Chemistry

It is critical that you place yourself in the appropriate general chemistry sequence at Duke. For information about how to choose your chemistry courses, please go to: http://www.chem.duke.edu/undergraduates/placement/chart.php.

  • AP/IPC credit in chemistry is listed on the Duke transcript as CHEM 20[18] for an AP score of 4, and CHEM 21[19] for an AP score of 5. If you had strong high school preparation in chemistry and place into either CHEM 110DL[43L] or CHEM 201DL[151L], you should enroll in the course into which you place. If you are overwhelmed, you can drop back to the lower level course.
  • Even with AP credit, we have found that many health professions schools will still expect you to complete 3-4 semesters of chemistry in college. Thus, we advise students who have AP/IPC credit for CHEM 20[18] or 21[19] and take CHEM 110DL[43L] and CHEM 201DL[151L]/202DL[152L], or students who go directly into CHEM 201DL[151L]/202DL[152L], to take BIOCHEM 301[227].  Please note that this course is offered through the Biochemistry Department rather than the Chemistry Department and is only offered in the fall semester or in the summer.
  • A few medical schools require biochemistry, but many more strongly recommend biochemistry. You should check to see if schools to which you may want to apply require or strongly recommend biochemistry. If they do, then you should take it. This is particularly true if the school is in your state of residence.
  • We have found that since biochemistry is not taught with a laboratory at Duke, if you opt to take CHEM 110DL[43L] or to go directly into CHEM 201DL[151L]/202DL[152L], health professions schools have generally accepted the fact that the 3-4 semesters of chemistry you take at Duke may only include two or three formal laboratory courses. Occasionally, this is disputed by one or more health professions schools at the time you apply, but we advocate for applicants who face this situation and health professions schools generally agree to accept the chemistry prerequisite met in this way at Duke.  (Note that the Chemistry Department recommends Chem 210DL[32L] only for students who took Chem 101DL[31L].  Occasionally, prehealth students who are asked to complete an additional general chemistry course with lab by health professions schools will take Chem 210DL[32L] even if they placed out of Chem 101DL[31L].)