How to Apply to Chemistry at Bowling Green State University: The Chemistry Department in the College of Arts and Sciences Offers an ACS-Approved B.S. in Chemistry with a Biochemistry Option, with Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is in Ohio. Chemistry is in the Chemistry Department of the College of Arts and Sciences and leads to the B.S. in Chemistry, with a chemistry minor, and within the major students can choose a biochemistry specialization. The department’s website says it also offers an M.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Photochemical Sciences. Here is what the official pages say for fall 2027 entry, for US domestic applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer applicants. Physics, biology, forensic science and other majors are not covered here.

1. Degrees, tracks and how you get into the major

• Degree and options: the department awards the B.S. (“Along with a B.S. in Chemistry, the Department also offers a M.S. degree…”). The chemistry page says majors can choose the biochemistry specialization, described as a specialization within the B.S. program for students interested in the chemistry of biomolecules and metabolic pathways. It has two tracks: Track 1 emphasizes chemistry courses such as physical chemistry and is recommended for students preparing for an M.S. in chemistry, the Ph.D. in photochemical sciences or another advanced degree; Track 2 emphasizes biology courses such as microbiology and general genetics and is recommended for pre-professional and pre-med students. The page also suggests a dual major in biochemistry and computer science for bioinformatics. Common minors for chemistry majors are biology, physics and general science.
• Accreditation: the department’s undergraduate page says it offers “ACS-approved Bachelor of Science programs in both chemistry and biochemistry”; the chemistry page says graduates are eligible for American Chemical Society (ACS) certification with appropriate selection of electives, and the biochemistry page says majors can satisfy all ACS certification requirements with the correct electives and several upper-level chemistry courses. The wording differs slightly, so ask the department for the exact conditions.
• How admission to the major works: the pages read do not say that chemistry needs a separate application or has a quota, and chemistry is not on the admissions office’s list of majors with secondary review. When and how to declare the major is not published on the pages read; ask the department’s undergraduate advisors (two are listed on the department site).
• Course structure: the chemistry page says the courses cover analytical, organic, inorganic, physical and biochemistry, and lists sample required courses: Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Quantitative Chemical Analysis, Biochemistry, Spectroscopy and an Integrated Analytical and Physical Lab. It stresses hands-on work, with on-campus research internships with faculty and graduate students that often lead to publications and conference presentations. The detailed required courses and credit hours are in the university catalog, which was not read; this is not published on the pages read, so check the undergraduate catalog on the BGSU site.
• Thesis and internship year: the pages read do not require a thesis for the chemistry major and describe no internship year; students can earn research credit through the independent study course CHEM 4130.
• Where graduates go (chemistry page): the page lists employers that have hired alumni, including First Solar, NAMSA, Sherwin-Williams, Procter & Gamble, Wacker Chemical Corporation, Garland Company, Charles River Laboratories, Master Fluid Solutions and the Bureau of Land Management; career paths including research and development, agricultural research, patent work, quality assurance and control, disease prevention, industrial chemistry, nanotechnology and technical sales; and further study at medical, dental or veterinary school or an M.S. or Ph.D. at BGSU. The page also cites Bureau of Labor Statistics growth and wage comparisons without a year, which are not repeated here; see the official site.

2. Prerequisites, AP/IB credit and first-year courses

• High school: the chemistry page says prospective students “should have at least one year of high school chemistry and a strong background in mathematics”, and the biochemistry page says the same. Specific high school physics or calculus requirements are not published on the pages read.
• First-year courses: the pages read do not list first-year course selections; the department’s “Degrees and Programs” page only asks you to contact an advisor, and the course lists are in the catalog, which was not read; this is not published on the pages read.
• AP/IB credit: the admissions freshman page says BGSU awards credit based on the score earned on the final AP examination and refers to the Undergraduate Catalog for details. How AP or IB Chemistry maps to specific chemistry courses is not stated on the pages read; check the catalog or Registration and Records.
• Honors: the chemistry department pages do not describe a departmental honors program; the Honors College is a selective university-wide program applied for after admission (see section 3).
• Undergraduate research (department’s research page): there are three routes. The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship: the page says the department plans to award up to four 10-week fellowships with a $5,000 stipend for the full 10 weeks, open to chemistry majors returning in the fall, with preference for those who have completed the full-year organic chemistry sequence; applicants identify a faculty mentor and submit a project narrative. The page text refers to Summer 2025 and a March 14 deadline, while the department homepage news says applications are due March 14, 2026, so check the current year. The Center for Undergraduate Research (CURS) offers funding for supplies in fall and spring and up to a $2,500 stipend for a 10-week paid summer fellowship. CHEM 4130 independent study gives course credit; you obtain a form from the department office and faculty signatures before the usual add deadline each semester.
• Competitions: the pages read do not say how chemistry olympiad or similar results are viewed in admission; this is not published there.

3. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• First-year timing (admissions freshman instructions page; it prints no year, so check it applies to fall 2027 entry): high school students are encouraged to apply from July 1 between junior and senior year; those who want to start in the fall are encouraged to apply and have all credentials in by March 1; the main-campus deadline is December 1 for spring and May 15 for summer, and “earlier closings may occur”; all credentials must arrive 14 days before the spring semester or summer session. Applications are made through BGSU’s online application.
• Application fee: the freshman page says $45 (nonrefundable); for international applicants $75 (nonrefundable), with no fee waivers according to the international admissions page. The “Apply Now” page also says “No application fee through Oct. 31” for domestic students, without a year, so check.
• Transcripts and test scores: an official high school transcript is required (with at least the sixth-semester GPA on a 4.0 scale, courses in progress and class rank), and a final transcript after admission. The freshman page says ACT or SAT results are required for all freshmen except those out of high school three or more years (college codes ACT 3240 and SAT 1069; the ACT writing test is recommended, not required). The “Test Optional” page says applications can be reviewed without test scores, gives a minimum suggested requirement of an ACT 20 or SAT 1040 with a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA, and says no majors require an ACT/SAT. That page names only the 2023–24 and 2024–25 terms and a February 20, 2025 deadline, so which policy applies to fall 2027 entry is not published on the pages read; ask the admissions office.
• Essays and recommendations: the international admissions page says the BGSU application requires no essays or letters of recommendation; the freshman page does not mention them, which is not published there.
• Majors with secondary review: the freshman page lists majors needing a further review after admission (aviation flight operations, BFA, music, computer science and software engineering, forensic science, musical theatre, the business college and nursing direct admission, among others); the majors in this article are not on that list.
• Honors College: entry is selective and applied for separately after admission; full-tuition honors scholarships require an ACT or SAT score on file.

4. US domestic applicants

• Admission: see section 3; the Test Optional page gives a minimum suggested ACT 20 or SAT 1040 with a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA and the ranges of applicants who submitted scores without superscoring: ACT 20–25 and SAT 1020–1190.
• Tuition: the “Estimate Tuition and Costs” page only shows figures after you choose a student type (new/transfer, current undergraduate, graduate or international), so the in-state and out-of-state tuition amounts are not published on the pages read; use that page. BGSU has the Falcon Tuition Guarantee, which locks in tuition and fees, housing, meal plan and out-of-state costs for 12 consecutive semesters (a maximum of four academic years) for undergraduates.
• Freshman academic scholarships (Test Optional page): awards of $1,000 to $9,500; regular applicants are considered from a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA with an ACT 20 or SAT 1040, and test-optional applicants from a 3.0 GPA; a few awards, such as the Alumni Laureate Scholarship and the Presidential Scholars Award, require test scores. The freshman scholarship deadline on that page is February 20, 2025, so check the current date.

5. International applicants (including those from China)

• Admission requirements (international undergraduate requirements page): a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale; and English proficiency shown by one of the following (minimum scores): TOEFL iBT, 71 for 2025 and before (the TOEFL MyBest score is not accepted) and, as printed, “2026 and beyond: TOEFL IBT: 4” with no scale stated; IELTS 6.0; PTE 48; Duolingo 100; completion of ELS Intensive English for Academic Purposes Level 112; or attendance at a high school or higher education institution using English as the primary language of instruction for at least one academic year. The freshman page also lists IELTS, TOEFL, the Michigan English Test and Pearson Test of English and refers to the Undergraduate Catalog for score requirements, which was not read.
• Documents: official transcripts from secondary school and any post-secondary school attended and English proficiency documents; SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission and are needed only for merit scholarships that use them (SAT code 1069, ACT code 3240). All documents must be official and in English: the original, a notarized or attested copy, or an official English translation with the official seal or stamp of the notary or translator on each document; photocopies and documents marked “Issued to Student” are not accepted, and documents are not returned.
• Deadlines: the international how-to-apply page gives June 18, 2027 (Friday) as the deadline for the application and all supporting documents for fall 2027 admission, with the I-20 issuing deadline of July 2, 2027; for spring 2027 the dates are November 6, 2026 and November 20, 2026; applicants who miss them may apply for a later term. The admissions freshman page gives different international dates: all credentials by July 5 for fall and November 1 for spring, I-20 issuing deadlines of July 12 for fall and November 4 for spring, and the $75 fee with the application by October 21 for spring and July 5 for fall. The two pages differ, so confirm with international admissions (issrecruit@bgsu.edu).
• Credential evaluation: the international undergraduate pages describe no required third-party credential evaluation; this is not published there.
• Cost estimate (international tuition page, entering 2026-27, 12 credits): tuition and fees $23,500, room and meals $12,500, insurance and books $3,500, total $39,500. The page says fees are subject to change and that a per-semester International Student Services Fee and a one-time International Student Orientation Fee also apply (amounts are with the Bursar). These are 2026-27 figures, so check them for fall 2027 entry.
• Funds and visa: admitted international students must show evidence of sufficient financial means for their course of study; the I-20 issuing deadlines are above.
• International scholarships (international tuition and scholarships page; no separate application, and a complete admission application is enough to be considered): the BG Success Scholarship is $4,000 per year for all international freshman and transfer students, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, renewable for four years. The Freshman Academic Scholarship is $1,000 to $8,000 per year, based on cumulative GPA and TOEFL/IELTS or SAT/ACT scores; the page’s estimated tiers are: GPA 3.0–3.19 with SAT 1050/ACT 21 or TOEFL 71–80 / IELTS 6.0 / PTE 48 / Duolingo 100 for $1,000; GPA 3.20–3.49 with SAT 1160/ACT 25 or TOEFL 81–90 / IELTS 6.5 / PTE 56 / Duolingo 110 for $3,000; GPA 3.5–3.69 with SAT 1260/ACT 28 or TOEFL 91–100 / IELTS 7.0 / PTE 65 / Duolingo 120 for $5,000; and GPA 3.7–4.0 with SAT 1,380/ACT 31 or TOEFL 101–120 / IELTS 7.5 / PTE 70 / Duolingo 130 for $8,000. The application dates on that page are June 20, 2026 for fall 2026 and November 7, 2026 for spring 2027, so check the dates for fall 2027.

6. Applicants from China

• Whether the Gaokao is used: the BGSU international undergraduate pages and admissions pages do not mention the Gaokao; this is not published there, so ask international admissions (issrecruit@bgsu.edu, 419-372-2247).
• Huikao records and Chinese transcripts: the pages ask only for official secondary school transcripts, in English or with an official translation, and have no China-specific guidance; this is not published there.
• English requirements, costs, scholarships and deadlines are in the previous section.

7. Transfer applicants

• Who counts as a transfer applicant (admissions transfer page): anyone who has attempted 12 or more college-level semester hours after high school graduation or obtaining a GED. A student who has just completed a first college semester must submit a final high school transcript and meet a 2.50 GPA requirement.
• Admission requirements (transfer admission requirements page): they vary with the cumulative number of college-level hours, which you enter on the page to see them, so the exact figures are not published on the page as read; all college-level coursework after high school graduation counts toward the admission GPA, and if you have fewer than 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) your high school GPA is also considered. The university checks every institution you attended through a National Clearinghouse report and requires official transcripts from all of them.
• Materials (transfer how-to-apply page): the online application; official transcripts from each college attended (electronic submission is preferred and transcripts from students are not accepted); an official high school transcript or GED if you have completed fewer than 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) since high school; AP score reports are not required for admission and are needed only to apply AP credit. The university says it tells you within 24 to 48 hours whether you are admitted. Someone who attended BGSU after high school is a readmit, not a transfer student.
• Credit transfer: the only official evaluation of transfer credit comes after you apply; transfer students are exempt from the residency requirement for first- and second-year students. Students at Owens Community College have a streamlined process called Falcon Express.
• International transfer students: the application process is the same; follow the transfer section of the immigration checklist to transfer your SEVIS record and obtain a new I-20 from BGSU.
• Transfer scholarships (transfer tuition and scholarships page; a FAFSA is needed, BGSU school code 003018; the page says 3 out of 4 BGSU transfer students receive some financial aid): the University Transfer Academic Scholarship of up to $2,000 a year (students who applied from high school and transfer within a year; GPA 3.0); the Transfer Opportunity Scholarship, $2,000 a year and renewable for one more year (cumulative college GPA 3.0, financial need, full time, deadlines July 1 for fall and December 15 for spring); the BG Success Scholarship, half off the nonresident fee, currently valued at $4,000 a year for non-Ohio residents with a cumulative college GPA of 2.0 or higher (apply by July 15 for fall or December 15 for spring; awarded automatically); and the Michigan Out-of-State Award, which lets residents of Monroe, Lenawee and Wayne counties in Michigan attend at the in-state rate.

8. Costs, scholarships and career information

• Costs are in sections 4 and 5.
• Department scholarships (department’s scholarships page): the Hurst scholarships, honoring the late Dr. Peggy Hurst’s teaching in the department, to encourage students to pursue careers in chemistry and related sciences, require a completed FAFSA and are decided on high school GPA, ACT or SAT score, extracurriculars and financial need; the Elliot Blinn Scholarship is open to chemistry majors who will have completed 60 semester hours by the end of the semester, with preference to rising juniors (graduating seniors are not eligible), requiring a strong academic record and strong performance in chemistry courses, with research and academic service as pluses; the Thomas H. Kinstle Scholarship is for chemistry or biochemistry majors based on academic performance and financial need (FAFSA). All are applied for online through the College of Arts and Sciences. The page also lists the AIMS program (Academic Investment in Mathematics and Science), which encourages minority students and women to graduate in STEM fields; see the AIMS website to apply. Award amounts are not published there.
• Career data: see section 1; the employment and wage figures the department cites carry no year and are not repeated here.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Gather the official high school transcript (at least through the sixth semester) and the $45 fee; submit ACT/SAT or apply test optional after confirming with admissions which policy applies to fall 2027; aim to complete your file by March 1
• Take at least one year of high school chemistry and a strong math background; ask the chemistry advisors about course planning and the electives needed for ACS certification

International applicants (including those from China):

• A cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or higher, proof of English (for example TOEFL, IELTS 6.0, PTE 48 or Duolingo 100), and official transcripts in English or with an official translation; for fall 2027 the international page gives June 18, 2027 for all documents (another page says July 5, so confirm); $75 fee
• BG Success and the Freshman Academic Scholarship are considered automatically; ask international admissions whether the Gaokao is used

Transfer applicants:

• Twelve or more attempted college semester hours make you a transfer applicant; send official transcripts from every institution, and check the admission requirements calculator for your credit level
• Official transfer credit evaluation comes only after you apply; note the transfer scholarship deadlines (July 1 and December 15)

Sources: Bowling Green State University website, Chemistry program page; Chemistry: biochemistry specialization; Chemistry Department; Chemistry: undergraduate program; Chemistry: undergraduate research; Chemistry: scholarships; Admissions: apply now; Admissions: freshman application instructions; Admissions: test optional; International admissions: undergraduate requirements; International admissions: how to apply; International admissions: tuition and scholarships; Admissions: transfer students; Transfer: before you transfer; Transfer: how to apply; Transfer: admission requirements; Transfer: tuition and scholarships; Estimate tuition and costs; Falcon Tuition Guarantee. Information is for fall 2027 entry (some pages print no year, as noted in the text). Check BGSU for the latest details.