Chemistry Course Descriptions

CHEM - 001. Prechemistry (3)

Designed for students intending to take 0202-111-113, with intensive study of problem solving. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 100. Getting a Grip on Science: From Mass and Motion to Molecules (4)

This multidisciplinary introductory course for non-science majors explores several key topics including the solar system, energy and its forms, and the composition and behavior of atoms. Science is presented as a human endeavor through which we come to understand the natural world of which we are a part. Three lectures per week plus one two-hour lab session.

CHEM - 111. General Chemistry I (5)

Prerequisite: High school chemistry, physics, algebra (two years), and trigonometry. A study of the fundamental chemical principles which are necessary for understanding the composition and properties of matter and the changes which it undergoes. Three lectures and one laboratory period weekly. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 113. General Chemistry II (5)

Prerequisite: Grade of C- (1.7) or higher in 0202-111. A study of the fundamental chemical principles which are necessary for understanding the composition and properties of matter and the changes which it undergoes. Three lectures and one laboratory period weekly. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 230. Organic Chemistry I (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 113 with grade of C (2.0) or higher recommended. First semester of a two-semester course. This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts necessary for understanding organic molecules. These include nomenclature, conformational analysis, stereochemistry, radical and nucleophilic reactions, and spectroscopy. Strongly recommended for pre-medical students. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 231. Organic Chemistry II (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 230 with grade of C (2.0) or higher. Second semester of a two-semester course. Surveys the chemistry of functionalized organic compounds emphasizing mechanisms and multi-step syntheses. Offered every spring.

CHEM - 232. Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 230 or CHEM - 236 or Corequisite. Experimental course that highlights the concepts learned in lecture. Students will learn and employ techniques for the preparation, isolation, purification and characterization of organic molecules. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 233. Organic Chemistry Lab II for Majors (2)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 230, CHEM - 232. Experimental course emphasizing advanced laboratory techniques and concepts in organic chemistry. These include the handling of air-sensitive reagents, spectroscopic analysis of compounds, and the use of computational methods to complement experimental results. In addition, students will learn literature searching techniques and ACS-style writing. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 234. Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 230 and CHEM - 232 Not open to chemistry majors. A continuation of the first semester lab course. Students will gain more experience in multistep synthesis and analysis of products. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 236. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 113 with a grade of C-. A survey of the fundamentals of organic chemistry with lab. May be taken prior to, or along with, 0202-232. This course may not be substituted for 0202-230. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 260. Analytical Chemistry (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 113 with grade of C (2.0) or higher. Modern and classical methods of quantitative analysis. Detailed chemical equilibria. Two lectures and two laboratory periods weekly. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 330. The Chemistry of Drugs (4)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 230 and CHEM - 231 with a C. This course covers introductory medicinal chemistry concepts (e.g., pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics), the synthesis of drugs, and public policy associated with mind-altering drugs. Offered every other Fall.

CHEM - 340. Physical Chemistry I (4)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 260 with minimum grade of C- PHYS - 210 MATH - 110. First semester of a two-semester course. An intensive, mathematical treatment of physical chemistry. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 341. Physical Chemistry II (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 340 with minimum grade of C-. Second semester of a two-semester course. An intensive, mathematical treatment of physical chemistry. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 350. Biochemistry I (4)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 231 with minimum grade of C-, or CHEM - 236 with minimum grade of C-, BIOL - 105 and BIOL - 106. First semester of a two-semester course. Surveys the physical and chemical properties of biomolecules and how these properties lead to observed biological functions. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 351. Biochemistry II (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 350 with minimum grade of C-. Second semester of a two-semester course. Surveys the major metabolic pathways and the control of metabolism at the nucleic acid and protein levels. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 352. Experimental Biochemistry (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 351. Enrollment limited. Techniques commonly used in biochemical research, with emphasis upon protein and enzyme isolation and characterization. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 356. Fundamentals of Biochemistry (4)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 231 or CHEM - 236. A survey of biochemical concepts emphasizing the nature of cell components, their interaction in metabolism and the regulation of metabolism. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 386. Special Topics in Chemistry (4)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 111 and CHEM - 113 , and CHEM - 230 and CHEM - 231. Topics not covered by other Chemistry curriculum offerings. Three hours lecture or two hours lecture and two hours lab. Offered intermittently.

CHEM - 397. Research Methods and Practice (1-3)

This course involves hands-on experience in the lab with a variety of methods used to carry out chemistry research. There will also be instruction in the searching of the chemical literature databases, in professional research documentation, oral and graphical presentations. Offered every semester. Can be repeated for a maximum of four units total.

CHEM - 410. Integrated Laboratory (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 340 with minimum grade of C-. In this laboratory course students will perform experiments designed to deepen instrumentation skills and build upon the conceptual material being delivered in the second semester P-Chem lecture course (CHEM 341). The introduction of quantum mechanics will allow a deeper discussion of spectroscopy and reaction kinetics. The conceptual basis of NMR will be elaborated upon and NMR spectroscopy will form a major element of the course. Offered every Spring.

CHEM - 420. Inorganic Chemistry (4)

Prerequisite: CHEM - 340 with minimum grade of C-. Bonding, structure, and reactivity of the elements, inorganic, and organometallic compounds. In the laboratory students will perform experiments designed to: a) build upon foundational measurement taking and documenting skills learned in Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 260) as well as b) reinforce and extend the conceptual material being presented in the Physical Chemistry lecture course (CHEM 340), c) build upon previous lower division experience with Inorganic and Organic synthesis and characterization. Three lectures weekly and two laboratory periods. Offered every Fall.

CHEM - 450. Biochemical Genetics (2)

Prerequisites: CHEM - 351 or CHEM - 356. Selected biochemical research topics focusing on gene structure and molecular genetics, using research literature. Offered every Fall.