Chemistry
Department Chair: Alicia Peterson
Faculty: Lisa Engstrom, Md Abul Fazal, Lisa Gentile Kate Graham, Brian Johnson, Elyse Krautkramer, Edward McIntee, Alicia Peterson, Annette Raigoza, Chris Schaller, Christen Strollo
A degree in chemistry, in addition to being an excellent preparation for industrial employment, graduate study or secondary teaching, also prepares students to apply for further study in the areas of medicine, forensics, environmental science, law, business administration, government service and agriculture science. To this end, the department offers a variety of introductory and advanced courses.
CHEM 125 is intended as an introductory chemistry course. It provides students with a comprehensive survey of chemical structure and ensuing chemical and physical properties that arise from structure. CHEM 125, together with the separate lab course, CHEM 201, fulfills the Common Curriculum Natural Science requirement and the Integrations Curriculum Natural World requirement. Courses at the 200-300 level are intended for the students seeking a major degree in chemistry or biochemistry, or a minor degree in chemistry; they also serve as supporting courses for students majoring in biology, natural science, or nutrition, and for pre-health profession students.
The Chemistry major consists of one introductory course (4 credits), four foundation courses (4 credits each), four separate lab courses (0-1 credits each), two in-depth advanced lab courses (1 credit each), and 12 credits of in-depth courses.
Assessment
Each year, the Chemistry Department assesses its overall program and its students in a number of ways. For example, several courses employ standardized final exams for which there are national norms. All chemistry majors are required to take a nationally-normed exam (CHEM XXX) in the spring of their senior year. In addition, senior majors are asked to complete an anonymous survey to probe the extent to which they believe the department meets its stated goals and objectives. Assessment data is critical for periodic re-accreditation by the American Chemical Society. All of this information is employed to improve our program and ensure that the educational opportunities we provide are the best possible.
Acceptance to Major Requirements
Course Requirements: CHEM 125, CHEM 201, CHEM 202, CHEM 250, CHEM 251, and CHEM 255
Other Requirements: Courses must be either completed or in progress
Major (48-63 credits)
The Chemistry Department offers a single major in Chemistry with options for different concentrations and ACS certification.
- Students can major in Chemistry without a specific concentration (any 12 credits in-depth courses required) or they can choose to take a concentration in Chemical Biology, Environmental Chemistry, or Industrial/Materials Chemistry (4 in-depth courses from specific list required).
- Students with or without a concentration will be certified by the ACS if they take an additional foundation course, CHEM 318, and MATH 120 (calculus 2), an additional course in CHEM 306 and complete two credits of CHEM 330 laboratory research.
- Concentrations will appear with the major on a student's transcript. The ACS certification will be noted below the major.
All majors must take the following chemistry courses:
- Introductory Course: CHEM 125;
- Foundation 4 Credit Courses: CHEM 250, CHEM 251, CHEM 255, CHEM 315 and CHEM 318
- Foundation 0 or 1 Credit Lab Courses: CHEM 201, CHEM 202, CHEM 203, and CHEM 205
- In-depth Lab Courses: CHEM 304, CHEM 306
- CHEM 349, CHEM 360 or CHEM 398, CHEM XXX.
In addition, all majors must take the following support courses:
- MATH 119
- PHYS 105 or PHYS 191; PHYS 106 or PHYS 200.
Majors must take the following 300 level 2 credit in-depth courses depending on their choice of concentration and ACS Certification.
No Concentration AND no ACS certification: Students must take 12 credits of CHEM 3XX, except CHEM 316, CHEM 330, CHEM 349, CHEM 360, CHEM 390. Note: students can elect to take CHEM 359 or CHEM 318, but not both.
Chemical Biology Concentration AND no ACS certification: Chemical Biology (CHEM 347); Three additional 3 credit in-depth classes taken from the following: CHEM 352 (Signal Transduction and Neural Chemistry), CHEM 353 (Xenobiotic Metabolism), CHEM 348A (Retrosynthesis), CHEM 358 (Biomacromolecules), CHEM 355 (Analysis of Biomolecules), CHEM 361 (Insight into Mechanics), CHEM 363 (Structure Elucidation), CHEM 364 (Medicinal Chemistry), and specified topic courses approved for the concentration (321-326); BIOL 318: Molecular Genetics OR appropriate courses from other departments approved by the Chemistry Department may substitute for two credit in-depth course(s). BIOL 121 and BIOL 221 are highly recommended for this concentration.
Environmental Chemistry AND no ACS certification: Four 2-credit in-depth classes taken from the following: Environmental Chemistry A or B, CHEM 344A (Environmental Chemistry A: Atmosphere), CHEM 344B (Environmental Chemistry B: Soil and Water); Three additional 2 credit in-depth classes taken from the following: CHEM 343 (Climate and Habitat Change), CHEM 354 (Sustainable Energy), CHEM 357 (Separation Science), CHEM 361 (Insight into Mechanisms), CHEM 363 (Structure Elucidation), CHEM 348B (Molecular Design Inorganic) and specified topic courses approved for the concentration (CHEM 321-326); Appropriate courses from other departments approved by the Chemistry Department may substitute for CHEM 3XX course(s).
Materials/Industrial Chemistry AND no ACS certification: Four 2-credit in-depth classes taken from the following: CHEM 345 (Industrial and Engineering Processes), CHEM 346 (Nanomaterials), CHEM 343 (Climate and Habitat Change), CHEM 348B (Molecular Design Inorganic), CHEM 354 (Sustainable Energy), CHEM 355 (Analysis of Biomaterials), CHEM 357 (Separation Science), CHEM 361 (Insight into Mechanisms), CHEM 362 (Polymers) and specified topic courses approved for the concentration (CHEM 321-326). Appropriate courses from other departments approved by the Chemistry Department may substitute for CHEM 3XX course(s).
ACS Certification:
Students taking any of the options above (no concentration or any of the concentrations) can be certified by the ACS if they take a total of six, 2 credit in-depth courses (except CHEM 359, CHEM 330, CHEM 360, CHEM 318, Math 120, an additional course in CHEM 306 and 2 credits of CHEM 330 (laboratory research).
Total Number of Credits for the Chemistry Major (including support courses):
Chemistry Major (No Concentration): 48-53
Chemical Biology, Environmental Chemistry, or Materials/Industrial Chemistry Concentrations: 48-53 credits
Chemistry Major with ACS Certification: 59-63
Minor (24-27 credits)
The minor is recommended for those students whose major interests are in other academic areas, which can be strengthened by a concentration in chemistry.
Required Courses:
CHEM 125, three of the foundation labs (CHEM 201, CHEM 202, CHEM 203 and CHEM 205), and 20 credits from chemistry courses numbered CHEM 250 or higher, except CHEM 316, CHEM 330, CHEM 349, CHEM 360, CHEM 390. Note: students can elect to take CHEM 359 or CHEM 318, but not both.