About the Guidelines
The ACS Committee on Professional Training (CPT) establishes guidelines for the approval of bachelor degree programs in chemistry. The requirements for program approval and student certification are described in the newly approved 2023 ACS Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs (PDF).
ACS recognizes the changing landscape of higher education as well as the diversity of institutions and students that embody the chemical enterprise. Thus, these guidelines provide approved programs with opportunities to develop chemistry degree tracks that are appropriate to the educational missions of their institutions.
The guidelines are organized into sections. Each section groups the guidelines into three categories: critical requirements for approval, normal expectations, and markers of excellence. These indicators are not meant to be prescriptive or an all-inclusive checklist but represent the values of the American Chemical Society and its vision for continued excellence in chemistry education.
- Critical Requirements: Departments/programs must meet these requirements to obtain or maintain ACS approval.
- Normal Expectations: Guidelines in this category reflect the expected values and activities of an ACS approved program.
- Markers of Excellence: The guidelines in this category reflect departmental and institutional practices characteristic of an exemplary chemistry program that supports innovation and inclusive education.
