We offer two undergraduate science degrees, Chemistry and Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry, both of which can be certified by the American Chemical Society. The expertise of our nine full-time faculty includes, chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, and computational chemistry, ensuring that our curriculum will keep our majors up-to-date in all areas of chemistry.
Chemistry Department Mission Statement:
The Mission of the Undergraduate Chemistry Program at the University of San Francisco is to deliver a broad-based and challenging chemistry experience that will train students for graduate school in science or as professionals in a variety of health, government or private industry positions. The program will foster a culture that values our students, faculty and staff; strives to help students become self-learners; creates opportunities for students to discover the excitement and creativity of research, and promotes an understanding that social consciousness and ethical behavior are essential features of a principled chemistry community.
BS Program Student Learning Goals:
• To offer a coherent program of course work in the core areas of chemistry and biochemistry that provides a modern foundation for subsequent in-depth course work or research experiences.
• To challenge student teams with hands-on laboratory and computational experiences, using modern, sophisticated instrumentation supported by qualified staff that encourages students to extend their chemical understanding by application of the scientific method.
• To emphasize the accumulation, retention and transfer of scientific concepts and skills throughout a curriculum in which faculty members accommodate a variety of learning styles and use personalized feedback to help students become responsible problem solvers and self-learners.
• To foster a community of chemists that values the excitement and discovery inherent in teaching, learning and researching all the areas of chemistry and biochemistry.
• To help students attain the professional skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers, including an appreciation for safe, ethical and socially conscious behavior.
BS Chemistry Program Learning Outcomes (LO):
LO #1: Students will demonstrate their mastery of the four principle core disciplines: analytical, organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry
LO #2: Students will recognize and understand the concepts and skills learned in prerequisite courses at or before the start of the new course or laboratory
LO #3: Students or student teams will demonstrate mastery in problem solving by performing a broad variety of analytical, computational and synthetic procedures, using proper safety protocols, and will critically evaluate the results
LO #4: Students will demonstrate effective scientific communications skills in both written and oral form. Students will be able to write reports and present results while following professional policies regarding intellectual property, plagiarism, and ethical group work.
LO #5: Students will apply their experience and knowledge of the discipline in the successful conduct of at least 80 hours of in-depth work via undergraduate research, experimental biochemistry, integrated lab or chemistry electives.
Click here to see the Chemistry Department General Catalog.
The Chemistry Special Topic for Spring 2013 is "Molecular Gastronomy: The Science of the Food we Eat"
CHEM - 386. Special Topic: Molecular Gastronomy: The Science of the Food we Eat (4)
This course will focus on the physical and chemical properties of actual food and drink, including pickles, tea and ice cream, and the transformative nature of cooking. What happens on the molecular level when eggs are whipped? Why does popcorn pop? And why is some cheese so stinky? Such questions will form the basis of the science we will cover in the lectures, in-class exercises and demonstrations. Parallel with the scientific content of the course we will read Michael Pollan’s The Omnivores Dilemma as a means for analyzing and debating American food culture. Students will have the opportunity to autonomously investigate selected topics in detail through independent projects. (This course fulfills the elective option for the Major in Chemistry and the elective requirement for the Minor in Chemistry.) Prerequisite: CHEM 231, minimum grade of C.
Previous Special Topics:
CHEM - 386. Special Topic: Medicinal Chemistry (4)
This course will present an overview of the principles underlying the discovery, design, and development of modern medicines. Topics will include: target identification; pharmacodynamics & pharmacokinetics; lead identification & optimization; and considerations for application to the clinic. Students will have the opportunity to autonomously investigate selected topics in detail through independent projects. (This course fulfills the elective option for the Major in Chemistry and the elective requirement for the Minor in Chemistry.) Prerequisite: CHEM 231, minimum grade of C.
____________________________________________________
CHEM - 386. Special Topic: Chemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (4)
The objective of the course is to give students an overview of the principles underlying chemical methods for the conversion and storage of solar energy. Topics include: The Carbon Cycle, alternative energy solutions, light harvesting and photoredox processes including photobiomimetic systems, artificial systems for water splitting and oxygen evolution, approaches to photochemical CO2 reduction, dye–sensitized solar cells, synthesis and applications of metal oxides as photocatalysts, and commercial exploitation opportunities. (This course fulfills the Minor in Chemistry elective requirement.) Prerequisite: CHEM-230 with a minimum grade of C.
