This list is a sampling of the kinds of courses offered through the Chemistry department curriculum. Not all courses shown here will be offered every semester. For a complete list of currently available courses, students may log into their account on Student Center.
Please note that students intending to take General Chemistry courses (Chem 107/108) must take a placement exam. General Chemistry is a required course for Chemistry majors and for some other science majors. For more information about the placement test, please review the Chemistry Placement Exam webpage.
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Application of the fundamental chemical principles to agricultural and environmental topics. The properties of matter, atomic and molecular structure, and chemical reactions are studied using as examples chemicals important in agricultural and environmental processes as examples. Laboratory component complements lectures, field trips and research projects involving the local community are included. Three lecture hours and one laboratory.
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Study of fundamental chemical principles focusing on properties of matter and theories of chemical bonding, atomic and molecular structure and chemical reactions. This material will be taught through the lens of a specific theme and highlight applications to convey how chemistry is used to resolve current questions in science. Laboratory experiments are designed to offer a hands-on familiarity with the principles discussed in the lectures. Three lecture hours and one laboratory.
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Study of fundamental chemical principles focusing on properties of matter and theories of chemical bonding, atomic and molecular structure and chemical reactions. This material will be taught through the lens of a specific theme and highlight applications to convey how chemistry is used to resolve current questions in science. Laboratory experiments are designed to offer a hands-on familiarity with the principles discussed in the lectures. This is a more intensive version of CHEM-107, designed for students with a limited background in chemistry. Three lecture hours, one discussion hour, and one laboratory.
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Covers the fundamental principles of chemical reactivity, including kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry and thermodynamics. This material will be taught through the lens of a specific theme and highlight applications to convey how chemistry is used to resolve current questions in science. Laboratory work is designed to illustrate and complement materials discussed in class. Three lecture hours and one laboratory.
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Covers the fundamental principles of chemical reactivity, including kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry and thermodynamics. This material will be taught through the lens of a specific theme and highlight applications to convey how chemistry is used to resolve current questions in science. Laboratory work is designed to illustrate and complement materials discussed in class. This is a more intensive version of CHEM-108, designed for students with a limited background in chemistry. Three lecture hours, one discussion hour, and one laboratory.
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Covers the fundamental principles of chemical reactivity, including kinetics, equilibrium, electrochemistry and thermodynamics, and explores how those principles enlighten our understanding of modern biological processes. Lectures integrate chemistry and biology to convey a holistic view of how these subjects interrelate to resolve current questions in science. Laboratory work is designed to illustrate and complement materials discussed in class. Three lecture hours and one laboratory. Prerequisites: BIO 110 or 111 or 113, with a grade of C- or better; and CHEM 105 or CHEM 107. Equivalent to CHEM 108.
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Study of the fundamental concepts of the chemistry of carbon compounds, with emphasis on molecular structure, reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and the application of spectroscopy to problems of identification. Three lecture hours, one lab discussion hour, and one laboratory.
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Study of the various classes of organic compounds, including substitutions in the aromatic nucleus, cyclic compounds, and natural products such as amino acids, carbohydrates and peptides. Three lecture hours, one lab discussion hour, and one laboratory.
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An overview of the field of forensic science. The course touches upon the breadth of forensic investigation and focuses on the microscopic and spectroscopic analysis of crime scene material. In its broadest definition, forensic science includes consumer and environmental protection, as well as murder, robbery, arson, explosives, fraud, illicit drugs and poisoning. This course focuses on the practical application of the familiar chemical principles and experimental methods found in introductory and organic chemistry.
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Study of the theories and applications of infrared, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy in relation to the importance of these spectroscopic methods in the analysis of chemical systems. Scope and limitations of each type of spectroscopy are covered. Course work includes lectures, discussions, student oral presentations, and laboratory sessions. Lab periods involve use of spectrometers in the identification of organic compounds. Three lecture hours and one laboratory.
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Understand the different subfields of chemistry and the implications of each of those fields on society. This course covers topics ranging from historical development of the field to the medical, environmental, and industrial applications of chemistry on modern society. Students will gain hands on experience in modern chemical techniques through problem based, interdisciplinary laboratory projects. Prerequisite: CHEM 203; Recommended corequisite CHEM 204.
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Overview of major disease challenges worldwide and potential strategies to combat those diseases. Developing human health related products drives the pharmaceutical industry, research community, and responsible governments worldwide. Success depends on increasing specialization across chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics. The goal is to expose students to professional opportunities beyond college. Topics include global health priorities such as AIDS, influenza, malaria, tuberculosis, the war against cancer, and vaccine and therapeutic development.
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The course is designed to provide a basic familiarity with the most common techniques used in structural biology and their applications to challenging biochemical, biotechnology and medical problems. Course focuses on current state-of-the-art biophysical methods that are being applied to study structure and function of biological macromolecules and biological systems with a focus on the most informative methods, such as X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and single molecule techniques. Theoretical underpinnings and the practical applications are covered.
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Quarter credit internship graded S/U.
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Study of the principles of statistical thermodynamics and chemical kinetics as applied to the states of matter, chemical reactions and equilibria, and electrochemistry, using lectures, readings, problems, discussions, and laboratory exercises. Computers are used as a tool for solving problems and for the reduction of experimental data. Prerequisites: Chem 108, Phys 110, mathematics through calculus (usually Math 211). Three lecture hours, one discussion hour, and one laboratory.
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Introduction to theories of quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and molecular reaction dynamics and their application to chemical systems through the use of problems, lectures, readings, discussions, and laboratory investigations. Three lecture hours, one discussion hour, and one laboratory afternoon. Prerequisite: Chemistry 305 or permission of instructor.
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Study of chemical analysis by use of modern instruments. Topics include complex equilibria, electroanalytical methods, quantitative spectroscopy, chromatography, and Fourier transform methods. Analytical techniques will be studied from both a chemical and an instrumental point of view. The laboratory stresses quantitative analytical procedures and includes an independent project. Three lecture hours and one laboratory afternoon.
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Synthesis, properties, and characterization of materials. Topics include mechanical, electrical, and optical properties, synthesis and fabrication of materials including semiconductors and nanoparticles, surface chemistry, surface sensitive spectroscopies, electron and probe microscopies, and applications of these materials in advanced technology.
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Detailed study of the structure and function of macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies as they pertain to living organisms. Topics include the structure and chemistry of proteins; the mechanisms and kinetics of enzyme catalyzed reactions; and the structure, chemistry, and functions of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and biological membranes. Classic and modern bioanalytical methods are emphasized. Three lecture hours and one laboratory afternoon
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Detailed survey of the primary and secondary metabolic processes in living cells. Topics discussed include the overall organization of metabolic pathways, carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism, biological oxidation and reduction and energy production. Special attention is given to regulation, hormone action, metabolic disorders and disease. Laboratory work includes an independent research project. Three lecture hours and one laboratory afternoon. Capstone course for Biology majors. Prerequisite: Biology majors- Bio 212 and Chem 204, or permission of the instructor.
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Study of synthetic, mechanistic, and theoretical concepts in organic chemistry. Particular emphasis is on the study of methods used to determine organic reaction mechanisms, stereospecific reactions, pericyclic reactions, and the design of multistep syntheses of complex molecules. Three lecture hours.
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Combined upper-level chemistry and physics lab designed to emphasize the use of tools in these disciplines to answer questions in biology. This course concentrates on the role of lipids (fats) and ions (salt) in biology. Utilizing multiple biochemical and biophysical techniques, students will perform multiple experiments to ultimately answer a complex biological problem.
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Combined upper-level biology/chemistry/health sciences laboratory where students design and synthesize organic compounds and determine the impact of structural modifications on these compounds’ biological activity. The semester is divided into two parts: the synthesis, isolation, and characterization of a derivative of a known, biologically active organic compound; and the assessment of its effect on cellular biology in vitro.
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Study of valence bond, crystal field, and molecular orbital theories; boron chemistry; organometallic compounds; structural, kinetic, and mechanistic studies of coordination compounds. Group theory and symmetry are applied to various systems. Three lecture hours and one laboratory.
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Senior research seminar for all Chemistry majors and for BMB majors doing research in the Chemistry Department. Students perform independent research projects, present their results in oral presentations, compose a senior thesis, critique their classmates’ and their own work, and take part in literature discussions. A student who plans to receive credit for independent research supervised in the Chemistry Department as part of the Chemistry or BMB major should register for this course in the spring semester of the senior year.
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Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
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Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
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Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
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Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
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Independent investigation in an area of mutual interest to the student and faculty director. Project normally includes both a literature and a laboratory study. An oral report to staff and students and a final written thesis are required. A student wishing to enroll in this course should consult with the faculty director at least two weeks before the end of the semester preceding the semester in which this course is to be taken. Open to junior and senior chemistry majors. Offered both semesters.
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Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
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Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
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Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor graded S/U
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Funded eight to ten week independent investigation in an area of mutual interest to the student and research director. Project normally includes both a literature and a laboratory study. Oral reports to staff and students and a final written thesis are required. Students wishing to enroll should consult with a chemistry department faculty member early in the spring semester.
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Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
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Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
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Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
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Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
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Summer Internship graded A-F, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.
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Summer Internship graded S/U, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office