Chemistry (CHE) Courses

CHE-101 Survey of Chemistry

A survey course designed for non-science concentrators, which considers the historical and philosophical developments in chemistry, as well as the application of chemical principles to physical phenomena and social issues. Topics include the development of the atomic theory of matter, atomic structure, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, the chemistry of life (organic and biochemistry), and nuclear energy. Some elementary mathematics will be used. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. Partially fulfills the College laboratory science requirement, but cannot be combined with CHE-111 to complete the laboratory science requirement. This course does not satisfy requirements for the chemistry major or minor. Only CHE-101 or CHE-111, not both, may be counted toward the total number of credits required for graduation.
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: CHE-101L
Credit: 1
Distribution: Science Lab, Quantitative Literacy

CHE-102 Topics in Chemistry

An introductory survey course for non-science concentrators that explores chemical principles via a unifying theme. Topics will vary with each scheduled offering. Although presented in the context of a focused application, common fundamentals covered include the scientific method of inquiry, quantitative measurement and calculations, structure and reactivity, applications of chemical principles, and presenting and evaluating scientific evidence. Some elementary mathematics will be used. Class meetings are complemented by a required laboratory activity each week. Partially fulfills the College laboratory science requirement, but cannot be combined with CHE-101 or CHE-111 to complete this distribution requirement. This course does not satisfy major or minor requirements for chemistry or those for the biochemistry major. Only one course from CHE-101, CHE-102, or CHE-111 may be counted toward the total number of credits required for graduation.
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: CHE-102L
Credit: 1
Distribution: Quantitative Literacy, Science Lab

CHE-106 Survey of Biochemistry

Foods, medical treatments, and biotechnological applications are important aspects of daily life, both for the individual and society as a whole. This course will focus on the biochemistry of the fundamental building blocks of life: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. It will include a broad overview of general and organic chemistry in the context of biomolecules. Emphases will include structure-function relationships, energy, human health, and societal issues. This course applies toward the lab science requirement, but does not count towards the chemistry, biochemistry, or biology majors or minors.
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: CHE-106L
Credit: 1
Distribution: Science Lab

CHE-111 General Chemistry

This is the introductory course for science concentrators. Topics include atomic theory, stoichiometry, thermo chemistry, equilibrium, gas laws, states of matter, solutions, atomic structure, and acid/base chemistry. The laboratory, which emphasizes the basic principles discussed in lecture, includes significant synthetic and analytical work. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: CHE-111L
Credit: 1
Distribution: Science Lab, Quantitative Literacy

CHE-171 Special Topics

Topics vary with each scheduled offering. Refer to Student Planning's section information for descriptions of individual offerings, and applicability to distribution requirements.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5

CHE-201 Survey of Chemistry II

Enrollment in this course is reserved solely for those students who took and passed CHE 101 and desire to prepare for further study in chemistry, such as organic chemistry. Topics include chemical bonding, thermodynamics and kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and electrochemistry. The laboratory will feature experiments and activities that reinforce and expand upon the fundamental principles explored in lecture. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. Partially fulfills the College laboratory science requirement. This course is offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-101 and permission of instructor
Corequisites: CHE-201L
Credit: 1

CHE-221 Organic Chemistry I

A study of the structure and reactions of simple organic compounds. Included as topics are molecular conformations, stereochemistry, and a discussion of some types of modern spectroscopic techniques. The laboratory work emphasizes techniques frequently used by the organic chemist, including distillation, crystallization, sublimation, chromatography, and spectroscopy. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-111
Corequisites: CHE-221L
Credit: 1
Distribution: Science Lab

CHE-241 Inorganic Chemistry

A study of the bonding and reaction chemistry of transition metal species, main group compounds, and solid state materials. Topics include coordination compounds, organometallic complexes, reaction kinetics and thermodynamics, molecular orbital theory, and a discussion of modern characterization techniques. Investigative work in the laboratory will feature a multi-week project involving the synthesis and characterization of a coordination compound, as well as experiments in descriptive inorganic chemistry, catalysis, and nanoscale structures. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. This course is offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-111
Corequisites: CHE-241L
Credit: 1
Distribution: Science Lab, Quantitative Literacy

CHE-302 Electron Microscopy

Electron microscopes employ a focused beam of highly energetic electrons to examine sample morphology and topography on a very fine scale. This information is essential to the characterization of a wide range of biological and inorganic specimens including microorganisms, cells, crystals, metals, microelectronics, and nanomaterials. The initial classroom portion of this course focuses on fundamental topics in instrument design, applications, limitations, and sample preparation methods. Subsequent laboratory work involves hands-on instrument training and a substantial microscopy project.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5
Equated Courses: PHY-302

CHE-321 Organic Chemistry II

Characteristic reactions and syntheses of organic molecules will be covered in this course. Spectroscopic techniques not covered in CHE 221 will also be surveyed. Emphasis is placed on the utility of organic chemistry in today's world; class discussions and laboratory work will present many biologically interesting illustrations. Also included is an introduction to the use of the chemical literature. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. This course is offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-221
Corequisites: CHE-321L
Credit: 1

CHE-331 Analytical Chemistry

An integrated survey of the application of instrumental methods (spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, chromatography) and modern data analysis methods to the analysis of chemical systems. Electronics and statistical methods of data analysis are also covered. The laboratory emphasizes basic analytical technique, instrument design and function, chemical characterization and separation, and data analysis. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. This course is offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-241
Corequisites: CHE-331L
Credit: 1

CHE-351 Physical Chemistry

An introduction to quantum mechanics through the study of exactly soluble models of chemical significance is followed by a statistical mechanical development of chemical thermodynamics. Topics include the postulates of quantum mechanics, the Schrodinger equation, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, equations of state, partition functions, laws of thermodynamics, and the thermodynamics of ideal and non-ideal solutions. The laboratory applies concepts studied in lecture and emphasizes laboratory report writing skills. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-241 and MAT-112 (must be completed prior to taking this course.
Corequisites: CHE-351L (must be taken at the same time as this course)
Credit: 1

CHE-361 Biochemistry

Basic chemical concepts such as intermolecular forces, equilibria, energetics, and reaction mechanisms will be used to study biological systems. The class will be divided into three major foci: biomolecular structures, metabolism, and information transfer. The laboratory will familiarize students with common biochemical techniques and will integrate current areas of biochemical research. Three lectures and one laboratory each week. This course is offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-211, CHE-241, or CHE-321, or permission of instructor
Corequisites: CHE-361L
Credit: 1
Distribution: Science Lab, Quantitative Literacy

CHE-371 Advanced Chemical Instrumentation

Developments in modern instrumentation enable advanced exploration into fundamental and applied research in chemistry. This courser engages students with an in-depth and hands-on approach to a major instrument associated with one of the traditional subdisciplines of chemistry. The classroom portion of this course focuses on fundamental topics specific to instrument design, applications, limitations, and sample preparation methods. Subsequent laboratory work involves hands-on instrumentation and a substantial independent project. Topics vary from year to year and are announced prior to registration for each semester. Refer to Student Planning for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: CHE-331 (must be completed prior to taking this course)
Credits: 0.5-1

CHE-388 Special Problems

The content for this course varies from semester to semester. It may be repeated for credit upon the instructor's approval. Topics vary with each scheduled offering. Refer to Student Planning's section information for descriptions of individual offerings, and applicability to distribution requirements.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1

CHE-421 Advanced Organic Chemistry

Topics covered vary from year to year. Examples of recent topics include advanced synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and the chemistry of dyes. Refer to Student Planning for topics and descriptions of current offerings. This course is offered either in the fall or spring semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-321
Credits: 0.5

CHE-431 Advanced Analytical Chemistry

A laboratory-based, research-focused exploration of advanced topics in instrument design, function, and data analysis. Experiments dealing with basic analog and digital electronics will stress measurement techniques and data acquisition figures of merit. The use of computers and programming will be considered, with emphasis on data collection (interfacing) and manipulation. These topics will be integrated into discussion and experiments dealing with instrumental analysis. Individual research projects will involve the construction/characterization of instruments and techniques. This course is offered on an occasional basis.
Prerequisites: CHE-331
Credits: 0.5

CHE-441 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

An advanced study of inorganic chemistry topics beyond those explored in CHE-241, including group theory, molecular spectroscopy, and advanced concepts in organometallics, catalysis, and nanomaterials. This course is important for students interested in attending graduate school in chemistry or materials engineering.
Prerequisites: CHE-241
Credits: 0.5

CHE-451 Advanced Physical Chemistry

This course offers further study of special topics in physical chemistry beyond the topics covered in CHE-351. Examples of recent topics include time-dependent quantum mechanics and laser-based spectroscopies. This course is typically offered in the spring semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-351 (must be completed prior to taking this course)
Credits: 0.5

CHE-461 Advanced Biochemistry

Topics vary from year to year. Examples of recent topics include the chemistry of cancer, determining structures of biomolecules, the RNA world, fermentation and brewing, and the mechanisms of enzyme action. Refer to Student Planning and the Course Descriptions document on the Registrar's webpage for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: CHE-361
Credits: 0.5

CHE-462 Biochemistry II

This capstone course for the biochemistry major will use primary literature to examine DNA replication, transcription, and translation on a molecular level, and will include a primary literature research project. This course is offered in the fall semester.
Prerequisites: CHE-361
Credits: 0.5

CHE-471 Advanced Topics in Chemistry

This in-depth experience builds technical expertise, provides a more sophisticated view of chemical concepts, fosters critical thinking, promotes skill development, and gives the student an opportunity for the intellectual growth and rigorous thinking that comes from engaging in topics at a high level. An in-depth study of topics selected from the areas of analytical, physical, inorganic, organic, and biochemistry. Focused study of modern research areas of current interest for advanced students; topics vary from year to year and are announced prior to registration for each semester. Refer to Student Planning for topics and descriptions of current offerings.
Prerequisites: CHE-241 (must be completed prior to taking this course)
Credits: 0.5-1

CHE-487 Independent Study

Individual library, coding, or fabrication projects under the supervision of faculty on selected problems for qualified students. Independent projects related to this course do not typically involve significant laboratory research activities. Enrolled students are committed to a minimum 60 hours of work related to their project (0.5 credit earned via ~4 hours a week) and will produce a final report documenting their accomplishments. Topics vary and are determined in collaboration with a faculty member in the chemistry department prior to registration. Instructor permission is required for enrollment.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1

CHE-488 Undergraduate Research Methods

Individual laboratory research projects under the supervision of individual faculty on selected problems for qualified students. Projects in this course involve significant laboratory work and are intended to provide opportunities for students to become involved in ongoing research projects with chemistry faculty. Enrolled students are committed to a minimum 60 hours of laboratory work (0.5 credit earned via ~4 hours a week) and will produce a final research report documenting their accomplishments. Topics vary and are determined in collaboration with a faculty member in the chemistry department prior to registration. Instructor permission is required for enrollment.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5-1

CHE-491 Integrative Chemistry

The study of chemistry builds upon a progressive investigation of the field's traditional subdisciplines. While a strong preparation in these areas is established through rigorous foundation level coursework, many of the most significant and innovative topics in modern research emerge through meaningful integration of several subdisciplines. This half-semester course focuses on an advanced research field that challenges students to apply knowledge from a combination of foundational courses within the major. While topics may vary each offering, critical engagement with the primary literature, small- group discussion, guided inquiry, and diverse modes of oral and written presentation will be emphasized. This course is required of all majors and is offered during the first half of the fall semester. Instructor permission is required for enrollment.
Prerequisites: none
Credits: 0.5