117 Chemistry (prerequisite: facility with algebra)
150 Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry: Metals All Around Us
230 Organic Chemistry I (prerequisite: Chemistry 117 or 220)
245 Molecular Modeling, Visualization, and Computational Chemistry (prerequisites: Physics 101 or 102, Math 110 or 115)
250 Chemistry of Color: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (prerequisite: Chemistry 220 or 230 or Geology 200 or Physics 210)
300 DNA & Protein Biochemistry (prerequisites: Chemistry 220, 235, and any Biology course or Chemistry 240)
117 Chemistry (prerequisites: facility with algebra)
220 Environmental, Analytical and Geochemistry (prerequisite: Chem 117 or facility with algebra and mole calculations)
235 Organic Chemistry II (prerequisite: Chemistry 230)
240 Thermodynamics and Kinetics (prerequisites: one unit of chemistry, Physics 101 or 102, Math 110 or 115)
260 Nutrition and Metabolism: Biochemical Mechanisms (prerequisites: Chemistry 230 and any Biology course or Chemistry 235)
360 Microbes to Molecules: Antibiotic Discovery (prerequisites: 200-level Biology course, Chemistry 230)
225 Topics in Instrumental Analysis (1/2 unit, prerequisites: Chem 220 or 230 but may vary with topic)
390 Special Projects (1/4, 1/2, or 1). Research work under faculty supervision.
395 Teaching Assistant (1/4, 1/2). Work with faculty in classroom and laboratory instruction.
396 Teaching Assistant Research (1/4, 1/2). Course, laboratory, and curriculum development projects with faculty.
Why is chemistry important to other sciences, technology, and society? What
processes do chemists use when dealing with real problems? What conceptual models
do chemists use to understand and explain their observations? The focus of this
course is on the reasons for doing science, the intellectual and instrumental
tools used, the models developed to solve new problems and the assertion that
chemistry has a tremendous effect on your personal life and on the decisions
made by society. Along the way we will cover atoms, molecules, ions, and periodic
properties; chemical equations, stoichiometry and moles; Lewis structures and
VSEPR model of bonding; reactivity and functional groups; states of matter and
intermolecular forces; relationships between structure and properties. Topical
applications and issues vary with the instructor and may include climate change,
automobile pollution, and health/nutrition. Three two-hour class periods
per week of combined lecture, laboratory, and discussion. (U, W) Offered each
semester.
Prerequisite: Facility with algebra. Note: Students with a strong prior background
in chemistry are encouraged to consult with the department about placement into
a more advanced chemistry course.
This course introduces the
chemistry of metals, which are integral for life, from materials in electronics to biological life. Metals also
can be incredibly toxic in many ways from heavy metal poisoning to the efects of mining. In this course,
students explore where metals come from (stars!) and the molecular level structure of metallic compounds.
Students then look at applications of metallic chemistry including chemistry in art, materials chemistry,
and bioinorganic chemistry. This course also includes a lab that runs in parallel with the lecture content.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 150 is appropriate for continuing and incoming students
with a strong high school chemistry experience but does not replace Chemistry 117.
Chemical equilibria are fundamental in the understanding of biological and
environmental processes and in chemical analysis. This course emphasizes quantitative
and graphical interpretation of acid-base, solubility, distribution, complex
ion, and redox equilibria in aqueous solution and soils. Laboratory work stresses
application of gravimetric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, and potentiometric
techniques. Pre-professional preparation requiring one term of quantitative
analysis is satisfied by Chemistry 220. Three class periods and one laboratory
period per week. (U) Offered each spring.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 117 or facility with mole calculations.
Possible topics include
nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, infrared, Raman, electronic
and atomic absorption and x-ray spectroscopies; mass spectrometry; gas and
liquid chromatography; microcalorimetry; and voltammetry. One
laboratory period per week. May be taken more than once under different topics.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 220 or Chemistry 230.
Reaction and properties of aliphatic and aromatic
compounds of carbon. Considerable emphasis on modern theoretical interpretation
of structure and of reaction mechanisms. Laboratory: basic techniques
and synthetic procedures and modern spectroscopic methods of structure determination.
Three class periods and one laboratory period per week.
(Q, U) Offered each fall.
Prerequisite: Chem 117 or 220.
Reaction and properties of aliphatic and aromatic
compounds of carbon. Considerable emphasis on modern theoretical interpretation
of structure and of reaction mechanisms. Laboratory: basic techniques
and synthetic procedures and modern spectroscopic methods of structure determination;
as part of the laboratory experience for Chemistry 235, each student
is required to prepare an independent laboratory project and carry
it out under the supervision of the instructor. Three class periods and one laboratory
period per week. Offered each spring.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 117 and Chemistry 230.
First, second, and third laws of thermodynamics; phase and
chemical equilibria; electrochemistry; experimental chemical kinetics, mechanisms, photophysics
and theories of chemical reactions. Offered each spring.
Prerequisites: one unit of chemistry, Physics 101, and Mathematics 110 or consent of instructor.
This course is an
introduction to molecular modeling and computational chemistry. Students learn the fundamentals of
quantum chemistry and applications in atomic and molecular systems. Topics include the principles of
quantum theory, molecular electronic structure calculation, molecular geometry and orbital modeling and
visualization, molecular property analysis, chemical reactions and spectroscopic characterization. Computer
software tools are used in this course. Two three-hour combined class and laboratory periods per week.
Offered every other fall.
Prerequisites: Physics 101 or 102 and Mathematics 110 or 115.
This course focuses on metals and their chemistry to describe color phenomena.
Students develop an understanding of atomic and molecular structure and bonding and
explore how structure relates to the macro- level function of chemical compounds.
While the focus of the course is broadly around color and how it is experienced and
measured, and how chemical compounds determine color, the applications for this work
are broad and include optics, magnetics, catalysis, and energy generation and storage.
Students engage with this content in both the classroom and the laboratory.
Offered every other fall.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 220 or 230 or Geology 200 or Physics 210.
Molecular biology, bioenergetics and regulation of cellular processes. Metabolism
of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleic acids. Laboratory experiments
investigate metabolism and electron transport utilizing techniques for preparation
and purification of enzymes, carbohydrates, and lipids. Three class periods and
one laboratory period per week. Offered each spring.
Prerequisites: Chemistry 230 and either any college-level biology course or Chemistry 235.
At the fundamental chemical level, how do cells maintain and extract information from
DNA to build and utilize proteins? Considerable emphasis on the chemical basis of
biological information storage and processing, structure and function of proteins,
enzyme catalysis theory, and quantitative analysis of enzyme kinetics.
Three class periods and one lab period per week. (CP) Offered each fall.
Prerequisites: Chem 220, 235, and either any college-level biology course or Chemistry 240.
This course explores the chemistry of
antibiotics, including their chemical structures, mechanisms of antibiotic action, mechanisms of bacterial
resistance, methods of drug discovery, and stewardship and policy. Students engage in critical reading and
discussion of scientifc literature. During the laboratory component of the course, students discover and
characterize antibiotic-producing bacteria from soil. Techniques include aseptic microbiological work, PCR
and introductory bioinformatics (BLAST, and antiSMASH), chemical extraction, and biochemical assays.
Students engage in experimental design during a semester-long research project and communicate their
fndings by preparing and presenting a poster about their research project. (CP)
Ofered every other spring.
Prerequisite: One 200-level biology course, Chemistry 230, and junior or senior standing, or consent of instructor.
This course examines the organic chemistry of drug design,
development, and action with an emphasis on the chemical mechanisms of biologically important reactions.
Particular attention is paid to the interaction between a drug and its receptor, looking in detail at enzyme
inhibition and inactivation and interactions between drugs and DNA. Drug metabolism and drug delivery
are also discussed. Specifc classes of drugs and current literature in medicinal chemistry are the basis of
student-led presentations throughout the semester. (CP) Ofered every other year.
Prerequisite: Chemistry 235.
In-depth study of selected topics stressing primary research
literature. Lecture, discussion, student presentations and papers.
May include laboratory. Past offerings have included advanced organic chemistry,
scientific glassblowing, medicinal chemistry, and laser spectroscopy.
May be repeated for credit if topic is different. Offered each semester.
Prerequisite: Varies with topic.
Research work under faculty supervision.
Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
Work with faculty in classroom and laboratory instruction. Graded credit/no credit.
Course, laboratory, and curriculum development projects with faculty.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
Last updated August 11, 2026