The Chemistry Program:

     The Department of Chemistry offers a well balanced program for the education of its students. To prepare them for their professional careers, the Department is committed to providing quality teaching and research experiences emphasizing critical and independent thought. The curriculum provides strong and innovative instruction in the theory and practice of the chemical sciences. It is designed to introduce students to modern laboratory methods and technology using state-of-the-art scientific equipment. The faculty is committed to providing an environment that addresses the individual needs of each student and encourages them to develop their potential through life-long learning and to be responsible members of their profession and community.

Degrees Offerred:

The chemistry major includes a core of lecture and laboratory courses designed to establish a fundamental understanding of the major areas of the discipline. Although the B.S. in Chemistry is recommended, the department also offers a B.A. degree with a major in Chemistry as well as a minor in Chemistry for majors of other fields wishing to expand their scientific background.
         
Bachelor of Science (ACS Certified) The Bachelor of Science degree provides students with a sound education in Chemistry and prepares students for advanced study in Chemistry, for entrance into professional schools, as well as for specialized work in Chemistry. This program is certified by the American Chemical Society's (ACS) and is recommended for all students who plan to work as chemists in governmental or industrial laboratories, or who plan to do graduate work in the field of chemistry.

Bachelor of Arts (with Major in Chemistry) The Bachelor of Arts degree provides students with a sound liberal arts education and prepares students for advanced study in the various liberal arts fields and for entrance into professional schools, as well as for specialized work in Chemistry.
Minor in Chemistry
  • Click HERE to view the Course Program for the Chemistry Minor On-Line

Course Information:

Schedule of Course Offerings:
Click HERE to see a detailed list of the courses offerred and the semesters in which they are taught:

Course Descriptions:
The Department of Chemistry offers courses in a variety of topics owing to the diverse specialization of the faculty in the department.

CHEM 1030 - Chemistry and Your World
(3 hours: 3 hrs lecture; no lab) 
This course will introduce students to the many ways in which chemistry affects their lives. Topics covered include plastics, nutrition, drug design, and the many aspects of environmental chemistry. Decision-making activities related to real-world societal issues will help develop critical-thinking skills. 

CHEM 1040 - Chemistry and the Environment
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A course designed to introduce the fundamental aspects of chemistry and the environment. Relevant issues will be used to introduce chemistry in its political, economic, social, and international context. The laboratory will be a primary component of the course in that some of the course material will be first experienced in the laboratory. The laboratory will stress experimental design and data analysis as applied to environmental science. 

CHEM 1140 - Introduction to General and Organic Chemistry
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A course designed to introduce basic concepts of chemical structure and reactivity with a focus on organic chemistry. After covering the elementary concepts of the atom, elements, and compounds, the students will apply these concepts to understand the significance of structure in organic chemistry and relate these concepts to the reactivity of organic compounds. 

CHEM 1145 - Principles of Chemistry I
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
This course will introduce students to many of the basic concepts of chemistry, emphasizing chemical structure. Beginning at the atom, the course evolves to a consideration of chemical bonding and intermolecular forces, ending with phase changes; the chemical reactions involving changes in the states of matter. 

CHEM 1146 - Principles of Chemistry II
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
This course completes the introduction to chemistry, focusing on advanced topics of chemical reactivity, including kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium, and concludes with a detailed look at the applications of chemistry to a variety of issues and problems in society. 
Prerequisites: Principles of Chemistry I 

CHEM 2031 - Introduction to Research Methods in Chemistry
(3 hours: 2 hrs lecture; one 2-hr lab/wk) 
An introduction to the techniques and resources related to data reduction and management and an introduction to primary and secondary sources of chemical information. 
Prerequisites: Principles of Chemistry II and PreCalculus. 

CHEM 2242 - Analytical Chemistry
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
The study of modern quantitative determination methods, including volumetric and gravimetric analyses, equilibrium calculations, and acid/base chemistry, as well as the use of statistical methods in the evaluation of quantitative data. 
Prerequisite or Co-requisite: Introduction to Research Methods in Chemistry. 

CHEM 2542 - Nutritional Biochemistry
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A course designed to introduce the biochemical aspects of nutrition. Topics to be covered include the energetics of metabolism, the structure and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, and the integration of metabolic systems. The laboratory focuses on isolating, purifying, and quantifying the biomolecules in various foodstuffs. 
Prerequisite: Introduction to General and Organic Chemistry. 

CHEM 3010 - Scientific Glassblowing
(1 hour: one 3-hr lab) 
A course designed to develop the fundamental glassblowing skills required for the construction of glassware used in scientific investigations.

CHEM 3090 - Special Topics in Chemistry
(1-3 hours: 1 to 3 hrs lecture; no lab) 
A course designed to be an intensive study in a specialized field of chemistry. The course will provide an in-depth look at an area of special interest which is not a part of the standard course work in chemistry.

CHEM 3140 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A course designed to introduce students to a broad overview of modern inorganic chemistry. Included are considerations of molecular symmetry and group theory, bonding and molecular orbital theory, structures and reactivities of coordination compounds, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, and transition metal clusters. Laboratory experiences will include the measurement of several important features of coordination compounds, such as their electronic spectra and paramagnetism, as well as synthesis and characterization of organometallic compounds. 
Prerequisites: A Survey of Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry II. 

CHEM 3341 - Organic Chemistry I
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
This course is designed to introduce the fundamental concepts of structure and reactivity of organic compounds. Topics covered include the chemistry of alkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes, and alcohols as well as the concepts of reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and spectroscopy of organic compounds. 
Prerequisite: General Chemistry II. 

CHEM 3342 - Organic Chemistry II
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A continuation of Organic Chemistry I focusing on alkynes, aromatic compounds, aldehydes, ketones, amines, and carboxylic acids and their derivatives. This course will emphasize the synthetic and mechanistic aspects of these compounds and will continue the study of spectroscopy of organic compounds. 
Prerequisite: Organic Chemistry I. 

CHEM 3441 - Physical Chemistry I
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A survey of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics. The course will cover the kinetic theory of gases, rates of reaction, integrated rates, rate laws, and reaction mechanisms, followed by a development of the three laws of thermodynamics, chemical and phase equilibria, and solution thermodynamics. 
Prerequisites:General Chemistry II, Analytical Chemistry, Calculus II, and Physics II. 

CHEM 3442 - Physical Chemistry II
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 2-hr lab/wk) 
A survey of methods and strategies to calculate atomic and molecular properties relevant to chemical reactions and molecular structure. 
Prerequisite: Physical Chemistry I. 

CHEM 3610 - Junior Seminar
(1 hour: 1 hr lecture/wk; no lab) 
A course designed to introduce students to the skills necessary to be a competitive, chemical professional. Topics covered may include resume writing, choosing and applying to a graduate school, chemistry related careers, and preparing and delivering a research presentation. Outside speakers from industry and academia will be a regular part of this course. 
Prerequisite: Junior Standing. 

CHEM 4241 - Instrumental Analysis
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
The study of modern spectroscopy and chromatography methods. The spectroscopic methods to be covered may include mass spectrometry, ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and raman spectroscopy. The chromatographic methods to be covered may include gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and capillary zone electrophoresis. 
Prerequisite: Analytical Chemistry. 

CHEM 4242 - Electrochemical Analysis
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
The study of the theory and practice of modern electrochemical methods of analysis. These methods include potentiometry, coulometry, voltammetry, computer simulation, and other modern forms of electrochemical analysis. 
Prerequisite: Analytical Chemistry. 

CHEM 4243 - Environmental Chemistry
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A survey of the current environmental issues and the underlying chemistry associated with them, including stratospheric chemistry, air pollution, global climate change, toxic organic chemicals, natural water systems, soil chemistry, and energy production. 
Prerequisites: Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry II 

CHEM 4244 - Advanced NMR Spectroscopy
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A course designed to introduce students to modern aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Details of one dimensional spectra of proton and carbon 13 will be discussed in depth, as well as the more advanced two dimensional experiments of COSY and HETCOR. Students will gain skill in the hands-on operation of the spectrometer as well as in the spectral interpretation of complex organic and biomolecules. 
Prerequisites: A Survey of Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry II. 

CHEM 4330 - Advanced Organic Chemistry
(3 hours: 3 hrs lecture/wk; no lab) 
A course designed to build upon the knowledge gained in Organic I and Organic II. Topics covered may include considerations of structural and mechanistic organic chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and bioorganic chemistry. 
Prerequisite: Organic Chemistry II. 

CHEM 4611 - Senior Seminar
(1 hour: 1 hr lecture/wk; no lab) 
A continuation of the Junior Seminar with increased emphasis on the preparation and presentation of a research topic. 
Prerequisite: Junior Seminar. 

CHEM 4890 - Chemistry Research Experience
(1-4 hours: all lab) 
An independent research experience in which a student will investigate a research problem under the direction of a faculty member. 

CHEM 5541 - Biochemistry I
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A course surveying the fundamental principles of protein structure, enzyme mechanisms, carbohydrate structure, and the major metabolic pathways of carbohydrate metabolism. 
Prerequisite:Organic Chemistry II. 

CHEM 5542 - Biochemistry II
(4 hours: 3 hrs lecture; one 3-hr lab/wk) 
A course designed to examine the structure and function of biological membranes as well as additional metabolic pathways not covered in Biochemistry I, including the degradation and biosynthesis of lipids and amino acids. In addition, the course will examine nucleic acid chemistry, including DNA replication, transcription, translation, recombinant DNA technology, and related topics. 
Prerequisite: Biochemistry I. 

Back to Chemistry Main Page