Open to all first-year chemistry and biochemistry majors in the fall quarter, the course is designed to help students build academic skills, navigate challenges, and thrive in their chemistry and biochemistry studies and beyond.
As students embark on their journey as a chemistry or biochemistry major, it is crucial that they not only master the fundamental concepts of the discipline but also cultivate effective study habits, learn how to navigate academic challenges, build a supportive community among their peers and connect with older students in the chemistry or biochemistry majors to form a support system for their social, academic, and professional growth.
The course, also known as “Chem 1”, was co-developed by Department Chair Professor Alex Spokoyny and Assistant Teaching Professor Dory DeWeese, who together taught its inaugural class in Fall 2025. DeWeese, who joined the UCLA faculty in 2024, is an expert in inclusive chemistry education. She will continue to lead the course with fellow assistant teaching professors Jazmin Aguilar-Romero and Patrick Wilson, both of whom joined the department in July 2025 and are also specialists in chemistry education. The next class will be taught in the 2026 fall quarter.
