Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Chemistry > Course Offerings

(Note: * means that a lab fee is charged)

CHEM 100—Chemtech (4 CH)* A course intended for the non-major who has little or no chemistry background. Included are semi-technical discussions of plastics, drugs, food additives, detergents, energy sources, air and water pollution, and related chemical phenomena. Three 55-minute discussions and three hours of laboratory each week. (P: Permission of the instructor required for students who have credit for CHEM 140 or higher)

CHEM 140—General Chemistry I (4 CH)* The first of a two-semester sequence which introduces the student to the principles of chemistry. Topics covered include stoichiometric calculations, introductory atomic theory, chemical bonding and molecular structure, oxidation-reduction, acids and bases, and the descriptive chemistry of selected main group elements. The laboratory emphasizes the development of manipulative skills. Three 55-minute lectures and three hours of laboratory each week. (Corequisite: MATH 141 or satisfactory performance on math placement examination.) Offered every term.

CHEM 160—General Chemistry II (4 CH)* The second of a two-semester sequence that introduces the student to the principles of chemistry. Topics covered include chemical equilibrium, thermochemistry and introductory thermodynamics, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry and the descriptive chemistry of selected main group and transition elements. Three 55-minute lectures and three hours of laboratory each week. (P: CHEM 140) Offered every term.

CHEM 200—Organic Chemistry I (4 CH)* Basic relationships between molecular structure and chemical reactivity are examined and applied to the selection of suitable synthetic procedures for aliphatic and aromatic compounds. Typical compounds are synthesized, isolated, and characterized in the laboratory. Three 55-minute lectures and three hours of laboratory each week. Fall. (P: CHEM 160)

CHEM 210—Organic Chemistry II (4 CH)* A continuation of CHEM 200, this course extends the study of representative functional groups and introduces organic spectroscopy, polymer chemistry, and biomolecules. Three 55-minute lectures and three hours of laboratory each week. Spring. (P: CHEM 200)

CHEM 220—Forensic Science (4 CH)* Lecture and laboratory study of the fundamentals of forensic science. Scientific principles will be introduced by examining the techniques used to evaluate physical evidence such as that left at a crime scene. An integral part of the course will be case studies which will be used to introduce various topics in the field. The course is appropriate for the nonscience major provided that they have basic math and science skills. Three 55 minute lectures and one three-hour laboratory each week.
Spring term. (P: Math 107; sophomore status or above)

CHEM 240—Quantitative Analysis (4 CH)* A survey of quantitative analytical methods applicable to inorganic and organic systems. Emphasis on the importance of equilibrium considerations of analytically useful reactions. Laboratory includes classical wet chemical procedures and a limited introduction to instrumental techniques. Two 55-minute lectures and six hours of laboratory each week. Fall term. (P: CHEM 160)

CHEM 310—Physical Chemistry—Dynamics (4 CH)* Chemical kinetics, illustrated with some typical reactions of organic compounds, and the principles of thermodynamics as applied to chemical equilibria. Two 85-minute lectures and three hours of laboratory each week. Fall term, even-numbered years. (P: CHEM 160) (WIC)

CHEM 320—Physical Chemistry—Structure (4 CH)* Electronic structures of atoms and some simple molecular and crystal systems are considered in terms of modern theories of structure and bonding. Methods of structure determination are examined. Two 85-minute lectures and three hours of laboratory each week. Spring term, odd-numbered years. (P: CHEM 160) (WIC)

CHEM 330—Environmental Chemistry (4 CH)* A study of the relationships between the fundamental principles of chemistry and the environment. This course provides an introduction to the chemistry of water, soil, sub-surface and atmospheric systems including physical and chemical transport processes. In addition to basic principles, the course will address current topics relating to the field. Three 55-minute lectures and
three hours of laboratory each week. Fall term, even-numbered years. (P: CHEM 160)

CHEM 340—Biochemistry (4 CH)* Lecture and laboratory study of the properties and reactions of the fundamental molecules of biological systems including carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleotides and lipids. The properties of the complex compounds composed of these basic molecules are also considered. Three 55-minute lectures and three hours of laboratory each week. Fall term, odd-numbered years. (P: CHEM 200)

CHEM 350—Molecular Modeling (2 CH) Many interesting problems in chemistry are too complicated to be solved by pencil-and-paper calculations. This course will introduce computational chemistry using various software packages that have been developed to analyze molecular properties, chemical reactions, and drug design. Two 55-minute lectures each week. (P: CHEM 210)

CHEM 360—Chemical Literature (1 CH) Practical experience in using the literature of chemistry. One library problem per lecture. One 55-minute lecture each week. Fall term. (P: Two courses beyond CHEM 160 and junior standing)

CHEM 370—Instrumental Analysis (5 CH)* A theoretical and applied examination of the principles of modern chemical instrumentation. Topics include spectroscopic, electrochemical and chromatographic instruments, plus computers and electronics in instrumentation. Laboratory includes specific applications directed toward qualitative and/or quantitative analyses. Four 55-minute lectures and four hours of laboratory each week. Spring, even-numbered years. (P: CHEM 240; non-majors require permission of instructor)

CHEM 390—Inorganic Chemistry (4 CH)* A consideration of periodicity, atomic structure, and chemical bonding of main group elements and transition metals. Topics include acid-base theory, solvent theory, coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry. Laboratory emphasizes advanced techniques of synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of compounds. Three 55-minute lectures and four hours of laboratory each week. Offered spring of even-numbered years. (P: CHEM 320 and CHEM 370 or permission of the instructor) (WIC)

CHEM 410—Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (3 CH) In-depth consideration of selected topics. Topics are announced prior to pre-registration and may include coordination chemistry, ligand field theory, catalysis, bioinorganic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, Lewis acid-base theory, and others. Two 85-minute lecturediscussions each week. Offered fall of even-numbered years. (P: CHEM 390 and
permission of the instructor)

CHEM 420—Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry (3 CH) In-depth consideration of selected topics. Topics are announced prior to pre-registration and may include symmetry and group theory, quantum mechanics, complex equilibria, mechanisms of chemical reactions and molecular thermodynamics. Two 85-minute lecture-discussions each week. Offered on an irregular basis. (P: CHEM 310 or 320 and permission of the instructor)

CHEM 430—Advanced Topics in Environmental Chemistry (3 CH) In-depth consideration of selected topics. Topics will be announced prior to pre-registration and may include chemical transport dynamics, effects of non-ideality on chemical processes of interest, hydrogeochemistry, atmospheric chemistry and topics drawn from the current literature. Three 55-minute lecture-discussions each week. Spring term, odd-numbered years. (P: CHEM 330)

CHEM 440—Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (3 CH) In-depth consideration of selected topics. Topics will be announced prior to preregistration and may include enzymatic catalysis, regulation of metabolism, reaction mechanisms, thermodynamics of life, biochemical communication, molecular pharmacology and papers from Biochemistry and the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. Three 55-minute lectures each week. Spring term, even-numbered years. (P: CHEM 340) (WIC)

CHEM 445—Medicinal Chemistry I (3 CH) First of a two-course sequence in Medicinal Chemistry. This course covers the fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry such as drug discovery and development, structure activity relationships, physiochemical properties of drug molecules, and mechanisms of drug action. A main focus of this course will be how drugs function at the molecular level with their intended biological targets. (P: Chem 340) Offered in spring semester.

CHEM 448—Medicinal Chemistry II (4 CH)* Second of a two-course sequence in Medicinal Chemistry. This course will build upon concepts introduced in Medicinal Chemistry I and emphasize the impact of organic chemistry on the design and synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Topics include pharmacokinetics, drug development and production, and the isolation of medicinally active compounds from natural materials. In the laboratory component, various spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques will be used to synthesize, purify, analyze, and characterize medicinal compounds. Three 55-minute lecture-discussions and three hours of laboratory each week. (P: CHEM 445) Offered spring semester. (WIC)

CHEM 450—Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry (3 CH) In-depth consideration of selected topics. Topics are announced prior to preregistration and may include organic condensation reactions, pericyclic reactions and papers from the Journal of Organic Chemistry. Two 85-minute lecture-discussions each week. Offered on an irregular basis. (P: CHEM 210 or permission of the instructor).

CHEM 455—Cooperative Education (CH Variable)

CHEM 465—Advanced Topics in Analytical Chemistry (3 CH) In-depth consideration of selected topics from the Annual Reviews of Analytical Chemistry. Topics are announced prior to pre-registration and may include chemometrics, chromatography, computers and interfacing, electrochemistry, spectroscopy and radiochemistry with emphasis on research published in Analytical Chemistry. Two 85-minute discussions each week. Offered on an irregular basis. (P: CHEM 370 and permission of the instructor) (WIC)

CHEM 470—Chemistry Seminar (1 CH) Discussions of selected historical and modern topics in chemistry led by students, faculty and visiting speakers. Attendance at two off-campus seminars. One 55-minute seminar each week. Offered every fall. (P: Two courses beyond CHEM 160 and junior or senior standing)

CHEM 480—Chemistry Seminar (1 CH) Similar to CHEM 470. Includes a project report if CHEM 490 or 495 is taken simultaneously. Offered every spring. (P: CHEM 470)

CHEM 490—Problems in Chemistry (1-4 CH) Conduct of an advanced laboratory problem on an individual basis under the direction of a member of the faculty. Presentation of written and oral reports on the problem. Consult the department chairperson for instructions prior to enrollment (P: permission of instructor)

CHEM 495—Independent Study (1-4 CH) Independent conduct of an experimental or theoretical research project in consultation with a faculty member. Presentation of written and oral reports on the project. Consult the department chairperson for instructions prior to enrollment. (P: 3.25 average in chemistry courses)