ChemistryAS Degree

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Community of interest
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01358.00AS
Department
Chemistry
CIP code
40.0501: Chemistry, General.
TOP code
1905.00 - Chemistry, General
This program meets the lower division major preparation for a similar major at CSU, Chico. Visit website for details www.assist.org Chemistry is the study of the properties, composition, and transformations of all material substances. It supports and draws from biology, earth science, engineering, mathematics, medicine, and physics. Chemistry can be a rewarding and fascinating subject to study because it helps students understand these other fields and "how things work" in general. The Chemistry AS degree is appropriate for students planning to transfer to a university to major in chemistry or other closely related fields. A different set of courses is offered for students in other majors such as agriculture or allied health science including nursing, dental hygiene, physical therapy, or nutrition. Medical personnel, technicians, engineers, and scientists identify and solve problems by applying logic, scientific thinking, and knowledge of natural laws. The study of chemistry is well suited to developing these skills, and many opportunities are available to those who have studied chemistry. Chemistry majors are employed in many fields, including agronomy, biotechnology, energy production, environmental science, material science, medicine, patent law and teaching. Note, however, that most careers associated with chemistry require a degree beyond the AS degree.
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Program Snapshot

Community of interest
STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Award
AS Degree
Program code
01358.00AS
Department
Chemistry
CIP code
40.0501: Chemistry, General.
TOP code
1905.00 - Chemistry, General

Next Steps

Map Class Schedule

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

Program Schedule ReportMeet with a counselor
Chemistry
AS Degree — expand to learn about this award

The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

16–17 units
CHEM 1
General Chemistry I
5 units

Meets Area 5A/5C.

course details

This course introduces students to the basic principles of chemistry with a quantitative emphasis. Topics include atomic theory, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, gases, thermochemistry, intermolecular forces and solutions. This is the first semester of a one-year course in chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, pre-medicine), mathematics, and engineering. The two-semester sequence of CHEM 1 and CHEM 2 provides the basic chemical background needed for further investigations into our physical environment. Graded only. (C-ID CHEM 110/CHEM 120S).

Prerequisite: CHEM 11 or CHEM 51 or one year of high school Chemistry; and Intermediate Algebra or equivalent

Select one: Meets Area 2

Required

5 units
Choose one of 2 choices
Choose one of 2 choices

General Education: Area 1A

about Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

General Education: Area 6

about Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Term 2

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

16 units
CHEM 2
General Chemistry II
5 units

Meets Area 5A/5C.

course details

This course is a continuation of CHEM 1, General Chemistry I. Topics include chemical kinetics and equilibrium, acid-base and solubility equilibria, thermodynamics, oxidation-reduction, electrochemistry, coordination compounds, nuclear chemistry, introduction to organic chemistry and qualitative analysis. This is the second semester of a one-year course in chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, pre-medicine), mathematics, and engineering. The two-semester sequence of CHEM 1 and CHEM 2 provides the basic chemical background needed for further investigations into our physical environment. Graded only. (C-ID CHEM 120S) (C-ID CHEM 120S = CHEM 1 and CHEM 2).

Prerequisite: CHEM 1

MATH 31
Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
4 units

Meets Area 2.

course details

This course is the second of a series in differential and integral calculus of a single variable. Topics will include the concept, techniques and applications of integration, infinite sequences and series, as well as polar and parametric equations. Intended for Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Majors. (C-ID MATH 220).

Prerequisite: MATH 30 or MATH 30s

PHYS 41
Physics for Scientists and Engineers I
4 units

Meets Area 5A/5C.

course details

This course, intended for students majoring in physical sciences and engineering, is part of a three-semester course whose contents may be offered in other sequences or combinations. Core topics include an introduction to kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, momentum, gravitation and simple harmonic motion. Graded only. (C-ID PHYS 205/PHYS 100S).

Prerequisite: MATH 30 or MATH 30s

General Education: Area 4

about Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.

Term 3

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15 units
CHEM 21
Organic Chemistry I
5 units

Meets Area 5A/5C.

course details

This is the first semester of a one-year course in organic chemistry intended for majors in the natural sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, and pre-medicine). It covers fundamental principles of organic chemistry including structure, nomenclature, conformational analysis and stereochemistry. The physical properties, reactions and reaction mechanisms of alkanes, alkyl halides, alcohols, ethers, alkenes, alkynes, and allylic systems are studied. Infrared spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are discussed in detail. Graded only. (C-ID CHEM 150/CHEM 160S).

Prerequisite: CHEM 2

MATH 32
Analytic Geometry and Calculus III
4 units

Meets Area 2.

course details

Vector valued functions, calculus of functions of more than one variable, partial derivatives, multiple integration, Green’s Theorem, Stokes’ Theorem, divergence theorem. (C-ID MATH 230).

Prerequisite: MATH 31

PHYS 42
Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
4 units

Meets Area 5A/5C.

course details

This course, intended for students majoring in physical sciences and engineering, is part of a three-semester course whose contents may be offered in other sequences or combinations. Core topics include electrostatics, magnetism, DC and AC circuits, and Maxwell's equations. Graded only. (C-ID PHYS 210/PHYS 200S).

Prerequisite: PHYS 41, MATH 31

Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)

Term 4

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

13–14 units
PHYS 43
Physics for Scientists and Engineers III
4 units

Meets Area 5A/5C.

course details

This course, intended for students majoring in physical sciences and engineering, is part of a three-semester course whose contents may be offered in other sequences or combinations. Core topics include optics and modern physics. Graded only. (C-ID PHYS 215) (C-ID PHYS 200S = PHYS 41, PHYS 42, and PHYS 43).

Prerequisite: PHYS 41, MATH 31

General Education: Area 1B

about Area 1B

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.

General Education: Area 3

about Area 3

Arts and Humanities

How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education Course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Career Connections

2-Year Degree Paths

Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.

4-Year Degree Paths

Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.

Example roles: 1

  • Chemists

Graduate School Paths

Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.

Local Job Market

ChemistsSOC 19-20125 nearby openings

Search keyword used: chemistry · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $78,427/yr

Top employers in sample

  • Ag Jobs 1
  • Enloe Health 1
  • Enloe Medical Center 1
  • MLee Medical Employment 1
  • River Partners 1

Where the postings are

  • Chico, Butte County 4
  • Oroville, Butte County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Clinical Laboratory Technician MLT / CLTMLee Medical Employment · Chico, Butte County · 3 days ago
  2. Lab Technical Assistant (Full-Time, Nights)Enloe Health · Chico, Butte County · 9 days ago
  3. Long Term Agriculture SubstituteAg Jobs · Oroville, Butte County · 2 weeks ago
  4. Tech - MTEnloe Medical Center · Chico, Butte County · 2 weeks ago
  5. EstimatorRiver Partners · Chico, Butte County · 4 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last 30 days within 25 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.

Source Notes

Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.

Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.

Last generated 2026-06-12T23:19+00:00