEM 242: 1.7 in 224 or 1.7 in either 239 or 337 (either one may be taken concurrently), and a 1.7 in 241 or 346. Offered: 241 AWSpS; 242 ASpS.
The full year honors sequence with two labs. The honors organic sequence is recommended for strong students who want to be further challenged by their chemistry courses. Labs are designed to accompany CHEM 336 and 337. Prerequisites: CHEM 335 - 3.3 average in the regular general chemistry sequence (142, 152, 162) or a 3.0 average in the honors general chemistry sequence (145, 155, 165). The lecture sequence starts in Autumn quarter only; the labs begin in Winter quarter. Contact the chemistry/biochemistry advisors for registration procedures.
Many students inquire about taking a condensed organic chemistry sequence they can complete within a summer. Only our short organic sequence, CHEM 223 and 224, can be completed in one summer session (CHEM 223 is offered during A term and CHEM 224 is offered during B term). There is great demand for this sequence so students are advised to register early. We also refer students who want the full year-long course equivalent of CHEM 237, 238, 239, 241, 242 to Bellevue Community College, which offers a summer intensive program covering those courses.
NOTE: Although you can begin CHEM 237 in the summer quarter, CHEM 238, the second course in that series is not offered again until winter quarter. You will have a quarter break between the two courses in the series if you begin CHEM 237 in the summer.