B.S. in Chemistry (ACS-Certified Degree)

The B.S. in Chemistry leads to a degree certified by the American Chemical Society. This rigorous program requires 64 credit hours of courses and provides a strong preparation suitable for students who plan to pursue graduate study in chemistry or careers as professional chemists in chemical industry, government agencies, or medical research. The four-year outline shown below shows the courses required for the degree listed in the years that most students take the courses.

Freshman Year

An introduction to chemistry for the science major. First semester topics include atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, calculations involving chemical concentrations, gas laws and bonding. Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry of permission. 3 credits.
A continuation of first semester. Topics include kinetics, acids and bases, equilibrium, oxidation- reduction chemistry, thermodynamics, electro- chemistry and nuclear chemistry. Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry or permission. 3 credits.
Laboratory course to accompany 111. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to intrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 111. 1 credit.
Laboratory course to accompany CHM 112. Experiments cover stoichiometry, gas laws, quantitative analysis, equilibrium, electro- chemistry, chemical synthesis and the use of computers for collecting data. Students are introduced to instrumentation including infrared, UV-visible, and atomic absorption spectrometers. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 112. 1 credit.
Helps the student find his or her own voice within the demands and expectations of public expression. Both courses emphasize the development of clear, organized and rhetorically effective written prose. 3 credits.
Helps the student find his or her own voice within the demands and expectations of public expression. Emphasizes the development of clear, organized and rhetorically effective written prose. This course also emphasizes speaking, reading and research skills. Prerequisite: ENG 111 or permission of chairperson. 3 credits.
A calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and applications. Prerequisite: placement testing or MAS 102. MAS 161 is a prerequisite for MAS 162. 3 credits per semester.
Second semester of a calculus sequence covering functions, limits, differentiation, integration and infinite sets. Prerequisite: MAS 161. 3 credits.
† indicates a required course

Sophomore Year

An introduction to the principles of organic chemistry. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic synthesis. Prerequisite: CHM 112. 3 credits.
A continuation of the first semester. The focus of the course is on the structure of organic molecules and how the structure of various functional groups affects their reactivity. The concepts of reactivity, structure and mechanism are applied to organic systhesis. Prerequisite: CHM 112. 3 credits.
An introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Prerequisite or corequisite:CHM 114 and CHM 213. 1 credit.
A continuation from CHM 215. Introduction to the practice of classical organic chemistry and modern instrumental organic chemistry. The techniques of organic synthesis are taught along with instrumental methods including infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Prerequisite or Corequisite: CHM 214. 1 credit.
The application of elementary principles of chemistry to provide a basis for understanding the physical and chemical properties of the elements. Topics include periodicity, acidity or basicity of metal cations and oxoanions, precipitation reactions, oxidation-reduction chemistry and the structures of solids. Prerequisite: CHM 112. Writing process. 3 credits.
Students will be exposed to a number of advanced synthetic methods including inert atmosphere manipulations, high vacuum and temperature dehydrations, mixed solvent crystalizations, and photochemical transformations . Writing Process. Corequisite: CHM 222. 1 credit.
Multivariate calculus including partial differentiation, multiple integration, vector fields and vector functions. Prerequisite: MAS 112 or MAS 162. 3 credits.
An introduction to ordinary differential equations. Prerequisite: MAS 162 or 112. 3 credits.
An introductory course in classical physics, designed for students who desire a rigorous mathematical approach to college physics. Calculus is used throughout. The first semester is devoted to mechanics and heat with laboratory work in each area. Prerequisite: MAS 111 or 161. 4 credits.
Second semester of Principles of Physics. An introductory course in classical physics, designed for students who desire a rigorous mathematical approach to college physics. Calculus is used throughout. The second semester is devoted to electricity, magnetism and optics with laboratory work in each area. Prerequisite or corequisite: MAS 111 or 161. 4 credits.
† indicates a required course

Junior Year

Topics for this course include statistical methods; activity and activity coefficients; chemical equilibria involving complex systems; volumetric analyses including acid/base, precipitation, redox, and compleximetric tritrations; principles of electrochemistry, potentiometry, alectrogravimetry, coulometry, and voltametry. Prerequisites: CHM 112 and MAS 161. 3 credits.
Basic types of chemical instrumentation and their applications in analytical chemistry are examined. These include gas and liquid chromatography; infrared, UV-VIS, fluorescence, atomic absorption, and plasma emission spectrophotometry; nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry; and radiochemical methods. Prerequisite: CHM 112 and MAS 161. 3 credits.
Volumetric, spectrophotometric, and electrochemical methods are applied to the analysis of unknowns. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 305. 1 credit.
Chemical instrumentation is utilized in analytical method development and analysis. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 306. 1 credit.
The study of thermodynamic laws and functions, including phase and reaction equilibria. Systems under study include ideal and real gases, ideal and non-ideal solutions, and multi-component phase transitions. Also included are electrochemistry, kinetic and transport processes, and surfaces. Prereqisite: CHM 112, MAS 162, and PHY 104 or 112. 3 credits.
The study of chemical systems from a molecular perspective. Basic concepts of quantum chemistry and statistical theory applied to atomic and molecular structure. Prerequisite: CHM 311. 3 credits.
Application of chemical instrumentation to a study of the principles of physical chemistry. Experimental work involves calorimetry, refractometry, conductivity, viscometry and atomic absorption, FTIR, UV-VIS, and NMR spectroscopy applied to the study of phase and reaction equilibria, kinetics, and atomic and molecular structure. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 311. Writing process. 1 credit.
Application of chemical instrumentation to a study of the principles of physical chemistry. Experimental work involves calorimetry, refractometry, conductivity, viscometry and atomic absorption, FTIR, UV-VIS, and NMR spectroscopy applied to the study of phase and reaction equilibria, kinetics, and atomic and molecular structure. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 312. Writing process. 1 credit.
† indicates a required course

Senior Year

The study of the chemistry of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Topics covered include amino acid chemistry, protein structure and characterization, ligand binding, enzyme kinetics, membrane systems, membrane transport, and the use of recombinant DNA techniques in protein analysis. Prerequisites: CHM 214, 216 and 312 or permission. 3 credits.
A study of bonding theories, molecular structure, spectroscopy and reaction mechanisms with special emphasis on transition metal complexes. Prerequisite: CHM 312. 3 credits.
Chemical research conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. This course introduces the students to the methods and analysis involved in research. A major written report and an oral presentation are required. Prerequisite or corequisite: CHM 305 and 311 and senior standing. 1 to 4 credits per semester.
† indicates a required course