Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum is a common set of requirements that must be satisfied by all Texas A&M graduates. The requirements are outlined in your undergraduate catalog. The core curriculum requirements do not add extra hours to your chemistry degree plan. They just dictate, to some extent, your freedom to choose electives so they are frequently referred to as Directed Electives. Information about what courses can be used to fulfill each Core Curriculum requirement can be found at the Core Curriculum web site.
BA and BS Degrees
The set of prescribed courses is referred to as a degree plan. This is a suggested outline of when you should take courses. You should try to adhere to this schedule as closely as possible although the timing of some courses is more critical than others.
The B.S. and B.A. degree plans both require completion of 120 credit hours of course work under catalog #139 (i.e. the 20016-17 catalog). The major points of difference are compared below:
| Requirements | B.S. | B.A. |
| Hours of Chemistry | 56 credit hours | 40 credit hours |
| Hours of mathematics | 15 credit hours | 8 credit hours |
| Hours of Physics | 8 credit hours | 8 credit hours |
| Hours of undirected electives | 14 credit hours | 37 credit hours |
| Hours of remaining core curriculum | 27 credit hours | 27 credit hours |
| Minor or Track (hours will vary) | optional | required |
| Research | required | optional |
Course descriptions for all undergraduate chemistry courses are found in the Undergraduate Catalog.