Natural Sciences

Chemistry within Natural Sciences 2023-2024

This pages is primarily intended for existing students. It consists of modules available to Natural Sciences students, Joint-Honours regulations and general advice (which includes links to Departmental advice.)

The following lists the module code and the title of each module by the level of each module - clicking on the link will take you to further details listed in the Faculty Handbooks.

The last digit of the module code indicates whether the module is single, double or triple. The level indicates the year in which modules are normally taken, but it is often the case that students take modules from the adjacent level beneath the year of study. Visit the Subjects page for the general overarching rules and structure.

Please note that the modules on offer and the requirements for progression can change from year to year and that the only combinations of modules that are guaranteed to fit in the timetable are those splits between the two departments on an approved Joint Honours route (MSci and BSc).

Within Natural Sciences, Chemistry has BSc Joint-Honours programmes with: Biology; Earth Sciences; Mathematics; Physics. There are also the following MSci Joint-Honours programmes with: Biology; Mathematics; Physics.

In BSc students' final year, they are required to take no less than 20 credits and no more than 60 credits of Capstone Modules. MSci student students are not required to take a capstone module, but rather take a Dissertation/Project in Year 4. Dissertation/Project/Capstone modules are denoted with G

Chemistry modules available to Natural Sciences students

Level 1 modules

Molecules In Action (CHEM1061)
Core Chemistry 1 (CHEM1078)
Practical Chemistry 1A (CHEM1087)
Practical Chemistry 1B (CHEM1107)
Mathematical And Experimental Tools Required In Chemistry (CHEM1111)
Introduction To Materials Chemistry (CHEM1127)

Level 2 modules

Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012)
Biological Chemistry (CHEM2051)
Computational Chemistry (CHEM2061)
Chemistry Of The Elements (CHEM2077)
Structure And Reactivity In Organic Chemistry (CHEM2087)
Properties Of Molecules (CHEM2097)
Practical Chemistry 2 - Inorganic (CHEM2107)
Practical Chemistry 2 - Organic (CHEM2117)
Practical Chemistry 2 - Physical (CHEM2127)

Level 3 modules

Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012)
Materials Chemistry (CHEM3051)
Chemistry And SocietyG (CHEM3061)
Advanced Computational Chemistry (CHEM3071)
Chemistry Into SchoolG (CHEM3081)
Inorganic Concepts And Applications (CHEM3097)
Advanced Organic Chemistry (CHEM3117)
Molecules And Their Interactions (CHEM3137)
Computational Chemical Physics (CHEM3151)
Chemistry Bsc DissertationG (CHEM3161)
Chemistry Literature Perspective (CHEM3187)
Bioactive Chemistry 3 (CHEM3211)
Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411)
Advanced Biological Chemistry (CHEM3421)
Practical Chemistry 3 - Synthetic (CHEM3447)
Practical Chemistry 3 - Integrated (CHEM3451)
Practical Chemistry 3 - Measurement (CHEM3467)
Science EnterpriseG (NSCI3001)

Level 4 modules

Bioactive Chemistry 4 (CHEM4211)
Bioactive Chemistry Research Project (d)G (CHEM4272)
Core Chemistry 4 (CHEM4311)
Chemical Physics 4 (CHEM4411)
Advanced Computational Chemical Physics (CHEM4471)
Advanced Research Concepts In Chemistry (CHEM4481)
Chemistry Research ProjectG (CHEM4494)

Requirements for Joint Honours (BSc and MSci Programmes)

Please note that these requirements are just for the B.Sc. degrees and the M.Sci. in Natural Sciences, requirements for the JH M.Sci. degrees involving Chemistry are detailed elsewhere.

There are 3 routes within Chemistry: Physical Chemistry route, Chemistry route and Biosciences and Chemistry route.
Biosciences and Chemistry
Year 1

60 credits: Core Chemistry 1 (CHEM1078), Practical Chemistry 1A (CHEM1087) and (Mathematical And Experimental Tools Required In Chemistry (CHEM1111) or (Single Mathematics A (MATH1561) and Single Mathematics B (MATH1571)) or (Calculus I (MATH1061) and Linear Algebra I (MATH1071)))

Year 2

60 credits: Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012), Structure And Reactivity In Organic Chemistry (CHEM2087), Practical Chemistry 2 - Organic (CHEM2117).

Year 3

40 credits: EITHER (Bioactive Chemistry 3 (CHEM3211) and 20 credits from the Level 3 Chemistry list) OR Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012)

Chemistry
Year 1

60 credits: Core Chemistry 1 (CHEM1078), Practical Chemistry 1A (CHEM1087) and (Mathematical And Experimental Tools Required In Chemistry (CHEM1111) or (Single Mathematics A (MATH1561) and Single Mathematics B (MATH1571)) or (Calculus I (MATH1061) and Linear Algebra I (MATH1071)))

Year 2

60 credits: Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012), Chemistry Of The Elements (CHEM2077), Practical Chemistry 2 - Inorganic (CHEM2107)

Year 3

40 credits: Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012)

Physical Chemistry
Year 1

60 credits: Core Chemistry 1 (CHEM1078), Practical Chemistry 1A (CHEM1087) and ((Single Mathematics A (MATH1561) and Single Mathematics B (MATH1571)) or (Calculus I (MATH1061) and Linear Algebra I (MATH1071)))

Year 2

60 credits: Core Chemistry 2 (CHEM2012), Properties Of Molecules (CHEM2097), Practical Chemistry 2 - Physical (CHEM2127)

Year 3

40 credits: EITHER (Chemical Physics 3 (CHEM3411) and 20 credits from the Level 3 Chemistry list) OR Core Chemistry 3 (CHEM3012)

Advice for progression and other aspects

Department advice: Handbook
Natural Sciences advice
Year 1

Students are only guaranteed to take Chemistry (i.e. Core Chemistry 1 (CHEM1078) and Practical Chemistry 1A (CHEM1087)) if their UCAS offer explicitly states this. Other students are encouraged to get in touch with the Director in August prior to commencing studies. Students cannot start Chemistry in your second year.
See the last few paragraphs of the BSc and MSci degree regulations to find out about Royal Society of Chemistry degree accreditation.
Progression from: CHEM1078; CHEM1087.

Year 2

Joint Honours degrees within Natural Sciences are recommended to take particular Level 2 Chemistry modules depending on their second subject. These are:
Biology: Structure And Reactivity In Organic Chemistry (CHEM2087) and Practical Chemistry 2 - Organic (CHEM2117);
Earth Sciences: Chemistry Of The Elements (CHEM2077) and Practical Chemistry 2 - Inorganic (CHEM2107);
Mathematics and Physics: Properties Of Molecules (CHEM2097) and Practical Chemistry 2 - Physical (CHEM2127).
These are all lab based modules. If you are taking one or two lab based modules and you are not taking a JH degree, look at the timetable carefully. Have you enough time in the Chemistry labs?
See the last few paragraphs of the BSc and MSci degree regulations to find out about degree accreditation.
Progression from: CHEM2087; CHEM2117; CHEM2077; CHEM2107; CHEM2097; CHEM2127.

Year 3

If students wish to take Chemistry And Society (CHEM3061), then they also need to take Chemistry Bsc Dissertation (CHEM3161).
It is not compulsory to take the associated 10-credit laboratory modules associated with the taught module, i.e you can take Molecules And Their Interactions (CHEM3137) without taking Practical Chemistry 3 - Measurement (CHEM3467) as long as you can find another 10 credit module which timetables.
See the last few paragraphs of the BSc and MSci degree regulations to find out about degree accreditation.
Progression from: CHEM3061; CHEM3161; CHEM3137; CHEM3467.

For more information about the Natural Sciences degree programme, please contact:

Prof James Blowey
Deputy Head of Faculty
Faculty of Science Office
Level 3 Chemistry Building
Durham University
DH1 3LE
UK

Email: Natural Sciences Director

WWW: Natural Sciences home page

The Natural Sciences web pages are maintained by James Blowey