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About the Chemistry Placement
The University of Oregon Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a placement assessment to help students decide which chemistry course is right for them. Most new students will begin with one of the following courses:
- CH 111: Introduction to Chemical Principles
- CH 221z: General Chemistry I
- CH 224H: Advanced General Chemistry
If you plan on enrolling in CH 221z or CH 224H, then you must take the placement or have previous credit for CH 111. The placement is not required for students wishing to enroll in CH 111.
Note: if you already have credit for CH 221z (typically through AP or IB, or transfer credit from another college), then you do not have to take the placement. Please meet with an advisor to determine your initial chemistry course.
Prerequisites for Chemistry Courses
In addition to the chemistry placement, the appropriate math level must be attained for each course either by credit or math placement. The prerequisites for each course are shown below:
- CH 111: Satisfactory placement test score for MATH 111z; coreq: MATH 111z.
- CH 221: CH 111z or satisfactory placement test score; C- or better in MATH 111z. Co-req: MATH 112z. Concurrent CH 217 and CH 227z recommended.
- CH 224H: Satisfactory placement test score; MATH 112z with a grade of C- or better. coreq: one from MATH 241, MATH 246, MATH 251, MATH 261. Concurrent CH 217 and CH 227z recommended.
Note: CH 217 + CH 227z is the General Chemistry Lab course. It is separate from the lecture courses and should be taken concurrently with CH 221z or CH 224H.
Starting MATH Course | Starting Chemistry Course | Corresponding Chemistry Labs |
|---|---|---|
MATH 101 | CH 111 Spring term | No Lab |
MATH 111z | CH 111 | No Lab |
MATH 112z | CH 111 or CH 221z | CH 227z + CH 217 |
MATH 251 | CH 221z or CH 224H | CH 227z + CH 217 |
You will need to know your math placement before you begin the chemistry placement.
You can determine your math level by one of the following:
- College transfer credit (check your Transfer Evaluation Report on Duckweb).
- AP credit
- IB credit
- Take the math placement
Taking the Chemistry Placement
New Students: If you are a new student, you will access the chemistry placement in the Canvas Community site for IntroDUCKtion.
Continuing Students: If you are a continuing student, you need to send an email to genchem@uoregon.edu that includes your 95# ID number. You will be added to a Canvas Community site for the placement.
Once you are in the Canvas Community site, you will need to navigate to the Chemistry Placement Module.
The placement consists of two parts:
- Part A: Chemistry Placement (Survey)
- Part B: Chemistry Placement (Content)
You will need to complete both parts of the placement. Clicking on the links in the Canvas module will begin the placement. It is expected that the survey section will require less than five minutes; the content portion will require 30 – 45 minutes.
We recommend you have a calculator and scratch paper available before starting. You should also download the periodic table that is linked in the instructions on the Canvas site.
Assessment and Scoring
The content portion of the placement is twenty questions. It is in your best interest to answer these to the best of your ability, without using any outside resources. If you score 70% or higher, and are starting with MATH 112 or higher, you will be able to register for CH 221z. Or, If you score 70% or higher, and are starting with MATH 251 or higher, you will be able to register for CH 224H. If you are unable to score 70% or higher you can take the placement again. It is highly recommended that you review the materials posted in the Chemistry Placement module before you attempt the placement for a second time. Once your score is 70% or greater you will be able to register (there will be a delay of up to 24 hours for scores to transfer from Canvas to the registration system).
There is no advantage, and actually a disadvantage, to consulting outside resources such as a textbook, the internet, or a friend to improve your assessment score. Use of outside resources could also lead to improper placement and potentially course failure. Always read and follow the onscreen instructions very carefully and do the work on your own.
Be sure to take the assessment at least two days before your on-campus IntroDUCKtion to ensure that you will be able to register for the correct chemistry course when your registration opens.
Contact Us
Non-technical questions, including questions about accessibility, should be directed to the UO Testing Center at 541-346-3230 or testing@uoregon.edu.
Other questions can be emailed to us at genchem@uoregon.edu
FAQs
My placement score is not high enough to register for General Chemistry. How can I raise my score?
You have two attempts at this placement. If you are unsatisfied with your first score, please review material posted on Canvas, and return to take the placement when you are sufficiently prepared.
Do I have to report my score when I have reached 70% or better?
No, your score will be automatically uploaded to your records in DuckWeb.
Please note that the synchronization between Canvas and the Office of the Registrar is not immediate, and you may have to wait up to 24 hours to be able to register.
I am repeating General Chemistry. Do I need to take the Chemistry Placement?
It depends on the grade you received previously for the course. Students that received an F or W grade must take the Chemistry Placement.
Students that received a grade of D- or better can request an override for the placement requirement by emailing the faculty advisor, Dr. Koscho, at koscho@uoregon.edu. Students with a grade of C or better will also need a Repeat Course petition from the UO Registrar's Office.
What is the difference between CH 221z General Chemistry I and CH 224H Advanced General Chemistry, and which course should I take?
CH 221z is the appropriate course for the majority of students. Students who come in with a strong background in chemistry (more than one year of high school chemistry) and are motivated to learn about chemistry are encouraged to consider enrolling in CH 224H. Even students that have college credit for one or more terms of general chemistry (through AP, IB, CollegeNow or similar programs) should consider taking the advanced general chemistry sequence. CH 221z and CH 224H cover the same topics, but CH 224H moves at a slightly faster pace and covers the material in greater depth. Chemistry and Biochemistry majors who meet the criteria for CH 224H are highly encouraged to take this course.
Note that CH 224H is only offered in the fall term (CH 225H is offered in the winter; CH 226H is offered in spring). CH 221z is offered in the fall, winter, and summer terms.
Will I get behind if I start the General Chemistry sequence winter term instead of starting in the fall?
For science majors that require General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, waiting to start the General Chemistry sequence winter term can put you behind in your four-year plan. This is especially true for Biochemistry students. If you choose to finish the General Chemistry sequence the following fall, you will have to wait a year to take Organic Chemistry because CH 331 and CH 337 are not offered winter term. It is important to discuss a long-term plan early on with your advisor to better understand your options.
How do I “catch up” if I start the General Chemistry sequence in the winter?
In order to be ready for Organic Chemistry in the fall of your sophomore year, you will need to take CH 223 and CH 229 the summer after your freshman year.
IMPORTANT: If you take CH 223 and CH 229 at an institution other than UO, you will have to wait until you pass the courses and transfer the credits to UO before you can register for fall term Organic Chemistry. Our department requires that students pass all prerequisites prior to registering for a course. Registering for a course at another institution does not satisfy a prerequisite.