The Department offers a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry that is accredited by the American Chemical Society.  A minimum of 130 credit hours is required for this degree.  In addition to the General Education Core Curriculum Requirements, the following courses are required:

•    MATH 231
•    CHEM 311, 311L, 331, 331L, 332, 332L, 333, 333L, 334, 334L, 411, 411L, 441, 443, 443L, 493, 494.
•    Advanced Electives (Any three of the following): 422, 427, 442, 445, 446.
•    Advanced Labs (Any two of the following): 422L, 441L, 442L, 445L.

Suggested elective coursework includes:  CSE 113, MATH 254, MATH 335, ES 110, ChE 326, MATE 202, and ERTH 211.

It is also possible to obtain a B.S. in chemistry with an emphasis in Environmental Science, Biochemistry or Pre-Med/Pre-Vet.  The Department also certifies a minor in chemistry.

Each student's program is approved by an advisor drawn from the chemistry faculty.



 

Course Descriptions

CHEM 109, Introductory Chemistry 3 cr, prereq: MATH 101
An overview of the fundamental concepts in chemistry.  Topics will include a discussion of the classification of matter, the fundamental laws of chemical combination, the atomic theory and chemical bonding. The stoichiometry of chemical reactions will be presented. Several types of chemical reactions will be discussed, including precipitation reactions, oxidation?reduction reactions and acid?base reactions. Topics in organic and biochemistry will also be considered. Lectures will include numerous examples and demonstrations of chemical principles. Extensive laboratory exercises will further illustrate concepts discussed during the lecture hours.

CHEM 121, General Chemistry I 3 cr, prereq: MATH 103, coreq: CHEM 121L
Basic descriptive and quantitative principles of chemistry associated with the concepts of the mole, concentration, heat, atomic and molecular structure, periodicity, bonding, physical states, stoichiometry, and reactions.

CHEM 121L, General Chemistry Laboratory I 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 121
Laboratory experiments and techniques emphasizing principles from CHEM 121.

CHEM 121R, General Chemistry Recitation I 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 121
Recommended for all students enrolled in CHEM 121.  Reinforce concepts studied in class.  Practice problem solving skills in chemistry.

CHEM 122, General Chemistry II 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 121 and CHEM 121L, Coreq: 122L and MATH 131
Continuation of CHEM 121.  Emphasizes basic kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibria, electrochemistry, reactions of inorganic compounds, and an introduction to organic chemistry.

CHEM 122L, General Chemistry Laboratory II 3cr, coreq: CHEM 122
Laboratory experiments and techniques emphasizing principles from CHEM 122.

CHEM 122R, General Chemistry Recitation II 1cr, coreq: CHEM 122
Recommended for all students enrolled in CHEM 122.  Reinforce concepts studied in class.  Practice problem solving skills in chemistry.

CHEM 151, General Chemistry I 3 cr, prereq: MATH 103, coreq: CHEM 151L
Topic coverage parallels CHEM 121 with emphasis on critical thinking and active, collaborative and problem-based learning.  Small class size, limited enrollment.  Admission to this course involves a selection process.

CHEM 151L, General Chemistry Laboratory I 1cr, coreq: CHEM 151
Laboratory experiments emphasizing principles from CHEM 151.

CHEM 151R, General Chemistry Recitation I 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 151
Practice problem solving skills in chemistry.  Recommended for all students in CHEM 151.

CHEM 152, General Chemistry II 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 151 and CHEM 151L, coreq: CHEM 152L and MATH 131
Continuation of CHEM 151.  Topic coverage parallels CHEM 122 with emphasis on critical thinking and active, collaborative and problem-based learning.  Small class size, limited enrollment.  Admission to this course involves a selection process.

CHEM 152L,     General Chemistry Laboratory II 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 152
Laboratory experiments emphasizing principles from CHEM 152.

CHEM 152R, General Chemistry Recitation II 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 152
Practice problem solving skills in chemistry.  Recommended for all students in CHEM 152.

CHEM 311, Quantitative Analysis 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 122
Fundamental theory and techniques in traditional chemical analysis.  Emphasizes sampling and separation methods, measurement, statistics, volumetric and gravimetric analysis, equilibrium and pH studies, basic electrochemical techniques, and introduction to instrumentation.

CHEM  311L, Quantitative Analysis Laboratory 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 311
Laboratory experiments and techniques emphasizing the principles from CHEM 311.

CHEM 331, Physical Chemistry I 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 122, MATH 132, PHYS 122
Study of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics applied to equilibria, physical states, electromotive force, solution phenomena, and reaction kinetics.  Study of physical state properties.

CHEM 331L, Physical Chemistry Laboratory I 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 331
Laboratory experiments and techniques emphasizing principles from CHEM 331.

CHEM 332, Physical Chemistry II 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 331
Atomic and molecular quantum theory, group theory, spectroscopy, and statistical mechanics.

CHEM 332L, Physical Chemistry Laboratory II 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 332
Laboratory experiments and techniques emphasizing principles from CHEM 332.

CHEM 333, Organic Chemistry I 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 122
Nomenclature, properties, structure , reactions, and synthesis of carbon compounds.

CHEM 333L, Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 333

CHEM 334, Organic Chemistry II 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 333
Continuation of CHEM 333.

CHEM 334L, Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 cr, prereq: CHEM 33L, coreq: CHEM 334

CHEM 441, Advanced Instrumental Methods 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 311 and CHEM 332, coreq: CHEM 411L
Instrumental design, operation and advanced techniques of chemical analysis.  Emphasizes gas chromatography; atomic absorption; ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectroscopy; specific ion electrodes; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; mass spectroscopy, etc.

CHEM 411L, Advanced Instrumental Laboratory 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 411
Laboratory experiments and instrumental techniques emphasizing principles from CHEM 411.

CHEM 412, Advanced Topics in Analytical Chemistry 3 cr, prereq: CHEM  311 and CHEM 411
Study of special topics not otherwise treated in analytical chemistry.

CHEM 413, Separation Science 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 311 and CHEM 411
Theory and practice of separation science.  Topics include selective mass transport, extraction, chromatography, and electrophoresis.

CHEM 422, Environmental Chemistry 3 cr, CHEM 311, CHEM 331 or CHEM 333
Application of chemical principles to the study of the environment.  Includes natural processes and pollution problems related to water, air, and soil.

CHEM 442L, Environmental Chemistry Laboratory 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 422
Laboratory experiments related to the principles in CHEM422.

CHEM 423, Applied Spectroscopy 3 cr
Discussions of mass spectrometry, fluorescence, Nuclear Magnetic (NMR), X-ray (XPS, X-ray diffraction, solid state spectroscopy), Infrared (IR), Ultraviolet/Visible spectroscopic methods and techniques, as applied to chemical and biological problems, including structure elucidation, medical diagnostics, molecular sensors.

CHEM 425, Molecular Quantum Mechanics 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 331 and CHEM 332
Molecular structure; theories of the chemical bond; perturbation and variation methods; electronic and magnetic properties of molecules.

CHEM 426,Chemical Spectroscopy 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 331 and CHEM 332
Principles and applications of electronic, molecular, and spin spectroscopies, laser spectroscopy; transitions; elements of group theory; quantitative correlations and analytical chemistry.

CHEM 427, Molecular Reaction Dynamics 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 331 and CHEM 332
Techniques in studies of chemical reaction rates.  Topics commonly include: rate laws, collision theory, mechanistic studies, transition state theory, fast reactions, chemical oscillations, transport theory, and transport coefficients.

CHEM 428, Advanced Topic in Physical Chemistry
Study of special topics not otherwise covered in physical chemistry

CHEM 431, Chemistry of Aquatic Systems 3 cr
The thermodynamics and aqueous chemistry of natural waters, with emphasis on groundwater.  Chemical equilibrium concepts, surface chemistry, redox reactions, and biochemistry.  The interaction of water with the atmosphere and geological materials.  Basic concepts applied to problems of groundwater quality evolution, water use, and groundwater contamination.

CHEM 432, Atmospheric Chemistry 3 cr
Chemistry of the atmosphere.  Important chemical reactions and their effects on surface and ground water.  Effects of anthropogenic inputs on the atmosphere, climate change.  Distribution of chemical species in the atmosphere, etc.

CHEM 433, Global Biogeochemical Cycles 3 cr
Human activity is increasing the rate of addition of materials to the environment, resulting in changes to the earth's climate.  The transformation and movement of natural and anthropogenic sources of chemical substances between reservoirs in a global context.

CHEM 441, Biochemistry I 3 cr, prereq: CHEM331 and CHEM 334, coreq: CHEM 441L
Overview of basic biochemistry.  Emphasizes structure, nomenclature, and reactions of biologically active compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and enzymes.  Introduction to metabolic pathways.

CHEM 441L, Biochemistry Laboratory I 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 441
Experiments related to CHEM 441.

CHEM 442, Biochemistry II 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 441, coreq: CHEM 442L
Continuation of CHEM 441.  Emphasizes vertebrate biochemistry and the study of vitamins, hormones, biochemical genetics, and nutrition.  Introduction to photosynthesis.

CHEM 442L, Biochemistry Laboratory II 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 442
Topics related to CHEM 442.

CHEM 443, Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 332, coreq: CHEM 443L
Atomic and molecular structure with relationships based on the periodic system; bonding theories; elements of group theory; chemistry in nonaqueous solvents; chemistry of the elements; coordination chemistry; ligand field theory.

CHEM 443, Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1 cr, coreq: CHEM 443

CHEM 444, Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry prereq: CHEM 333 and CHEM 334
Study of topics not otherwise covered in organic chemistry.

CHEM 445, Intermediate Organic Chemistry 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 334, coreq: CHEM 445L
The determination of the structure of organic compounds by chemical and physical means.

CHEM 445L, Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 cr, coreq: CHEM 445

CHEM 446, Polymer Chemistry 3 cr, prereq: CHEM 332 and CHEM 334
Study of the preparation, properties, and uses of macromolecules.

CHEM 447, Medicinal Chemistry 3 cr
Molecular-level mechanisms of drug action and rational drug design.  Material is drawn from the recent primary literature.

CHEM 449, Organometallic Chemistry 3 cr
Organometallic chemistry of the main group and transition elements.  Ligand classification and molecular orbital description of bonding in organometallic complexes.  Structure, bonding, synthesis, and properties of transition metal compounds and their derivatives.  Organometallic complexes at catalysts.

CHEM 450, Physical Organic Chemistry 3 cr
Physical aspects of organic chemistry.  Emphasizes reaction mechanisms, reaction kinetics, and electronic theories.

CHEM 491, Special Problems 1-3 cr

CHEM 493, Senior Research and Thesis 1 cr
Problem-oriented research under the direction of a faculty member.  Research topics must be approved and started so as to allow two semesters for completion.  Projects will consist of and be graded on three criteria: the research work itself, a write-up in thesis form, and two oral presentations of the project.

CHEM 494, Senior Research and Thesis 2 cr, prereq: 493
Continuation of research begun in CHEM 493.