American Chemical Society Approval
The American Chemical Society (ACS) monitors and accredits academic chemistry departments in the United States. If you graduate with an ACS approved degree, the ACS considers you to be a qualified B.S. Chemist.
Graduating with an ACS approved degree can provide some advantages. Prospective employers, graduate and medical schools consider the approved B.S. degree to be more rigorous than non-approved degrees. The approved degree implies that you have advanced laboratory and independent research skills. This puts you a step above those with no training for independence and self-training.
Requirements for an ACS approved degree are slightly more stringent than our regular major requirements. However, ACS requirements are flexible and can be tailored to student interests. ACS approval is automatically provided for chemistry graduates who qualify.
An ACS approved degree in chemistry from William & Mary requires specialized coursework plus independent research. We currently offer three tracks that lead to an ACS approved degree:
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Chemical Physics
You can meet the independent research requirement by taking 3 credits of CHEM 490 (Senior Research) or 6 credits of CHEM 495/496 (Honors). See the Undergraduate Catalog for more details. Talk to your major advisor or [[chemis, the department chair]] if you have questions.
