Mount Saint Mary’s University

    Chemistry | Bachelor of Arts
    (M)POWER Major Map

    A clear pathway for academic success, career formation, leadership development, and post-graduate preparation.

    Program Overview

    Core program information and early student priorities.

    Program Details

    Program
    Degree
    Map Type
    Chemistry
    Bachelor of Arts
    (M)POWER Major Map

    Cultivate Learning

    Milestones across the first year, middle years, and final year.

    Summer Pathways / FYS / FYE

    Stage
    Key Actions
    First Year Experience
    • Complete lab safety training.
    • Attend WISH Symposium.
    • Shadow in a faculty research lab.
    • Review program with faculty advisor.
    Middle Years
    • Meet Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society criteria and make Dean’s List.
    • Take milestone courses: Organic Chemistry, Genetics, Calculus, Molecular Biology, and Physics.
    • Strengthen communication, teamwork, and adaptability through conferences.
    • Work with advisor to balance GE courses, science courses, and summer options so you stay on track.
    • Deepen research skills and move from shadowing to active project work.
    • Mentor younger students in your research group as your skills grow.
    Last Year
    • Confirm remaining requirements with your advisor, including the Advanced Biochemistry capstone.
    • Continue research and take on leadership and presentation roles.
    • Keep spring coursework manageable to focus on exams, interviews, and applications for graduate or professional programs.

    Pursue Academic Excellence

    Checklist items and recommended course sequencing.

    Academic Success Checklist

    Year
    Fall
    Spring
    First Year
    • CHE 001A/L (5)
    • CS 001A (3)
    • ENG 1A (3)
    • GS (3)
    • FYS 1 (2)
    • CHE 001B/L (5)
    • CS 001B (3)
    • ENG 1B (3)
    • MTH 38 (3)
    • FYS 2 (2)
    Second Year
    • CHE 006A/L (5)
    • MTH 005A (4)
    • PHI 30 (3)
    • GS (3)
    • Language (3)
    • CHE 006B/L (5)
    • MTH 005B (4)
    • UD Elective (3)
    • GS (3)
    • Language (3)
    Third Year
    • CHE 107/L (4)
    • PHY 011A (4)
    • MTH 005C (3)
    • GS (3)
    • CHE 199 (1) *optional
    • CHE 190 (4)
    • PHY 011B/L (4)
    • PHI 168B (3)
    • GS (3)
    • CHE 199 (1) *optional
    Last Year
    • CHE 120/Lab (5)
    • CHE 110A (4)
    • UD Elective (3)
    • GS (3)
    • CHE 199 (1) *optional
    • CHE 109 (3)
    • CHE 110B (4)
    • CHE 111 (2)
    • UD Elective (3)
    • UD Elective (3)
    • CHE 199 (1) *optional

    Career Formation and Experience

    Career readiness milestones and experience-building opportunities.

    Career Formation

    Stage
    Activities
    First Year
    Attend (M)POWER First-Year Discernment & Life Design Summit.
    Second Year
    Attend (M)POWER Sophomore Summit.
    Third Year
    Attend (M)POWER Junior Summit. Unlock micro-credential access.
    Last Year
    Attend (M)POWER Junior Summit and maintain micro-credential access.

    Gain Experience

    • Meet students and faculty through WISH and science clubs to explore research and health career paths.
    • Visit campus labs to see scientific work firsthand.
    • Apply for summer research programs, including NSF-funded REUs and the paid MSMU Summer Research Program.
    • Present your work at conferences to build confidence and professional skills.
    • Use advising to shape graduate or pre-health school lists and plan exam timelines.
    • Learn advanced instrumentation in upper-division chemistry to strengthen workforce readiness.
    • Attend pre-health conferences to meet representatives from medical, dental, and PA programs.
    • Explore technical roles in healthcare and research; consider Healthcare Policy or Public Health master’s as a bridge to broader options.

    Leadership Development

    Leadership principles and opportunities connected to MOUNTLeads.
    The Four Core Principles of Mount Leads
    Awareness of Self and Personal WellnessEthical Decision Making & IntegrityCommunication Skills and Critical ThinkingActive Citizenship
    Area
    Opportunities
    Personal Leadership
    • Participate in MOUNTLeads Leadership Summit.
    • Apply to be a MOUNTLeads Leadership Scholar.
    • Sign up for community service with Women’s Leadership & Community Engagement or student clubs and organizations.
    Group Dynamics
    • Preparing Women to Lead (PLEN) (Y2+).
    • Community Student Ambassador Program (Y2+).
    • Become a peer mentor through Summer Pathways, Orientation Assistants/Leader, (M)POWER Peer Mentor, or others.
    • Pursue leadership in clubs/organizations, Student Activities Council, Student Government Association, Community Assistants, Peer Wellness, and more.
    Self-Reflection
    • MOUNTLeads Overnight Leadership Retreat (Y2+).
    • Explore service-oriented or community- and social-impact career pathways.
    • Attend “I Lead, We Lead” Workshop Series.
    Engage Locally for Post-Grad Success
    • Pursue on-campus student employment to develop career-aligned skills, a sense of belonging, and contribute to academic success.
    • Advocate for causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.
    Engage Globally for Post-Graduate Success
    • Enroll in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) class.
    • Enroll in an international summer class.
    • Consider Study Away programs, either nationally or internationally.
    • Advocate for international causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.

    Athenian Advisory Team

    Advising and support resources across each year.
    Role
    First Year
    Second Year
    Third Year
    Last Year
    Faculty Advisor
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    (M)POWER Academic Advisor & Success Coach
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring academic advisement and success coaching.
    • Learn how to navigate myMSMU-Student Planning, Athenian Advisory Team, university processes, and Mount resources to support your success and well-being.
    • Clarify curriculum, catalog policies, LACE general education requirements, and how AP, CLEP, IB, and transfer work can be applied towards your degree.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, major/minor exploration, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Learn how to bolster your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Support you in building and bolstering your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Guidance on navigating academic preparation with your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Guidance on navigating your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    Career Specialist
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    Financial Aid Counselor
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    Peer Mentor
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.

    Wellness & Well-being

    Students are encouraged to build sustainable habits that support academic success, personal wellness, resilience, and balance throughout each year of the Chemistry pathway.
    • Explore a Wellness Fair.
    • Build self-awareness around the dimension of wellness.
    • Try a new sport or continue your choice of movement.
    • Attend a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consult with a Peer Wellness Advocate to determine CalFresh eligibility and apply.
    • Consider applying to be a Facilities Attendant at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.
    • Develop healthy habits, understand and strive for self-improvement.
    • Learn positive coping and relationship skills through workshops by Peer Wellness Advocates, Counseling and Psychological Services, Residence Life, and others.
    • Take advantage of outdoor pursuit trips designed to nurture appreciation of the outdoors, environmental stewardship, social and cultural inclusivity, and risk management.
    • Consider applying to be a Peer Wellness Advocate (Y1+).
    • Utilize Produce Pick-Up for access to fresh fruit and vegetables (Y1+).
    • Commit to and prioritize your ritual for movement, healthy habits, positive self-concept, and mental resilience; model and encourage others to do the same.
    • Lead a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consider applying to be a Student Manager at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.

    Post-Graduate Outcomes

    Career pathways, transferable strengths, and outcomes supported by the Chemistry major.
    Area
    Details
    What skills do employers want?
    • Strong analytical and laboratory skills.
    • Ability to interpret data, troubleshoot experiments, and use advanced instruments.
    • Clear communication via posters, papers, and talks.
    • Reliable, professional, and persistent problem solving.
    • Adaptability across research, health, and technology contexts.
    • Leadership through mentoring roles.
    This major equips me to
    • Conduct and analyze research with accuracy.
    • Communicate complex scientific ideas clearly.
    • Move between lab work and broad scientific questions.
    • Collaborate effectively in research groups.
    • Mentor peers and build leadership skills.
    • Apply scientific reasoning to new problems.
    What careers can I pursue?
    • Medical, dental, or PA school.
    • Technical roles in clinics, labs, and healthcare settings.
    • Research positions in universities, biotech, or industry.
    • Public health or healthcare policy work.
    • Graduate study in biochemistry, chemistry, or related sciences.
    • Pharmaceutical, clinical research, or regulatory careers.
    • Master’s programs that bridge into professional training.