How to Apply to Chemistry at DePaul University: Chemistry B.A./B.S. and Biochemistry B.A./B.S. in One Department, a Five-Year Dual Degree in Chemical Engineering with Illinois Tech, for U.S., International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At DePaul University (Chicago, Illinois), chemistry is taught in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Science and Health. The pages we read do not mention a separate admission cut-off for chemistry; the freshman application (Common App) is at university level. Below is what DePaul publishes for fall 2027 entry, in sections for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, then transfer students. Anything the site does not say is marked "not published". Nursing, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and other health degrees, and professional degrees such as medicine and pharmacy, are outside this guide; see the Pre-Health Program page. DePaul counts courses in quarter hours; most courses in the tables below are 4 quarter hours.

1. Degrees and tracks

• B.A. and B.S. in Chemistry: the program page describes the fundamentals of chemical theory and practice through scientific investigation, laboratory work and research, plus mathematics and physics. The Chemistry B.A. requires a concentration: Standard, or the Accelerated 3+ Pre-Pharmacy concentration (the page says the Accelerated 3+ option is only for Pathways Honors students; it is a 3+4 pre-professional programme with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science).
• Biochemistry B.A. / B.S.: in the same department. The B.S. requirements are summarised in section 2; the B.A. requirements are not published on the pages we read. The Biochemistry B.A. also lists an Accelerated 3+ Pre-Podiatric Medicine concentration.
• Chemistry minor, for students in other majors.
• Combined degrees: a joint, dual-admit programme with Illinois Tech (B.S. in Chemistry from DePaul and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Illinois Tech in five years); and combined bachelor's-master's options such as B.S. Chemistry + M.S. Chemistry + M.Ed. Secondary Education in as few as five years.
• The department page lists faculty research in biochemistry, chemical biology, biophysical chemistry, medicinal chemistry and bioanalytical chemistry, but these are not listed as separate undergraduate degrees. The Biology major is not covered here.

2. Admission route, prerequisites and course plan

• Choosing a major: the application pages we read do not say whether applicants choose a major or whether chemistry has its own quota; not published. The college requirements page says every student in the College must declare a major before the start of junior year, using the declaration tool in Campus Connect, after which an advisor is assigned.
• Department enrollment rules: prerequisite chemistry courses must be passed with C- or better, and students who do not may be removed from rosters (waivable only with department consent); students entering the first General Chemistry course must independently meet a minimum mathematics requirement, described in the course descriptions, which are not published on the pages we read. Lower-level sequences run several times a year; upper-level courses are typically scheduled every other year because of small classes, so students should plan with a faculty advisor.
• Suggested order: begin the General Chemistry, Physics and Calculus sequences in the first year if the mathematics background is adequate; take Organic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry in the second year; students not yet ready for calculus take prerequisites first and shift calculus and general physics back one year.
• Common core (the page says it is consistent with the requirements of all American Chemical Society-accredited degree programs): General Chemistry CHE 130/131, 132/133, 134/135 (three quarters with labs); foundation courses Analytical Chemistry CHE 204/205, Organic Chemistry CHE 230/231, 232/233, 234/235 (three quarters) and Instrumental Analysis CHE 261; one year of calculus (MAT 147-149, MAT 150-152, or summer MAT 155-156); and one year of calculus-based physics, PHY 170-172 (non-calculus physics counts only with prior approval).
• B.S. in Chemistry adds: CHE 300 (Thermodynamics and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics), CHE 320/321 (Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry and lab), CHE 340/341 (Biochemistry I and lab), CHE 302 (Quantum Chemistry), CHE 315 (Physical Chemistry Lab), and 16 credit hours from CHE 250-399 (excluding CHE 346), at least one with a lab component or a research course (CHE 392, 397 or 398).
• B.A. in Chemistry: the common core plus calculus and physics, without CHE 300, 302, 315, 320 or 340 as listed; B.A. students also need the College's modern-language competence (about one year of college-level study), which B.S. students do not. The B.A. total hours and concentration requirements: not stated on the pages we read.
• B.S. in Biochemistry: three quarters of General Chemistry, the foundation courses (analytical, organic, instrumental analysis, CHE 300, inorganic, biochemistry I), plus CHE 315, Biochemistry II (CHE 342/343) and 12 credit hours of CHE 250-399 (a 300-level biology course may replace one); BIO 191-193 and BIO 250 Cell Biology; one year of calculus; and one year of general physics (PHY 170-172 or PHY 150-152).
• High-school prerequisites: the application pages do not list required high-school chemistry, physics or mathematics; not published. In the test-optional FAQ DePaul says the most competitive students generally take four years in each of English, math, natural science and social science/history. After admission, placement in writing and mathematics is completed online; chemistry and modern-language placement tests are optional for students planning those courses.
• AP / IB credit (credit-by-exam pages): AP Chemistry 3 earns 4 hours for CHE 102; 4 earns 4 hours for CHE 130 and 131; 5 earns 8 hours for CHE 130/131 and 132/133; the page tells chemistry majors to consult the Chemistry Department. AP Calculus AB 3 earns MAT 150; Calculus BC 3, 4 or 5 earns MAT 150, 151 and 152 (12 hours). AP Physics 1 and 2 both at 4 or 5 earn PHY 150, 151 and 152; the Physics C rows are on the page. IB Chemistry HL 5: the department may waive one or more quarters of General Chemistry on consent. IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL 4 to 7 earns MAT 137 and MAT 150. IB Physics HL 5 earns PHY 150; HL 6 or 7 earns PHY 150, 151 and 152. Scores must be sent by the testing agency; scores on a high-school transcript are not accepted.

Research, accreditation and outcomes

• Research: the page says chemistry majors have multiple opportunities to do hands-on research with faculty on projects funded internally and by outside grants, and can attend scientific conferences held in Chicago. For the B.S., research courses CHE 392, 397 and 398 can satisfy the lab-or-research elective requirement.
• ACS: the major-requirements page says only that the common core is consistent with the requirements of ACS-accredited degree programs; whether DePaul grants an ACS-certified degree: not stated on the pages we read.
• Outcomes: career options listed on the program page include chemical analysis, environmental chemistry, forensics, graduate school, professional healthcare programs (medical and pharmacy school), industry and government research, and secondary-school teaching. The page also states that 94% of chemistry graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation. Employers and salaries: not published.
• STEM designation: the Biochemistry and Biological Sciences pages state the program is STEM-designated, which can qualify international students to extend their stay after graduation; the Chemistry program page we read does not say this. Ask International Admission.

3. Rounds and application materials

• How to apply: the apply page says all incoming freshmen for fall/winter 2027, including international students, apply with the Common App. A freshman applicant is under age 24 and has completed at least six semesters of high school.
• Rounds: Early Action closes 15 November with notification by 15 December; Regular Notification closes 1 February with notification by 15 March; applications after 1 February are considered on a space-available basis (School of Music and The Theatre School excepted). For the strongest scholarship consideration apply by 15 November (Early Action) or 1 February. After admission, declare your intent to enroll by 1 May and pay a $200 non-refundable tuition deposit. The pages print no year, so confirm the dates apply to fall 2027 entry.
• Testing: freshmen may choose whether to submit ACT or SAT scores (test-optional); applicants educated outside the U.S. are not required to submit them. Applicants indicate test-optional in the DePaul questions of the Common App; test-optional files are reviewed separately and may take longer, and the optional personal essay is encouraged for them.
• Review: holistic. The high-school record, especially grades in challenging core subjects, is described as the most important component, with honors/IB/AP work, grade trends, recommendation letters, activities, community involvement and writing also considered. The most competitive students generally have four years in each of English, math, natural science and social science/history.
• The application fee, and whether chemistry applicants face extra requirements (science grades, recommendations, interview): not stated on the pages we read; check the admission pages.

4. U.S. applicants

• Tuition: the tuition page lists rates by admit year. For 2026-27, a student admitted in 2026 to the College of Science and Health pays $16,060 per term, $48,180 per year, at 12-18 credit hours; part-time (1-11 hours or over 18) is $878 per hour. The rate for the 2027 admit year is not listed on the page we read. The page says tuition varies by program, credit hours and admit year. The cost-of-attendance page estimates 2026-27 living expenses (housing and food) at $20,766 for dependent students living on or off campus and $5,721 living with parents, plus $1,104 for books and supplies, $1,290 transportation and $4,794 miscellaneous.
• Scholarships: freshmen entering in the autumn are automatically considered for four academic scholarships (Presidential, Deans', DePaul Scholars' Award, St. Vincent DePaul) of $14,000 to $33,000 per year, with priority for applications by 15 November. RaiseMe micro-scholarships can add up to $10,000 per year; there is a $3,000 Provost's Achievement Award for National Merit Semifinalists, designated awards for graduates of Illinois Catholic and Chicago public high schools, and donor-funded scholarships that need a separate application. Academic scholarships renew for up to four years (12 quarters) with good standing, full-time enrollment and at least 36 quarter hours across fall, winter and spring.
• Need-based aid: U.S. citizens and permanent residents file the FAFSA (school code 001671); the checklist suggests filing as soon as possible after 1 October. No in-state preference is mentioned on the pages we read.
• Housing: on-campus housing is not required or guaranteed and is assigned in order of receipt of the agreement and prepayment.

5. International applicants

• Who counts: anyone educated outside the U.S. at any time during secondary school is an international freshman applicant.
• Documents: transcripts and/or secondary-school exam results (by country); admitted students must send final transcripts or proof of completion before enrolling. They may be emailed to International Admission, sent via Naviance/Parchment or SCRIP-SAFE, or mailed. Documents not in English need word-for-word English translations; for the countries the page lists where transcripts are normally issued in English, the English version is accepted, but English proficiency is still required.
• English (any one): TOEFL iBT 80 (or 4 on the new 1-6 scale) with no subsection below 17 (or 3.5); IELTS Academic 6.5; Duolingo English Test 115; SAT evidence-based reading and writing 540; ACT reading 18 and English 20; PTE Academic 53; paper-delivered TOEFL 59. TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted. TOEFL, IELTS and PTE scores are valid for two years, SAT/ACT for five. Waivers: IB English A: Language & Literature grade 5, AP English Language score 4 and/or a B in the class, (I)GCSE English First Language C/4, A/AS Level English C; students whose entire secondary education was in one of the listed English-speaking countries are exempt.
• Scholarship: every international applicant is automatically considered for the Global DePaul Scholarship, $12,000 to $32,000 per year based on high-school GPA, awarded with the admission decision and renewable for up to four years (12 quarters).
• Need-based aid: the page we read says only that U.S. citizens and permanent residents are considered for need-based aid through the FAFSA; whether international students can apply is not stated. Proof-of-funds and F-1 visa requirements are on a separate student-visa page; check the site.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international freshman page has a "Requirements by Country" heading, but the page we read shows no China-specific content and does not say how the Gaokao is used. Not published on the pages we read; contact International Admission (international@depaul.edu).
• Transcripts and translation: China is not among the countries the page lists as normally issuing English transcripts, so under the stated rule non-English documents are submitted in the original with word-for-word English translations.
• English and other: English scores, waivers and the scholarship are as in section 5. DePaul has no separate page for applicants from China.

7. Transfer

• Timing: rolling admission; apply and submit transcripts any time up to the intended start date, with reviews starting up to a year in advance; most transfer students can start in any quarter.
• Materials: online application and official college transcripts. High-school transcripts are not required for applicants aged 23 or younger with 24+ semester credits, or aged 24 and older with 12+ semester credits; otherwise they are required. Transcripts must come directly from the registrar, as originals, sealed.
• GPA: the site mentions cumulative GPA requirements but the figure is on a transfer admission process page; it is not published on the pages we read.
• Credit: evaluations are preliminary and subject to final approval; up to 88 semester hours (132 quarter hours) can be applied, of which up to 66 semester hours (99 quarter hours) may come from two-year colleges and credit by examination such as CLEP or AP; the final 60 credit hours of the degree must be earned at DePaul. Credit appears in the Degree Progress Report after admission.
• International transfer: use the DePaul application; applicants with international university credit need a course-by-course evaluation from one of three listed agencies, except students from international partner institutions with an articulation agreement, who only send a transcript.
• Specific prerequisite courses or grades for transferring into chemistry: not stated on the transfer pages we read.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Common App; Early Action 15 November, Regular 1 February; testing optional; scholarship priority date 15 November
• Start General Chemistry, calculus and physics in the first year; if you have AP Chemistry, ask the department how credit applies

International applicants (including China):

• English proof (TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115 and others; any one); non-English transcripts with word-for-word English translation
• Ask International Admission how the Gaokao is used and whether need-based aid is open to international students

Transfer students:

• Rolling admission; up to 88 semester hours can be applied; the final 60 credit hours must be earned at DePaul; the department decides what counts toward the major

Sources: DePaul University, Chemistry and Biochemistry department; Department undergraduate page; Chemistry program; Chemistry B.S. major requirements; Chemistry B.A. major requirements; Biochemistry program; Biochemistry B.S. major requirements; Pre-Health Program; Apply; Undergraduate admission; Test-optional FAQs; International freshman; International transfer; Transfer admission; Transfer credit evaluation; Next steps checklist; Credit given by exam; AP credit; IB credit; Undergraduate tuition and fees; Cost of attendance; Scholarships. Dates, tuition and credit tables are as listed on those pages; confirm that undated dates apply to fall 2027 entry. Check DePaul for the latest.