Simply, the Honors sequence strives to spend more time explaining the ‘why’ of chemistry and does so by explaining the underlying physical nature of chemistry.  Instead of just giving you an equation (like PV = nRT) we show you HOW we arrived at it through theoretical considerations.  This will provide you with a much broader picture of chemical science, with an emphasis on the physics and mathematics behind it.  We use a different textbook (Oxtoby’s Principles of Modern Chemistry) and cover topics in a slightly different order.  In the third quarter (Chemistry 6CH) you will also study Forensics, Materials, and Instrumentation, which is not covered at all in the ‘regular’ sequence.

You should have had a good chemistry course in high school; You must be willing to work hard, as many of the concepts will be taught in much deeper detail than you have ever seen before.  if you took honors or AP chem in high school you are certainly qualified, and certainly should be considering this class, but you need NOT to have taken either to be qualified.  If you know how to balance an equation, do stoichiometry problems, (like limiting reagent problems), know how to convert from grams to moles and vice versa, you are in good shape.  You should be in Math 20A (calculus) or higher (Math 10B or better is also OK), and you should have had some physics in high school.  Since we use the physics and the math to get at the underlying theory in chemistry, they are necessary.

A few of the advantages are: (a) Much smaller class (150-200 students vs. 300+ for the ‘regular’ course); (b) Possibility to get to know a professor better than in a large class; (c) Much deeper understanding of chemical understanding and how it is applied in the real world; (d) strong feeling of accomplishment!

It’s funny, but I hear this every year from students in the ‘regular’ sequence: “I didn’t think I was smart enough to take it”.  If you meet the qualifications I outlined above, you are probably just fine!  Being a hard worker (or a ‘smart worker’, to be explained in class) is much more important.

No!  If you take 6AH and decide you don’t want to take 6BH or 6CH, you can move back into the regular sequence if you want.  However, I think you will want to stay (at least that is my goal).  Almost all students who finish the honors sequence have told me it was the best decision they made, despite being scared at the start.  Many honors chemistry students have remained in touch with me for all four of their years at UCSD.

Simple answer is: No!  Because of the differences in the order of coverages in 6A/6B vs 6AH/6BH, movement from 6A to 6BH is HIGHLY discouraged.  There are special curcumstances however in which students start off in 6BH in the Winter; contact me with questions.

Check with the bookstore; I’m sure they have a good return policy; if you ordered it, you might call them and change to the Honors text.  Drop me a line if you have any questions!

(NEW FOR 2009) By the way, you can actually purchase the 6-Honors textbook one chapter at a time, at a savings overall.  I will send more info to those who enroll in the course.