Chemistry (CHM)
This three-credit course introduces the basic principles of chemistry with a focus on mathematics and problem solving skills. Equal emphasis is given to the acquisition of correct conceptual understandings and the development of computational skills related to selected chemistry topics. This intent of this course is to prepare students for success in general chemistry (CHM 111-112). This course does not count towards the major. No pre-requisite classes are required to take this course.
General Chemistry I provides a firm basis for understanding the fundamentals of chemistry. This course covers atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, and the periodic table. The descriptive chemistry is principally concerned with the reactions of nonmetals and of ions in solution. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
General Chemistry II builds on the concepts of General Chemistry I and focuses on gasses, properties of solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, acid-base chemistry, and electrochemistry. The laboratory experiments reinforce the concepts covered in lecture. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
Consumer Chemistry is a non-mathematical examination of the development of fact and theory in chemistry and the utilization of chemistry by society. Topics may include energy, pharmaceuticals, environmental effects, food additives, or synthetic materials. No prior knowledge of chemistry required. The course consists of three hours of lecture/laboratory sessions.
This course is for non-science majors who are interested in learning more about how evidence from a crime scene is collected, analyzed, and evaluated. Of necessity, the course will be numerical in nature, but not math-intensive. As a multidisciplinary area of study, the course will use concepts from chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physics, toxicology, statistics, and other fields and will employ hands-on learning activities and laboratories, group work, and the traditional lecture format to convey the course material. The course consists of four hours of lecture/laboratory sessions.
Chemistry for the Life Sciences is a course for students typically majoring in nursing or nutrition. The course gives a general knowledge of chemistry (mostly inorganic) with an emphasis on health-related topics and problem-solving strategies. Descriptive and quantitative principles are discussed. This course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
Organic Chemistry is the study of compounds containing carbon. This course is focused on the structure, bonding, and stereochemistry of these compounds together with an introduction to reactions, reaction mechanisms, and synthesis. This course, as well as CHM 202, is intended for students majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology as well as those pursuing a career in the health professions. The laboratory introduces techniques used in organic synthesis, separation, purification, and structure elucidation. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
The second semester of Organic Chemistry builds on the foundation established in CHM 201. The functional group and mechanistic approach to organic reactions allows for a more in-depth approach to organic synthesis. The use of basic spectral methods as a means of structure elucidation is also covered in this course. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
This course covers important areas of analytical chemistry, including statistics, error analysis, chemical equilibria, electrochemistry, and colorimetry. This course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
CHM 262 is a one-semester course in organic chemistry designed to be particularly applicable to students majoring in nutrition and other health sciences. The subject matter includes organic chemistry principles: the naming of compounds, identification of functional groups, and chemical reactions. A particular emphasis is made in the coverage of reactions that are common to both organic and biochemistry. An effort will be made to make the examples and problems as health-related as possible. This course consists of three hours of lecture.
CHM 263 is a one-semester course in biochemistry designed to be particularly applicable to students majoring in nutrition. The subject matter includes biochemical principles (identification and properties of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, metabolic pathways, etc.). An effort will be made to make the examples and problems as health-related as possible. This course consists of three hours of lecture.
Criminalistics for Physical Science Majors is a course for physical science majors who are interested in learning more about how evidence from a crime scene is collected, analyzed, and evaluated. The course employs hands-on learning activities, group work, and the traditional lecture format to convey the course material. Forensic science is a multidisciplinary field, and, as such, the course touches on areas of chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physics, toxicology, statistics, and other fields. The course consists of four hours of lecture/laboratory sessions.
This elective course emphasizes chemical applications of group theory
and quantum mechanics applied to molecular structure. Discussion of
spectroscopic selection rules, symmetry and chemical bonding, and the
spectroscopy of transition metal complexes are also included. The prerequisite
for this course is CHM 332 or permission of the instructor. This
course has three hours of lecture. (S)
CHM 311 covers the theory and practice of physical measurments with modern chemical instrumentation. The course is divided into two parts: spectroscopic and separation methods. Topics include UV-visible, FT-IR, fluorescence, and magnetic resonance spectroscopies as well as mass spectrometry, gas and liquid chromatographies. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
This is a course in modern methods of organic synthesis and structure elucidation. This laboratory-intensive course emphasizes asymmetric synthesis, green chemistry, advanced spectral methods, and literature searching. The course consists of 75 minutes of lecture and six hours of laboratory.
This course applies the principles of thermodynamics and kinetics to explain the behavior of gases, liquids, solids, and solutions. Topics include the elucidation of chemical equilibria, phase transitions, reaction mechanisms, and statistical ensembles of energy states. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
This course uses the formalism of quantum mechanics to understand fundamental chemical systems. It explores atomic and molecular structures, molecular vibrations, and molecular rotations. It also explores the use of spectroscopy to probe these chemical processes. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
This course normally involves full-time, paid employment in a cooperating firm to provide on-the-job training (part-time positions at least six months in duration may qualify). The experience involves appropriate job-related learning assignments under faculty supervision. The position must be approved by the Department Chair. Consult the Associate Director for Experiential Education in Career Services before registering or for further information.
This course covers theoretical and practical aspects of chemical bonding, descriptive periodic trends, and molecular structure and symmetry of molecules. A special emphasis is given to the chemistry of the transition metals, including coordination and organometallic chemistry. This course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
This is a course designed to extend the knowledge of organic chemistry
with an emphasis on more advanced and modern synthetic topics not
fully developed in the elementary courses. An emphasis on the literature
of chemistry is also included.
Biochemistry I examines the biochemistry of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, enzymes, and hormones from a chemist's perspective and emphasizes their role in metabolic processes. Laboratory work illustrates common techniques used to isolate, identify, and assay these molecules, such as chromatography, electrophoresis, and kinetic analysis. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
Biochemistry II focuses on the storage, replication, transmission, and expression of genetic information. It also examines recombinant DNA methodology and physiological processes at the molecular level. Laboratory work includes the isolation and analysis of plasmid DNA, creation of a new plasmid, and transformation into bacterial cells. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory.
This course provides the student with an opportunity to do research with a faculty member. The student and the faculty member agree on the research project before the student registers for the course.
This course is a continuation of the CHM 444 Research in Chemistry. It provides the student with an opportunity to continue to conduct research with a faculty member.
This course normally involves full-time, paid employment in a cooperating firm to provide on-the-job training (part-time positions at least six months in duration may qualify). The experience involves appropriate job-related learning assignments under faculty supervision. The position must be approved by the Department Chair. Consult the Associate Director for Experiential Education in Career Services before registering or for further information.
Occasionally, courses in "Bioinorganic Chemistry," "Advanced Organic and Organometallic Chemistry," or "Polymer Chemistry" may be offered as Special Topics. These courses are designed for juniors and seniors majoring in chemistry and/or biochemistry.
These courses provide students with the opportunity to engage in individual chemical or biochemical research. The research can be either laboratory-based or theoretical in nature. The work is done under the supervision of a staff member. The courses are restricted to chemistry and biochemistry majors unless otherwise approved by the chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. The specific hours for the course are arranged with the supervising staff member with a minimum of six research hours per week.
These courses provide students with the opportunity to engage in individual chemical or biochemical research. The research can be either laboratory-based or theoretical in nature. The work is done under the supervision of a staff member. The courses are restricted to chemistry and biochemistry majors unless otherwise approved by the chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. The specific hours for the course are arranged with the supervising staff member with a minimum of six research hours per week.
This is the capstone course for senior-level chemistry and biochemistry majors. It is intended to broadly expose students to select topics that span sub-disciplines in chemistry and current trends in chemical science. The course is discussion-based and student-driven, and students will be required to examine their scientific ideas through research, reflection, and communication of topics in the chemical sciences.