CHEM 88A

Lower-Division Seminar: Serendipity in Science

Chemistry and Biochemistry · 2 units · Undergraduate lower division (0-99)

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Limited to 20 freshmen. Inquiry into unexpected discoveries in science that have had significant impact on society and analysis of circumstances that brought these about, beginning with discovery of helium in sun by Janssen in 1868 (using newly developed field of spectroscopy). Discovery of X rays by Röntgen in 1895 and of radioactivity by Becquerel in 1896. Other topics include discoveries important to medicine, such as penicillin by Fleming in 1928 and cis -platin by Rosenberg in 1969.

P/NP or letter grading.

When it runs

Not on the schedule for any of Fall 2025 through Spring 2027. UCLA publishes only that window, so this does not mean the course is gone — check the official listing.

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Requisites

UCLA lists no requisites for this course.

Requires

Everything that has to come before this course, not just the courses named in the requisite above.

Nothing — this is an entry point.

Unlocks

What this course is a requisite for, and what those courses lead to in turn.

No course in the catalog lists this as a requisite.