Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of the world of molecules: how they are created from atoms, how their structures affect their chemical and physical properties, and how they unite or assemble to form the matter that makes up the physical world. Knowledge of chemistry is fundamental to an in-depth understanding of the structural properties and biochemical reactions that define all living systems. Chemistry is therefore the central science that bridges physics and the life sciences, and is a foundation to many other fields, such as materials science, earth science, and forensic science. The challenges that society faces in the twenty-first century, such as managing climate change, sourcing clean energy, and ensuring food security, are at their root chemical problems. With a global perspective and a broad science curriculum at its core, our chemistry major program gives students a comprehensive outlook necessary to tackle these challenges.

Requirements for the Major

Students can choose to follow the academic bulletin from the year that they were admitted or a more recent academic bulletin. For example, if you were admitted to NYU Shanghai in Fall 2019, you can choose to follow the academic bulletin 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022.

2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019

Planning the Major

To declare the Chemistry major, students must have a final grade of C, or currently enrolled in CHEM-SHU 126 Foundations of Chemistry II.

Course Schedule Course Schedule
Curriculum Worksheet Curriculum Worksheet
Study Away Pathways Study Away Pathways

Faculty Mentors

Faculty mentors are the leading faculty and experts in the major disciplines. Students can reach out to faculty mentors for specific questions about the major, and references for connecting with relevant discipline resources. If you have specific questions about specific fields of study within the major, you can search for faculty through the faculty directory.

 

Danyang Yu
Danyang Yu

Area Head of Natural Sciences, Professor of Practice of Biology

 
Chemistry FAQs
Research Opportunities
  • We encourage students to reach out to the professors and take Foundations of Science courses to gain the chance to work in the professor’s lab.
  • Students may refer to this study booklet of Molecular Science for the faculty research interests. 
Independent Study

Students are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in the relevant discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by the professor, Area Head and Academic Affairs.

Study Away

Chemistry major students usually choose to study away in New York or Abu Dhabi to take major required courses and electives.

Senior Thesis / Capstone Requirement

In order to comply with accreditation requirements, NYU Shanghai requires all students to complete either a capstone requirement in the form of a senior thesis and/or a required capstone course in the primary major.

Students in the Chemistry major must complete the capstone requirement by taking CHEM-SHU 998 Integrated Science Capstone(4 credits). This course is only offered in the Fall and must be taken in person in Shanghai, meaning students must be in Shanghai during that semester(s). It is mandatory for all students who are pursuing Chemistry as their primary major.

Starting from Fall 2025, if students’ secondary major requires a capstone, they must take an approved upper-level elective(s) in the major equal to the credit value of the capstone course(s) to replace the capstone. Approved upper-level electives for students who are pursuing Chemistry as a secondary major can be found below:

  • CHEM-SHU 312 Analytical Chemistry

  • CHEM-SHU 881 Biochemistry I

  • CHEM-SHU 882 Biochemistry II

  • CHEM-GA 9627 (Graduate) Computational Chemistry

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