ACS Accreditation

Get your degree with Accreditation by the American Chemical Society

The City College of New York Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is recognized by the United States American Chemical Society (ACS) as offering ACS Approved Degree Programs. The ACS Approval Program promotes excellence in chemistry education for undergraduate students. ACS-approved programs, such as those offered at City College, are considered to offer a broad-based and rigorous chemistry education that gives students intellectual, experimental, and communication skills to become effective scientific professionals.

There are certain requirements that have to be met in order to obtain an ACS Approved Degree, above some of the standard bachelors requirements. If those requirements are met you will be automatically approved, registered with the ACS, and they will send you a certificate of accreditation after you graduate. The benefits of an ACS-Approved Program are that institutions and employers consider graduates of approved programs to be better prepared for technical employment.

The ACS Approval Program has more information: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/policies/acs-approval-program.html

In order for your degree to quality for ACS Approval you need to meet the following requirements:

1. Two semesters of introductory chemistry and at least one introductory laboratory:
Met by General Chemistry I and II: CHEM 10301, 10401.

2. Foundation course work in each of the five traditional subdisciplines of chemistry: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry.
Met by CHEM 24300, 26100, 32002, 33000, 42500. Note: if you are a biochemistry major and you want ACS accreditation then you need to take CHEM 42500.

3. In-Depth Coursework. Met by four courses: CHEM 26300, CHEM 33200. Plus two additional chemistry courses, selected from: CHEM 40600, 40700, 31100, 43500, 48005, B5000, B5100, B5200.

4. Laboratory Experience. The certified graduate must have >400 hours of laboratory experience beyond the introductory chemistry laboratory. Laboratory course work must cover at least four of the five traditional chemistry subdisciplines and may be distributed between the foundation and in-depth levels.
Met by CHEM 24300, 26200, 37400, 33100, 43400. Students may also take CHEM 40601 and/or 32004. Sufficient lab hours are achieved by taking Independent Study/Honors Research.