How to Apply to Chemistry at Sacramento State: B.S. in Chemistry, B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.A. With Biochemistry or Forensic Chemistry Concentrations, General Chemistry Placed by Math and Chemistry Prerequisites Including the ALEKS Chemistry Assessment, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

Undergraduate chemistry at California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State, or Sac State) is offered by the Department of Chemistry in the College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics (NSM). This guide follows Sacramento State’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Biology is taught by the Department of Biological Sciences and is not covered here; medicine, nursing, pharmacy and similar programs are also outside this guide, so see the university’s website for them. The degree course lists are in the university catalog and are not published on the pages read here; check the website.

1. Degrees and options

• Degrees listed on the department home page: the BS in Chemistry, the BS in Biochemistry, the BA in Chemistry (including a concentration in Biochemistry or Forensic Chemistry) and, for graduate students, the MS in Chemistry (including a concentration in Biochemistry).
• Courses and units: the required and elective courses, laboratory sequence and unit totals for each degree are not published on the pages read here (the department page points to the catalog under “Explore Our Degree Opportunities”); check the website.
• Accreditation: the pages read do not say whether the chemistry degrees are certified by the American Chemical Society or another body; check with the department.
• Department resources: the home page lists facilities and instruments, faculty research, a seminar schedule, a Chemistry Club and the department’s office hours and HELP Hours.
• Graduate program: the home page also links a graduate program, not covered here.

2. How admission works: you apply to the university, and chemistry is not among the impacted programs

• You apply to the university: first-year applications go through Cal State Apply. The pages read do not describe a separate chemistry application, portfolio or interview, and do not describe a separate college admission line.
• Impacted programs: the impaction page explains that an impacted program or campus may use extra criteria when qualified applications exceed spaces. The programs it links are Business Administration, Graphic Design and Nursing; chemistry is not among them. It also says campus-wide impaction was lifted for the fall 2024 application period, so all local and non-local applicants who meet the minimum requirements are considered. Note: the international undergraduate page says impacted majors may require a GPA higher than 2.4 and, in its transfer section, names Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Health Science and Psychology; it does not name chemistry.
• Pre-major and expressed interest: the impaction page defines “pre-major” as a designation for undergraduates pursuing a non-impacted major, who may declare or be assigned the major on admission or after completing the prerequisites set by the department, and “expressed interest” as the same as undeclared, for students interested in an impacted major who may not be assigned it on admission. Whether chemistry uses a pre-major status is not stated on the pages read.
• Admission index (first-year page): index = A–G GPA × 1,000. Category 1 (California applicants) needs 2,500 and category 2 (out-of-state applicants) needs 3,000. Applicants below the initial index may be considered for available space on multi-factor criteria; the page gives a minimum index of 2,000 (categories 1 and 2) or 2,500 (“Category 3”), and the factors are A–G courses beyond the minimum, low-income background, first-generation status, work experience, participation in college advocacy programs and extracurricular and leadership participation. The page is unclear here: it mentions a category 3 although it lists only two categories, and does not say who category 3 is; ask Admissions.
• A–G pattern (C or better): history and social science 2 (including one year of U.S. history or one semester of U.S. history and one of civics or government, plus one year of social science); English 4; mathematics 3 (4 recommended; algebra I, geometry, algebra II or higher); laboratory science 2 (one biological, one physical); one language other than English 2; visual and performing arts 1; college-preparatory elective 1.
• Local area: graduates of high schools in Sacramento, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, San Joaquin, Sierra, Solano or Yolo counties are in the local admission area.
• Testing: the CSU no longer uses the SAT or ACT to determine admission eligibility; after admission, scores can help place students in math and written communication courses.
• Whether chemistry sets its own admission cut-off is not stated on the pages read.

3. Prerequisites: General Chemistry needs both a math and a chemistry condition

• The chemistry courses (department General Chemistry Requirements page): CHEM 4 is designed for students who have not taken chemistry or whose background is insufficient for CHEM 1A/1E; CHEM 1A is the introductory chemistry course for science majors in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; CHEM 1E is the introductory course for engineering majors; CHEM 6A is the introductory course for majors in the College of Health and Human Services and the prerequisite for CHEM 6B, but does not prepare students for CHEM 1A.
• CHEM 1A math prerequisite (any one): a score of 61 or higher on the ALEKS Placement Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) assessment run by the Mathematics department, or a rating of 61 or higher in the high school placement evaluation assigned by Hornet Launch (the high school score expires after one year); MATH 12 with a C- or above; a 3 or higher on AP Calculus AB or BC; or eligibility to enrol in MATH 26A or MATH 29. Statistics, trigonometry and geometry do not count.
• CHEM 1A chemistry prerequisite (any one): CHEM 4 with a C or higher; CHEM 4 with a D or C- plus a score of 85% on the Chemistry Aleks Review Assessment (CARA); a high school chemistry course (first-year students) or a community college introductory chemistry course (transfer students) plus 85% on CARA; or a 2 or higher on the AP Chemistry exam.
• CARA (Chemistry Aleks Review and Assessment): an online program assessing the math, problem solving, units, graphing, basic physics and basic chemistry needed for CHEM 1A or 1E; most students finish within 40 hours. Students have six weeks from first logging into ALEKS through Canvas and must complete at least 105 of 123 topics (85%). The eligibility survey is checked by hand and takes about a week before the student is added to the CARA Canvas page, but students need not wait to be completed to conditionally enrol or waitlist for CHEM 1A. The dates on the page are for the fall 2026 opening period (survey closes December 18, 2026; official deadline January 10, 2027; students who have not finished are dropped from CHEM 1A or 1E between January 11 and 22, 2027). The schedule that applies to fall 2027 entry is not stated on the pages read; check the department page. CARA and the Mathematics department’s ALEKS PPL are separate assessments.
• CHEM 4 math prerequisite: ALEKS PPL or high school evaluation of 61 or higher, or a 3 or higher on AP Calculus AB or BC; MATH 12 or equivalent is recommended, but may be taken as a corequisite.
• ALEKS PPL by major: the first-year page says to complete ALEKS PPL if your chosen major requires it (the major list is in a PDF). Whether chemistry is on that list is not stated on the pages read; ask Admissions. Writing placement is by Directed Self-Placement.
• AP and IB credit: apart from the AP scores in the CHEM 1A conditions above, how AP or IB scores earn credit toward chemistry courses is not stated on the pages read (the credit tables are in the catalog).
• Competitions: how chemistry olympiads or similar contests are viewed in admissions is not stated on the pages read.

4. Advising, support and research after admission

• NSM Advising Center: it advises first-year, second-year and new transfer students in the college on major and general education; this fall first- and second-year NSM students and first-semester Biological Sciences transfer students are required to visit. Advising for chemistry students in their third year and above is not described on the pages read.
• Department help: the Department of Chemistry has faculty office hours and a HELP Hours page; its website also links the Center for Science and Math Success and pre-health professional information.
• Research and laboratory work: undergraduate research and a thesis requirement are not stated on the pages read.

5. Rounds, materials and costs

• U.S. first-year filing period: the page says to apply for fall 2027 between August 1 and December 15, 2026, and for spring 2027 between July 1 and December 1, 2026. The application fee waiver form is due August 30.
• Before applying: unofficial transcripts (you enter every completed, in-progress and planned course), test scores if any, hours per week spent on work, activities and leadership, a Social Security number if applicable, citizenship status (it does not affect admission), a method of payment (a credit card works) and annual income; EOP applicants also need their parents’ employment background and two recommendation letters.
• After admission: decisions are conditional until final transcripts are certified; you must complete the Intent to Enroll (ITE) in My Sac State by the deadline or the application is cancelled; complete ALEKS PPL if required, attend the mandatory New Student Orientation (registration and advising take place there) and submit immunization requirements. A denial can be appealed within 15 days.
• Application fee amount, essays, recommendations: the pages read give no domestic application fee amount and no essay or recommendation requirement specific to chemistry; check Cal State Apply and Admissions.

6. U.S. domestic applicants

• Testing: not used to determine admission eligibility.
• Cost (tuition page, 2026–2027; check the 2027–2028 figures): per semester for undergraduates, 6 units or fewer: tuition $1,981 plus mandatory campus fees $1,409, total $3,390; 6.1 units or more: tuition $3,419 plus $1,409, total $4,828. Non-residents pay an extra $471 per unit. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is $5,129 tuition plus $1,409, total $6,538 per semester (0–21 units). Some courses carry extra course fees; whether chemistry labs do is not stated on the pages read.
• College and department funding: the NSM scholarships page says the college offers tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships every year, some open to any student in the college and most for particular programs, and points to the university’s scholarship system. The department home page lists the Schrödinger Equation Scholarship (created by Emeritus Professor Dan Decious and alumna Mary Decious for students with intellectual curiosity about the natural world whose goals may reach beyond a bachelor’s degree toward research, teaching or the health professions), the Russell-Forkey Research Award and the Hill Inorganic Research Award. These mainly serve continuing students; scholarships specific to entering chemistry freshmen are not stated on the pages read.

7. International applicants

• Who it applies to: international undergraduate applicants (first-time freshmen and transfers) for fall and spring intakes.
• Filing periods and document deadlines: fall 2027 intake, apply October 1 to May 15, documents due May 30, 2027; spring 2027 intake, apply July 1 to October 4, documents due October 18, 2026. The page says it can take up to six weeks to issue I-20 documents.
• Application fee: $70, non-refundable, paid by credit/debit card or PayPal before submitting; checks and money orders are not accepted.
• Freshman requirements: a high school transcript with at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or an average of 80%; the high school diploma; an English proficiency test (only one is required; MyBest TOEFL is not accepted); a copy of the passport photo page; a financial affidavit; and a financial statement (the page points to the “Tuition Information” section of the international home page for the minimum amount, which is not stated on the pages read).
• English tests: TOEFL iBT 3.5 for tests after January 21, 2026 and 64 before (ETS code 004671); IELTS 6.0; Duolingo 95; Sacramento State ELI Level 7; PTE Academic 50; GTEC 1125; ELS Language Center Level 112; FLS Language School Level 16; TLC Level 9; UCLA Extension Level 6. The page links a PDF of countries where TOEFL or IELTS is not required, which is not among the pages read here.
• Credential evaluation: the page says the university evaluates all foreign credentials in house and does not require or recommend an agency evaluation; if you submit one it accepts only WES, ACEI and ECE.
• How to submit: upload clearly scanned PDFs; it recommends submitting unofficial copies of transcripts and test scores first, with official documents requested at enrolment. Financial documents are not required for application review but are encouraged to avoid I-20 delays.
• Deferral and appeals: deferrals are not automatic and must be requested by email; appeals for a missed application deadline are accepted through June 15 for fall intake and November 1 for spring intake.
• International scholarships and aid: not stated on the pages read.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: none of the pages read mention China or say whether gaokao results are considered or how; contact International Admissions (intlinfo@csus.edu).
• Transcripts and credential evaluation: a high school transcript (3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 80%) and diploma are required, and the university evaluates foreign credentials itself. Huikao records are not mentioned.
• English: whether China is on the list of countries where TOEFL or IELTS is not required is not stated on the pages read; check that list.
• Math and chemistry: how Chinese courses map to the CHEM 1A math and chemistry prerequisites is not stated.

9. Transfer students

• Filing periods: fall 2027, August 1 to December 15, 2026; spring 2027, July 1 to December 1, 2026.
• Upper-division transfer (60 or more units): at least 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter units); good standing at the last college attended; a GPA of at least 2.0 if you are within the local admission area, while outside it the GPA minimum is set by the academic characteristics of the applicant pool; the four Golden 4 courses each with a C- or better (1A English composition, 1B critical thinking, 1C oral communication and Area 2 mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning); and at least 30 units of CSU GE Breadth or IGETC.
• Lower-division transfer (fewer than 60 units): California-resident applicants need a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, a C- or better in English composition and in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning, good standing, and one of three eligibility routes: meeting the current freshman admission requirements; having been eligible as a freshman at high school graduation with continuous college attendance; or having had a qualifiable index at graduation, made up missing college-preparatory subjects with C- or better and attended continuously.
• Local area: transferring with most units from American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake, Lake Tahoe, Sacramento City, Sierra, San Joaquin Delta, Solano, Woodland or Yuba community colleges puts you in the local admission area.
• Chemistry requirements for transfers: chemistry-specific preparation courses or a major GPA are not stated on the pages read.
• ADT: applicants with an Associate Degree for Transfer applying to the corresponding major must self-report the ADT and have it confirmed as in progress by March 15 (fall) or October 31 (spring).
• International transfer students: the international undergraduate page asks for a post-secondary GPA of at least 2.4; applicants with fewer than 60 semester units also submit a high school transcript (3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 80%); the English requirement is a B or better in a transferable CSU 1A English course or a test such as TOEFL 64; applicants with 60 or more transferable units need not submit a high school transcript and diploma; applicants with more than 90 semester units may not be eligible and should email for a pre-evaluation.

10. Outcomes

• No placement rate or salary data for chemistry appears on the pages read. The department and college pages link the Career Center and the college’s alumni and careers pages on the website.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply through Cal State Apply from August 1 to December 15, 2026 (the page says fall 2027); California applicants need an index of 2,500 (2.50 GPA), out-of-state applicants 3,000 (3.0 GPA)
• Before CHEM 1A, meet the math condition (ALEKS PPL 61, MATH 12 with C-, AP Calculus 3, etc.) and the chemistry condition (CHEM 4 with C, or high school chemistry plus 85% on CARA, or AP Chemistry 2)

International applicants (including China):

• 3.0 GPA (or 80%); TOEFL iBT 3.5 on the new scale, IELTS 6.0 or another accepted test; apply by May 15 and submit documents by May 30 for fall 2027; prepare the financial affidavit and statement
• Ask International Admissions how the gaokao and Chinese courses are treated

Transfer students:

• With 60 or more units: good standing, the four Golden 4 courses at C- or better, 30 units of GE, and a 2.0 GPA if you are in the local area

Sources: Sacramento State website, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Department of Chemistry; General Chemistry Requirements; Department scholarship; NSM Advising Center; NSM scholarships; First-year admission process; Transfer admission process; Impaction; International undergraduate applicants; Tuition, fees and living costs. The degree course lists are in the university catalog and are not published on the pages read here. Check the application periods, scholarship deadlines and fees that apply to fall 2027 entry.