WGU C373: General Chemistry I with Lab

What C373 General Chemistry I with Lab really is

WGU's C373 General Chemistry I with Lab is a foundational chemistry course built for already-licensed teachers who are adding a secondary chemistry license or endorsement. It sits inside WGU's School of Education, in the Master of Arts Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) track, so the goal is not just to memorize chemistry but to understand it well enough to eventually teach it. The course pairs conceptual chemistry with genuine hands-on lab work, and WGU provides a home science lab kit so you can run experiments from your own kitchen table.

Direct answer: To pass C373, master the core quantitative skills first (electron configuration, nomenclature, balancing equations, and stoichiometry) through daily practice problems, then complete the lab work carefully and document it exactly as the rubric asks. Consistent problem-solving practice plus clean, methodical lab reporting is what carries most students through both parts.

Because this course builds on the foundational science coursework earlier in the program, it moves at a real college-chemistry pace. If your last chemistry class was years ago, that is completely normal for this program, and it simply means you will want to budget a little extra time for the math-heavy sections. The payoff is significant: everything you build here feeds directly into General Chemistry II, the content-knowledge assessment, and eventually your own classroom.

Topics the course covers

Based on WGU's official program guidebook, C373 concentrates on the building blocks of general chemistry and the laboratory skills that support them. Expect to work through:

• Atomic structure and electron configuration — the electronic structure of atoms and how it explains chemical behavior.
• Periodic trends — using the periodic table to predict properties like atomic size, ionization energy, and reactivity.
• Nomenclature and chemical formulas — applying IUPAC rules to name compounds and write correct formulas.
• Chemical bonding and molecular structure — how bond types and electron orientation shape molecules.
• Chemical reactions and balancing equations — writing and balancing equations to describe what happens in a reaction.
• Stoichiometry — analyzing the quantities of substances consumed and produced in reactions.
• Thermochemistry — the heat released or absorbed during chemical changes.
• States of matter — how matter and energy transform between phases.
• Laboratory safety and investigation — conducting safe, testable experiments and applying proper lab procedures.

The course generally combines an objective assessment covering these chemistry concepts with performance-based laboratory work you complete and document using the home lab kit. Because assessment structures are updated over time, confirm the exact number of tasks and the current lab requirements inside your WGU course page before you begin.

How hard is it, and how long does it take?

General chemistry is quantitative, so the honest answer is that C373 is challenging for anyone who is rusty on algebra and unit conversions, and very manageable for anyone who practices problems steadily. Many students report that the conceptual reading feels approachable while the calculation-heavy sections (stoichiometry and thermochemistry especially) are where the time goes. The lab portion adds a second, separate workload, since experiments and their write-ups cannot be rushed.

A realistic plan for most working teachers is a few weeks of focused study rather than a single weekend push. If you can protect an hour of problem-solving on most days and set aside dedicated blocks for the labs, you will be in good shape. The learners who struggle are usually the ones who treat the labs as an afterthought and discover late that the write-ups take longer than expected.

A study plan that fits this course

Chemistry rewards spaced, active practice far more than passive rereading. Here is a course-specific approach that works:

• Start with the math skills. Before diving into content, refresh dimensional analysis, significant figures, and mole conversions. These show up in nearly every quantitative problem, so shoring them up early pays off everywhere.
• Use active recall on the vocabulary and rules. Nomenclature and periodic trends are memorization-friendly. Build your own flashcards for polyatomic ions, prefixes, and naming rules, and quiz yourself rather than rereading lists.
• Practice testing, not just reading. Work end-of-section problems and any WGU-provided practice items under timed conditions. When you miss one, redo it from scratch a day later — that spaced repetition locks in the method.
• Balance and stoichiometry every day. Balancing equations and mole-to-mole conversions are muscle memory. Ten minutes of daily reps beats one long cram session.
• Run the labs early and read the rubric first. Skim the entire lab and its grading criteria before you touch the kit. Record observations and measurements as you go, and photograph your setup so your write-up is accurate and complete on the first submission.
• Teach it back. Since your endgame is teaching chemistry, explain each concept aloud as if to a student. If you can teach electron configuration or a stoichiometry problem cleanly, you understand it.

Common mistakes students make in C373

• Underestimating the labs. The performance side is not busywork. Leaving experiments and write-ups until the end is the most common reason people stall.
• Skipping units. Dropping units mid-calculation causes errors that are hard to catch. Carry units through every step and let them check your work.
• Memorizing instead of understanding periodic trends. Rote memorization breaks down on applied questions. Learn why a trend exists so you can reason through unfamiliar comparisons.
• Rushing balancing and stoichiometry. Small arithmetic slips compound quickly. Slow down and verify each balanced equation before using it in a calculation.
• Not reading lab rubrics before starting. Submitting a report that misses a required element means a rework. Read the criteria first and check off each requirement.

C373 Readiness Checklist

Before you sit the assessment or submit your labs, make sure you can honestly say yes to each of these:

• Can you write the electron configuration for a given element and connect it to its position on the periodic table?
• Can you predict and explain periodic trends like atomic radius, ionization energy, and electronegativity?
• Can you name ionic and covalent compounds and write correct chemical formulas using IUPAC rules?
• Can you balance a chemical equation reliably and identify the reaction type?
• Can you solve a multi-step stoichiometry problem, including limiting-reactant situations, with correct units?
• Can you calculate heat absorbed or released in a reaction and interpret its sign?
• Can you explain phase changes in terms of energy and molecular behavior?
• Can you follow lab safety procedures and record accurate, complete observations from your kit experiments?
• Have you reviewed each lab rubric and confirmed your write-ups address every required element?

C373 FAQ

Is C373 an objective assessment, a performance assessment, or both?

C373 generally combines an objective assessment on the chemistry concepts with hands-on laboratory work you complete and document. Because WGU updates assessment structures periodically, verify the current format and task count on your official course page before you plan your study schedule.

How many competency units is C373 worth?

WGU's program guidebook lists General Chemistry I with Lab as a 3 competency unit course. CU counts can change between catalog editions, so confirm the current value in your program of study.

Do I need to buy lab equipment?

Generally no. WGU provides a home science lab kit with the equipment needed to complete the lab experiences, so you can do the hands-on work from home. Check your course materials for the current kit details and follow the included safety guidance carefully.

How much math should I brush up on first?

You mainly need solid arithmetic and algebra: unit conversions, ratios, significant figures, and rearranging simple equations. Refreshing dimensional analysis and mole calculations before you start will make the quantitative sections far smoother.

Who takes C373 at WGU?

It is designed for already-licensed teachers pursuing an additional license or endorsement in secondary chemistry, as part of the Master of Arts Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) program in the School of Education.

What should I study next after C373?

The natural next step is General Chemistry II with Lab, which builds directly on this material. If you want a broader foundation, guides like C832 Chemistry with Lab, D425 Introduction to Chemistry, and C908 Integrated Physical Sciences cover overlapping concepts. You can browse the full School of Education hub or the complete index of WGU course guides for more. For WGU's own program details, see the official WGU chemistry education page.