Chemistry

The student who majors in chemistry will be prepared to apply to graduate school, medical, dental or other professional schools. With a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, a graduate may be employed in medical or industrial research laboratories, in research institutes, hospital laboratories, quality control organizations or various federal agencies. With appropriate specialized courses, the student may teach in the science area.

Students admitted to the university who meet the following prerequisites will be directly admitted as a chemistry major:

  • Completion of at least one year of high school chemistry and at least two years of college preparatory mathematics with grades of C (2.0) or better.
  • Exemption or successful completion of both the mathematics (testing into minimum of MTH 112) and English (testing into minimum of ENG 099) competency examinations.
  • Two of the three following criteria must be met:
    • High school GPA of at least B (3.0).
    • ACT composite of 22 or SAT of 1110.
    • High school rank in the upper one-third of the graduating class.

Students not meeting these prerequisites may be accepted into the Associate of General Studies Program for their first academic year to take remedial chemistry and mathematics courses. Successful completion of these courses with grades of at least C (2.0) will allow the student to be admitted into the chemistry program. Those students enrolling with a strong background in science or mathematics may elect to take the CLEP test to eliminate first-year courses.

A student will not be permitted to progress in the program without chemistry departmental approval if they do not maintain at least a C average in all courses.

Graduation requirements for students majoring and minoring in chemistry include successful completion of all chemistry course work with a GPA of 2.0 or C or better in all chemistry courses.

Majors in chemistry will be required to successfully complete a senior research project. Course work taken in support of the major (minor or supporting field) must be passed with grades of C or better.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

CHM 100L: Fundamentals of Chemistry Lab

Students will learn basic lab skills and techniques and inculcate a good laboratory work ethic pertinent to planning and efficient execution of experiments, handling chemicals, using lab equipment and adherence to safety guidelines. The lab will reinforce the concepts learned in CHM 100 Fundamentals of Chemistry lecture through a selection of relevant experiments. Lab meets 2 hours a week.

CHM 110: General Chemistry

A detailed, problem-oriented study of the fundamental principles that govern chemical processes and reactions. Topics include (but are not limited to): atomic structure, Periodic Table, chemical bonding, molecular structure and intermolecular attractions, nomenclature of inorganic compounds, stoichiometry, gases and properties of solutions. Lecture meets 4 hours per week.

CHM 111: General Chemistry I Laboratory

Students will learn basic lab skills and techniques and inculcate a good laboratory work ethic pertinent to planning and efficient execution of experiments, handling chemicals, using lab equipment and adherence to safety guidelines. A series of experiments designed to demonstrate some of the theoretical principles discussed in CHM 110, through the employment of a variety of laboratory techniques. Lab meets 3 hours per week.

CHM 112: General Chemistry II

A continuation of the problem-oriented study of chemical principles, theory and phenomena begun in CHM 110. Topics include (but are not limited to): electrochemistry, kinetics and equilibrium, spontaneity and entropy, orbital hybridization and molecular structure, solution chemistry, acids, bases and buffers. Lecture meets 4 hours per week.

CHM 220: Analytical Chemistry

This is a 4-credit hour one semester course, intended for chemistry or any other science majors. This course introduces the principles and applications of traditional and modern analytical methods used for chemical analysis. The topics covered in this course include statistical analysis of data; solution equilibria and acid base titrations; spectroscopic and chromatographic methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic and inorganic compounds. The objective of the course is to develop students' critical thinking and problem solving skills.

CHM 221: Analytical Chemistry Laboratory

In this course laboratory experiments are designed to complement the material covered in CHM 220 course. Students will learn trimetric, spectroscopic, and gravimetric methods. In addition emphasis also will be on learning proper methods of experimental measurements, record keeping, data organization interpretation and report writing. Lab meets 3 hours per week.

CHM 230: Organic Chemistry I

The course will introduce some of the basic concepts in organic chemistry - nomenclature, structures, properties, reactions of organic molecules and their relevance our day to day life. In addition students will analyze spectroscopic (FT-IR, NMR, UV-Vis and Mass-Spec) and other analytical data (Melting/Boiling points, Molecular Weight, Percent Elemental Composition) to determine the structure of unknown compound. Lecture meets 4 hours per week.

CHM 231: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I

An introduction to the techniques of separation, isolation and purification of organic compounds. Use of various techniques for identification of organic compounds will be introduced. Techniques applied through the preparation of various organic compounds. Lab meets 3 hours per week.

CHM 232: Organic Chemistry II

This course is the second semester of a comprehensive and somewhat rigorous survey of aliphatic and aromatic organic chemistry, with particular emphasis on reactions from both a synthetic as well as a mechanistic viewpoint. The topics include: Reactions of alkenes and alkynes, aromatic compounds, Alcohols and phenols, Ethers, Carboxylic acids and their derivatives. In addition, chemistry of important biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids will be discussed.

CHM 232R: Organic Chemistry Recitation

The course is a supplement to the CHM 232 lecture course. In this course students will review and reinforce the topics in second semester of organic chemistry, biochemistry with particular emphasis on the synthesis and properties of different functional group families.

CHM 233: Organic Chemistry Laboratory II

A continuation of the study of organic reactions, isolation and purification of organic compounds, and identification of those compounds through use of chemical and spectroscopic techniques. Lab meets 3 hours per week.

CHM 245: Earth Wisdom

The main objective of this course is to understand our planet and to explore how today's human societies can endure in the face of global change, ecosystem degradation and resource limitations. This course will introduce a variety of topics from different disciplines; examples are the roles of developing and developed nations in climate change, the roles of societal and cultural practices in modifying the environment, the impact of globalization in different cultures, and cultural sustainability. In addition, students will work in teams and investigate ways of achieving sustainability on local, regional and global scales. (Also listed as PHY 245.)

CHM 340: Biochemistry

The course explores the chemistry of key biological molecules such as proteins (and enzymes), nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates. Other topics include structure-function correlation, chemical reactivity, kinetics, and equilibrium, thermodynamics, membrane structure and function, and metabolic energy pathways. (Also listed as BIO 340.)

CHM 341: Biochemistry Laboratory

Application of basic methods and techniques in biochemistry. Chemical and enzymatic analyses are performed by colorimetric, electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques. Lab meets 3 hours per week. (Also listed as BIO 341.)

CHM 342: Special Topics in Biochemistry

Advanced topics in biochemistry are discussed including hormonal action, organ interrelationships in metabolism in mammals, and the major principles of molecular biology. Format: primarily a discussion/seminar course for advanced students.

CHM 361: Instrumental Analysis

Instrumental Analysis is a 3-credit hour one semester course, intended for chemistry or any other science majors. In this course students will learn the components of modern analytical instruments such HPLC, GC-MS, Atomic absorption, UV-visible and IR spectrophotometer and their application in qualitative and quantitative analysis. Using a combination of problem-based learning approaches, case studies and traditional lectures, the student will develop critical thinking skills in the areas of instrument selection, method development and data interpretation.

CHM 362: Instrumental Analysis Lab

In this course series of experiments are designed to complement the material covered in CHM 361. It is a hands-on course aimed at training students in the use and maintenance of modern scientific instruments as well as interpretation of the data acquired.

CHM 430: Sustainability in Action

Required capstone course for the Environmental Sustainability minor. In this course students will apply the knowledge they have gained through the studies of sustainability to develop realistic strategies to address environmentally related problems. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, the student will designs an independent project related to sustainability. A capstone project could be a traditional research paper or others, it may be an analysis (or creation) or policy recommendation related to sustainability plan. Final project paper and/or a seminar presentation of the student's project at Scholar's Day are required in order to complete a capstone project.

CHM 450: Physical Chemistry

This course examines the traditional topics in Physical Chemistry such as chemistry of gases, thermodynamics, phase equilibria kinetics, quantum mechanics, molecular structures and spectroscopy.

CHM 451: Physical Chemistry Laboratory

Laboratory experiments are selected to demonstrate physical chemistry principles by employing a variety of laboratory techniques. Lab meets 3 hours per week.

CHM 473: Research in Chemistry

Under the guidance of a faculty member, the student will complete a research project. The results of the research must be written in scientific style as paper and must be approved by the faculty mentor. A seminar presentation of the student's research work is required for graduation.

CHM 491: Special Project

An independent project is selected under the direction of a faculty member. A research paper must be written in suitable scientific style reporting the results of the project. Offered each semester.

CHM 495: Chemistry Seminar

The objective of the course is to make student aware of advances in chemical science research. The student will search the literature and prepare scientific review presentation on a special topic. In this course students will be evaluated on scientific literacy, understanding of scientific theory and presentation skills. Required of seniors whose field of concentration is chemistry.