Chemistry Major

Foundation Courses

  • CHEM051 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Healy, Hernandez-Castillo, Zhuang

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Applications of thermodynamics to chemical and phase equilibria. Chemical kinetics in the gas phase, in solution and on solid surfaces.

    Prerequisites: CHEM024 HM and CHEM042 HM 

  • CHEM056 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Brucks, Haushalter, Vosburg

    Offered: Fall

    Description: A systematic study of the chemistry of carbon-containing compounds, emphasizing synthesis, reaction mechanisms, and the relation of structure to observable physical and chemical properties.

    Prerequisites: CHEM042 HM and CHEM024 HM 

  • CHEM103 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Hawkins, Van Ryswyk

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Applications of chemical equilibria in qualitative and quantitative analysis with emphasis on inorganic systems. Introduction to electrochemistry, mass spectrometry, and chromatography.

    Prerequisites: CHEM042 HM and CHEM024 HM 

    Concurrent requisites: CHEM109 HM is recommended

  • CHEM104 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Johnson, Van Heuvelen

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Systematic study of the preparation, properties, structures, analysis, and reactions of inorganic compounds.

    Prerequisites: CHEM056 HM; CHEM052 HM recommended

  • CHEM182 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Brucks, Haushalter, Vosburg

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Relation of molecular structure and energy flow to metabolic reactions, signal transduction, and transport across membranes in living systems.

    Prerequisites: CHEM056 HM 

  • PHYS051 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Breznay, Gerbode, Tamayo

    Offered: Fall

    Description: An introduction to electricity and magnetism leading to Maxwell's elec­tromagnetic equations in differential and integral form. Selected topics in classical and quantum optics.

    Prerequisites: PHYS023 HM and PHYS024 HM 

    Corequisites: MATH082 HM or MATH056 HM 

One Mathematics Course

One mathematics course chosen from the following:

  • BIOL154 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Donaldson-Matasci, Stoebel

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Statistical techniques for analyzing biological data, including parametric, nonparametric, and randomization methods. Statistical aspects of experimental design with an emphasis on analyzing data collected in BIOL054 HM.

    Prerequisites: CSCI005 HMCSCI005GR HM, or CSCI042 HM 

    Corequisites: BIOL046 HM 

    Concurrent requisites: BIOL054 HM 

  • MATH056 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: L. Zinn-Brooks

    Offered: Fall and spring

    Description: An introduction to working with data, probability, and statistics, with applications to engineering, computer science, and physics. Topics include conditional probability, probability distribution, probabilistic and stochastic models, hypothesis testing, Chi-square goodness of fit, and regression analysis. Statistical software will be used to work with data and to implement statistical tests.

    Prerequisites: MATH019 HM and MATH073 HM.

  • MATH082 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Modeling physical systems, first-order ordinary differential equations, existence, uniqueness, and long-term behavior of solutions; bifurcations; approximate solutions; second-order ordinary differential equations and their properties, applications; first-order systems of ordinary differential equations. Applications to linear systems of ordinary differential equations, matrix exponential; nonlinear systems of differential equations; equilibrium points and their stability. Additional topics.

    Prerequisites: (MATH019 HM and MATH073 HM) or equivalent 

Foundation Laboratories

Four Laboratory Courses taken from:

  • CHEM053 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructor: Healy and Hernandez-Castillo

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Experimental investigations covering fundamental physical chemistry concepts including thermodynamics, kinetics and phase-change behavior, as well as gas laws and other phenomena.

    Corequisites: CHEM051 HM 

  • CHEM058 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Brucks, Haushalter, Johnson, Vosburg

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Laboratory taken concurrently with CHEM056 HM.

    Prerequisites: CHEM024 HM 

    Corequisites: CHEM056 HM 

  • CHEM109 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Hawkins, Van Ryswyk

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Cooperative, project-based application of chemical analysis in a tropical marine ecosystem. Techniques include spectrophotometry, potentiometry, chromatography, and redox and complexometric titrations.

    Corequisites: CHEM103 HM 

  • CHEM110 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Johnson, Van Heuvelen

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Synthesis and characterization of inorganic compounds.

    Prerequisites: CHEM058 HM 

    Corequisites: CHEM104 HM 

  • CHEM184 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Brucks, Haushalter, Vosburg

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Experiments in biochemistry.

    Corequisites: CHEM182 HM or BIOL182 HM 

In-Depth Chemistry Electives

Eight to nine credits taken from:

  • CHEM052 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Hernandez-Castillo, Zhuang

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Chemical group theory. Introduction to quantum mechanics with application to atoms and molecules. Applications of group theory and quantum mechanics to spectroscopy.

    Prerequisites: MATH082 HM and PHYS051 HM 

  • CHEM105 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Brucks, Haushalter, Vosburg

    Offered: Spring

    Description: A continuation of the chemistry of carbon compounds.

    Prerequisites: CHEM056 HM 

    Concurrent requisites: CHEM111 HM is recommended 

  • CHEM114 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Hawkins, Van Ryswyk

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Fundamentals of modern instrumental design, application, and usage with an emphasis on the underlying principles of operation. Chemometrics.

    Prerequisites: CHEM103 HM and PHYS051 HM; ENGR079 HM recommended

  • CHEM122 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Van Ryswyk

    Offered: Fall

    Description: New strategies for the synthesis and preparation of materials on the nanometer length scale, their characterization, and potential applications. Examples may include solids (insulators, semiconductors, conductors, superconductors, magnetic materials) and soft materials (polymers, gels, liquid crystals).

    Prerequisites: (CHEM052 HM or ENGR086 HM or PHYS054 HM) and PHYS051 HM  

  • CHEM161 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Zhuang

    Description: Classical and statistical thermodynamics. Classical thermodynamics, a review of equilibrium thermodynamics, and an introduction to statistical thermodynamics.

    Prerequisites: CHEM051 HM 

  • CHEM163 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Johnson

    Description: A survey of topics selected from: space groups and crystals; permutation groups and molecular isomerization; rotation groups and angular momenta; double groups and magnetism; groups of non-rigid molecules; the symmetry of graphs.

    Prerequisites: CHEM052 HM 

  • CHEM164 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructors: Hernandez-Castillo, Zhuang

    Description: An examination of modern methods for approximating the solution to the electronic Schroedinger Equation and its application to chemical systems.

    Prerequisites: CHEM052 HM and PHYS051 HM 

  • CHEM165 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Johnson

    Description: Study of the metal carbon bond: synthesis, structure, bonding, reactivity, and catalysis.

    Corequisites: CHEM105 HM 

  • CHEM166 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Staff

    Description: Elements of chemical engineering for chemists. Organization and goals of industrial research. Readings, case studies, and seminar discussions.

    Prerequisites: CHEM051 HM 

  • CHEM167 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Physical chemistry applied to answer questions involving the conformation, shape, structure, dynamics, and interactions of biological macromolecules and complexes.

    Prerequisites: CHEM051 HM 

  • CHEM168 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Fall and spring

    Description: Introduction to principles of lasers and laser safety. Case studies illustrating the applications of lasers to chemical studies.

    Prerequisites: CHEM051 HM and PHYS051 HM 

    Corequisites: Juniors and seniors only.

  • CHEM171 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructors: Brucks, Vosburg

    Description: Critical analysis of strategies for the preparation of medicinal natural products.

    Prerequisites: CHEM056 HM and CHEM105 HM 

  • CHEM173 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Vosburg

    Description: The application of molecular orbital theory and symmetry considerations to certain types of organic reactions in order to gain insight on the mechanisms and stereochemistry of the processes.

    Prerequisites: CHEM056 HM and CHEM105 HM 

  • CHEM187 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Haushalter

    Description: The molecular biology of HIV infection, the biochemistry of antiviral interventions, and the causes and impact of the global HIV-AIDS pandemic, including the inter-relationships among HIV-AIDS, prejudice, race, and stigma.

    Prerequisites: BIOL 113 HM and (BIOL182 HM or CHEM182 HM)

  • CHEM190 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Van Heuvelen

    Description: An examination of the role of metals in biological systems. Topics may include electron transport, small molecule activation, signaling pathways, metals in medicine, metals in environmental science, metal storage and trafficking, and bioinorganic chemistry and energy.

    Corequisites: CHEM104 HM 

  • CHEM192 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructors: Saeta (Physics), Van Ryswyk

    Description: Materials science of energy conversion and storage, dealing with photovoltaics, fuel cells, batteries, thermoelectrics, and other devices. Seminar format.

    Prerequisites: CHEM052 HM or PHYS052 HM or ENGR086 HM 

  • CHEM193 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Staff

    Description: A course devoted to exploring topics of current interest. Topics announced prior to registration.

    Prerequisites: Dependent on topic

  • CHEM194 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructor: Staff

    Description: A survey of the chemistry, synthesis and physical properties of modern materials which include, but not limited to: polymers, glasses and ceramics, alloys and composites, semiconductors and related materials, advanced materials for energy storage, membranes, optical and photonic materials, biomedical materials, nanomaterials.

    Prerequisites: CHEM051 HMCHEM056 HM, and PHYS051 HM  

  • CHEM195 HM

    Credits: 2

    Instructors: Staff, Eckert (Physics)

    Description: A survey of techniques important for laboratory science in chemistry and physics including but not limited to: Vacuum pumps and vacuum systems; pressure measurement; temperature measurement; handling high pressure gases; safe material handling; safety data sheets; thermal baths and thermal control; metal, plastic, and rubber tubing; tools and their proper use. One meeting per week for the semester.

    Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing.

  • CLES101 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Fall

    Description: This course will address the physical science that underlies the behavior of our climate, including the roles of the atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and the oceans in creating and maintaining our climate. Along the way, we will investigate the tools that we use to measure and understand our climate, as well as the chemical and physical basis of global climate change, including direct evidence from paleoclimate archives, model projections for future climate conditions, greenhouse gasses, and the carbon cycle.

    Prerequisites: One course in chemistry (CHEM042 HM or CHEM014L KS or CHEM034L KS or CHEM001A PO) and one course in computer science (CSCI005 HM or CSCI 004 PZ or CSCI 051P PO or CSCI 040 CM or DS 001 SC) and one course in calculus (MATH019 HM or MATH030  CM/PO/PZ/SC) and one course in mechanics (PHYS024 HM or PHYS030L KS or PHYS033L KS or PHYS071  PO or PHYS125  PO) and one course addressing thermodynamics (CHEM051 HM or ENGR082 HM or PHYS117 HM)

Additional Chemistry Electives

The following optional elective courses are not required for a chemistry major, but students interested in graduate study in chemistry or working on chemistry-related applications in industry are encouraged to consider taking one or more of these courses in consultation with their major advisor:

  • CHEM111 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Brucks, Haushalter, Johnson, Vosburg

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Synthesis, characterization, and analysis of organic compounds.

    Prerequisites: CHEM058 HM 

    Corequisites: CHEM105 HM 

  • CHEM112 HM

    Credit: 1

    Instructors: Hawkins, Van Ryswyk

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Application of advanced analytical techniques to food, pharmaceutical, materials, forensics, biochemical, and archaeological problems. Techniques include atomic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence, mass spectrometry, NMR, chromatography, voltammetry, and a range of surface analyses.

    Prerequisites: CHEM109 HM and PHYS051 HM 

    Corequisites: CHEM114 HM 

  • CHEM114 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Hawkins, Van Ryswyk

    Offered: Spring

    Description: Fundamentals of modern instrumental design, application, and usage with an emphasis on the underlying principles of operation. Chemometrics.

    Prerequisites: CHEM103 HM and PHYS051 HM; ENGR079 HM recommended

  • CHEM189 HM

    Credits: 3

    Instructors: Haushalter, Hur (Biology), Schulz (Biology), Stoebel (Biology)

    Offered: Fall

    Description: Advanced topics at the interface between chemistry and biology. Counts as a seminar course for Biology majors.

    Prerequisites: BIOL113 HM and senior standing

Chemistry Seminar

Four semesters of chemistry seminar:

  • CHEM199 HM

    Credit: 0.5

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Fall and spring

    Description: Presentations of contemporary research by students, faculty, and visiting scientists. Attendance by junior and senior majors is required. No more than 2.0 credits can be earned for departmental seminars/colloquia.

The requirement for one semester of chemistry seminar can be waived for students studying abroad in their junior or senior years.

Capstone

Four to six credits of:

  • CHEM151 HM

    Credits: 2-3

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Fall

    Description: A yearlong experimental or computational investigation in chemistry under the direction of a faculty advisor. Two oral reports and a written thesis are required. Two or three credit hours per semester (2 credit hours equals a minimum of 6 hours of laboratory per week, 3 credit hours equals a minimum of 10 hours of laboratory per week: additional library time is required).

    Prerequisites: Senior standing

AND

  • CHEM152 HM

    Credits: 2-3

    Instructor: Staff

    Offered: Spring

    Description: A yearlong experimental or computational investigation in chemistry under the direction of a faculty advisor. Two oral reports and a written thesis are required. Two or three credit hours per semester (2 credit hours equals a minimum of 6 hours of laboratory per week, 3 credit hours equals a minimum of 10 hours of laboratory per week: additional library time is required).

    Prerequisites: Senior standing

With approval of the chemistry department chair, students may substitute ENGR112 HM and ENGR113 HM for CHEM151 HM and CHEM152 HM.