College of Arts & Sciences Catalog
Chemistry
The study of chemistry is concerned with the composition, structure, properties, and transformations of matter. It attempts to gain understanding of the processes of our physical world. In many ways, chemistry is the central science, having foundation in mathematics and physics and, in turn, underlying the life sciences. It is theoretical and yet practical; it emphasizes analytical skills and yet depends on creativity and problem solving.
The chemistry program prepares students for graduate study and professional careers in education, academic research, industry, and engineering. A major in the chemistry program is also an excellent choice for students in the health sciences and preprofessional programs, including medicine, dentistry, law, and pharmacy.
Courses
CHE103D, 104 • Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry I and II (fall, spring) 4 credits/semester
The principles and concepts of general, organic, and biochemistry with an emphasis on applications to the life sciences. A two-course sequence. Includes 3 lab hrs.
CHE105D • Modern Alchemy: Chemistry for Non-Scientists (interim, spring) 4 credits
The chemical world of foods, food additives, agriculture, household chemicals, plastics, medicines, drugs, environmental concerns, and energy production. An overview of chemical concepts, but emphasis is on applications of chemistry and their implications for society. Includes 3 lab hrs.
CHE111D • General Chemistry I (fall) 4 credits
Chemical properties and principles, structure and reactivity, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, atomic theory, states of matter, and behavior of solutions. Laboratory includes application of these principles in exploring chemical properties and reactivity, and computer data collection and modeling. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisites: Two years of high school math; high school chemistry or consent of instructor.
CHE200 • Laboratory Safety and Chemical Hygiene (fall, spring) 1 credit
High standards of safety and chemical hygiene make the science laboratory a safe, comfortable, interesting place to work. This course reviews the standards and federal/state guidelines pertaining to safety and hygiene in the laboratory. Prerequisites: One year of high school chemistry; one semester of college-level science.
CHE210D • Accelerated General Chemistry (fall) 4 credits
Chemical properties and principles, stoichiometry, structure, reactivity, atomic theory, states of matter, solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, acids and bases, electrochemistry, descriptive inorganic chemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Intended for science and engineering students who have a strong math background. Meets the same requirements of CHE111 and CHE212. Includes 3 lab hours. Prerequisites: MAT124M (may be taken concurrently).
CHE212 • General Chemistry II (spring) 4 credits
Study of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, solution equilibria, acids and bases, electrochemistry, descriptive inorganic chemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisite: CHE111D.
CHE221 • Organic Chemistry I (fall) 4 credits
Structure, classification, and function of organic compounds; bonding theory, sterochemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, energy relations, and spectroscopy. Laboratory includes introduction to techniques of measurement, analysis, separation, synthesis, and purification of organic compounds. Includes 4 lab hrs. Prerequisite: CHE212.
CHE222 • Organic Chemistry II (spring) 4 credits
Mechanism and classification of organic reactions, particularly carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions involving carbonyl compounds. Mechanistic organic chemistry applied to polymers and biochemical pathways. Laboratory includes synthesis, separation, purification, and identification of organic compounds. Includes 4 lab hrs. Prerequisite: CHE221.
CHE325 • Advanced Organic Chemistry (spring, even # yrs) 4 credits
Bonding, kinetics, mechanisms of reactions, stereochemistry, and structure determination of organic compounds. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisites: CHE222; CHE341.
CHE331 • Analytical Chemistry I (fall) 4 credits
Principles and practice of modern quantitative analysis. Ionic equilibria, data analysis, sample preparation, spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemical techniques, in addition to classical and modern methods of analysis. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisite: CHE212.
CHE332 • Analytical Chemistry II (spring) 4 credits
Methods of instrumental analysis. Study of chemical and physical principles and practical application of spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and electroanalytical techniques, as well as fundamental electronic circuitry and computer data acquisition and control. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisite: CHE331.
CHE341 • Physical Chemistry I (fall) 4 credits
Definitions and laws of thermodynamics and their application to predictions of energy release and reaction spontaneity. Chemical kinetics of reaction rates and reaction mechanisms. Laboratory work including hands-on experience with physiochemical systems and computational modeling. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisites: CHE111D; CHE212; PHY290D; PHY295.
CHE342 • Physical Chemistry II (spring) 4 credits
The Schrödinger equation and the laws of quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanical solutions of model systems and their application to chemical spectroscopy. Statistical mechanics as it relates spectroscopy and potential energy surfaces to thermodynamics and chemical kinetics. Laboratory work including hands-on experience with physiochemical systems and computational modeling. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisite: CHE341.
CHE361 • Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (spring) 4 credits
Chemistry of elements and their compounds, including symmetry, bonding theories, solid-state chemistry, coordination compounds, organometallics, and bioinorganic compounds. Laboratory includes synthesis and characterization of inorganic compounds. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisites: One year of organic chemistry or junior standing; CHE341.
CHE386 • Biochemistry I (fall) 4 credits
Physical and chemical properties of living systems with an emphasis on macromolecular interaction, structure, and function. Structure, classification, purification, and function of nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, including membrane transport and enzymology. Laboratory techniques include spectroscopy, chromatography, centrifugation, electrophoresis, and enzyme kinetics. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisites: CHE222; CHE341; BIO112D. BIO341 recommended. (Carries cross-credit in biology.)
CHE387 • Biochemistry II (spring) 4 credits
Metabolic pathways, bioenergetics, metabolic regulation, and metabolism of macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleotides). Macromolecular synthesis of RNA, DNA, and proteins, including an introduction to biotechnology. Laboratory includes procedures and experiments for the isolation and characterization of enzymes, RNA and DNA, molecular cloning, PCR, and gene expression. Includes 3 lab hrs. Prerequisite: CHE386 or BIO381.
CHE391 • Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Chemical Information (fall) 1 credit
An introduction to the structure of a scientific paper, the organization of the general chemical literature, and the process of doing a literature search. Prerequisites: Junior standing; major in chemistry or biochemistry/molecular biology.
CHE392 • Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Research (spring) 1 credit
An introduction to the nature, ethics, and organization of chemical research projects. Students complete a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and give an oral presentation of their data. Students also select and develop a research proposal for their senior research project. Prerequisite: CHE391.
CHE393 • Research (fall, interim, spring) 1-4 credits
Utilization of the techniques and understanding of chemical principles on a term project. Use of original literature to formulate and conduct an original laboratory or computational research project under the supervision of a chemistry faculty member. May only be taken for credit once. Prerequisite: Consent of department.
CHE400 • Research (fall, interim, spring) 1-4 credits
Utilization of the techniques and understanding of chemical principles on a term project. Use of original literature to formulate an independent project that is carried out in the laboratory under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisite: Consent of department.
CHE493 • Chemistry Seminar: Research (fall) 1 credit
Students develop and work on their senior research project. Seminar includes discussions of chemical careers, graduate and medical school application, and GRE preparation. Students may take CHE400 for additional research credit. Prerequisite: CHE392.
CHE494 • Chemistry Seminar: Research Presentation (spring) 1 credit
Students prepare and deliver formal presentations of their research results. Seminar meets weekly for discussion of current topics. Prerequisite: CHE493.
Science Education Course (see Department of Education)
EDU420 • Methods in Teaching 5–12 Science
Programs
In this section, semester credit hours will be shown after the course number and description.
Major in Chemistry (B.A.)
|
Choose from: |
4-8 | |
|
CHE111D*/ CHE212 |
General Chemistry I, II | |
| CHE210D | Accelerated General Chemistry | |
| CHE221 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE222 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHE331 | Analytical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE341 | Physical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE391 | Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Chemical Information | 1 |
| CHE392 | Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Research | 1 |
| CHE493 | Chemistry Seminar: Research | 1 |
| CHE494 | Chemistry Seminar: Research Presentation | 1 |
| Electives | from 300- or 400-level chemistry courses | 12 |
| MAT124M* | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MAT125 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY290D* | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHY295 | General Physics II | 4 |
|
Total |
52-56 | |
| General Education | 51-52 | |
| Electives | 14-19 | |
| TOTAL | 122 |
* A student may also choose to use this course to meet a General Educatio requirement.
Major in Chemistry (B.S.)
(American Chemical Society certified major)
|
Choose from: |
4-8 | |
|
CHE111D*/ CHE212 |
General Chemistry I, II | |
| CHE210D | Accelerated General Chemistry | |
| CHE221 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE222 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHE331 | Analytical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE332 | Analytical Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHE341 | Physical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE342 | Physical Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHE361 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
| CHE386 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| CHE391 | Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Chemical Information | 1 |
| CHE392 | Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Research | 1 |
| CHE493 | Chemistry Seminar: Research | 1 |
| CHE494 | Chemistry Seminar: Research Presentation | 1 |
| Electives | from 300- or 400-level chemistry courses | 6 |
| MAT124M* | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MAT125 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| Choose from: | 3 | |
| MAT222 | Differential Equations | |
| MAT223 | Multivariable Calculus | |
| PHY290D* | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHY295 | General Physics II | 4 |
|
Total |
65-69 | |
| General Education | 51-52 | |
| Electives | 0-2** | |
| TOTAL | 122 |
* A student may also choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.
** Because of possible double counting between General Education and the major, the total of 122 credits can include up to 6-7 credits of electives.
Major in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology (B.S.)
(See Multidisciplinary section.)
Major in Science Education 5-12: Chemistry Emphasis (B.A.)
| Choose from: | 4-8 | |
|
CHE111D*/ CHE212 |
General Chemistry I, II | |
| CHE210D | Accelerated General Chemistry | |
| CHE200 | Laboratory Safety and Chemical Hygiene | 1 |
| CHE221 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE222 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHE331 | Analytical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE341 | Physical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE391 | Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Chemical Information | 1 |
| CHE392 | Chemistry Seminar: Introduction to Research | 1 |
| CHE493 | Chemistry Seminar: Research | 1 |
| CHE494 | Chemistry Seminar: Research Presentation | 1 |
| Choose from: | 4 | |
| BIO101D* | Principles of Biology | |
| BIO112D* | Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology | |
| BIO113D* | Introduction to Organismic Biology | |
| BIO114D* | Introduction to Biodiversity, Ecology, and Adaptation | |
| GEL167D* | Geology | 4 |
| MAT124M* | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MAT125 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY110D* | Introduction to Astronomy | 4 |
| PHY290D* | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHY295 | General Physics II | 4 |
| EDU200 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDU201 | Introduction to Education Field Experience | 1 |
| EDU203 | School Health and Drugs | 2 |
| EDU220 | Introduction to Middle Level Education | 3 |
| EDU317GZ* | Understanding Diversity | 3 |
| EDU240 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU241 | Educational Psychology Field Experience | 1 |
| EDU320 | Pedagogy of the Young Adolescent Learner | 2 |
| EDU420 | Methods in Teaching 5–12 Science | 3 |
| EDU429 | Middle Level Education Practicum in Science | 1 |
| EDU490 | Student Teaching Block | 15 |
| Total | 90-94 | |
| General Education | 51-52 | |
| TOTAL | 141-146** |
* A student may also choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.
** Because of possible double counting between General Education and the major, the actual total can be reduced to 135-136 credits.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in each content area and education course in the major (BIO, CHE, GEL, PHY, MAT, EDU). Courses with grades of C- or lower must be repeated.
Minor in Chemistry
| Choose from: | 4-8 | |
|
CHE111D*/ CHE212 |
General Chemistry I, II | |
| CHE210D | Accelerated General Chemistry | |
| Electives | from 200- or 300-level chemistry courses | 16 |
| TOTAL | 20-24 |
* A student may also choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.
Pre-medicine and Other Health Care Professional Programs
(See Pre-professional section.)
Chemical Engineering
A bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering is available through a special dual degree program described in the Engineering section of this catalog.