Nov 21, 2024

2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog

2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemistry, American Chemical Society Certified Curriculum in Materials Chemistry Concentration, B.S.

Dr. Linette M. Watkins, Department Head
Phone: (540) 568-6246
Email: watkinlm@jmu.edu
Location: Physics and Chemistry Building, Room 1186
Website: http://www.jmu.edu/chemistry

Professors
D. Amenta, K. Caran, T. DeVore, D. Downey, R. Foust, J. Gilje, G. MacDonald, B. Reisner, L. Watkins

Associate Professors
B. Boardman, C. Hughey, S. Lewis, D. Mohler, N. Wright, Y. Zhang

Assistant Professors

A. Baber, C. Berndsen, O. Kokhan, P. Raston, I. Sumner

Lecturers
D. Blumling, K. Funck, Q. Liu, D. Warnaar, D. Wilson

Mission Statement

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers the B.S. degree for a major in chemistry, with concentrations that meet the American Chemical Society Accredited Programs requirements for programs in biochemistry, materials chemistry and in chemistry/chemical education. In addition, the department offers a B.S. degree in biophysical chemistry. It also offers minors in chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, and materials science. The programs are designed to provide the theoretical and practical instruction in chemistry and related areas to prepare students for careers in chemistry, biochemistry, medicine, dentistry, paramedical areas, forensic sciences, chemical engineering and other technology based areas. The department also recognizes its responsibility to provide courses for non-chemistry majors who need a basic understanding of the principles of chemistry either for their chosen major or their general education.

Career Opportunities

Graduate school in chemistry, biochemistry or related areas (ACS Certified Degrees preferred)
Professional employment as a chemist or biochemist (ACS Certified Degrees preferred)
Professional school (medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, business and law)
Chemical engineering
Environmental science
Forensic science
Immunology
Industrial hygiene
Pharmaceutical chemistry
Pharmacology
Production supervision
Quality control
Research assistant
Scientific writing
Some forms of development work
Technical library science
Toxicology

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Chapter
Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Fraternity (Coed)
Iota Sigma Pi

Concentration III: American Chemical Society Certified Curriculum in Materials Chemistry

All ACS Certified Programs require a minimum of 400 hours of laboratory and research. Students completing concentration III must complete the courses below in addition to core courses.

Degree and Major Requirements

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

General Education 41 Credit Hours ¹
Quantitative requirement (in addition to General Education ) 3 Credit Hours ²
Scientific Literacy requirement (in addition to General Education ) 3-4 Credit Hours ²
Major requirements and electives 70-74 Credit Hours

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Footnotes

¹ The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary. Some courses that are required for this major will meet General Education requirements.
² The quantitative and scientific literacy requirements are met by courses required in the major.

Additional Information

Students must complete all course work in one of the six concentrations listed to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. The credit hours for major requirements will vary based on the chosen concentration.

Core Requirements for all concentrations

CHEM 131. General Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 132. General Chemistry II 3.00
CHEM 135L. Special General Chemistry Laboratory 1.00 ¹
CHEM 136L. Special General Chemistry Laboratory 2.00 ¹
CHEM 241. Organic Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 242. Organic Chemistry II 3.00
CHEM 270. Inorganic Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 287L. Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory 2.00
CHEM 288L. Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory 2.00
CHEM 331. Physical Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 351. Analytical Chemistry 4.00
CHEM 361. Biochemistry I 3.00
CHEM 481. Literature and Seminar I 1.00
CHEM 482. Literature and Seminar II 1.00

Total: 34 Credit Hours

Required Cognate Courses for all Concentrations

MATH 235. Calculus I 4.00 and
MATH 236. Calculus II 4.00 (or MATH 231 , 232 and 236 )
PHYS 240. University Physics I 3.00
PHYS 250. University Physics II 3.00
PHYS 140L. General Physics Laboratory 1.00
PHYS 150L. General Physics Laboratory 1.00

Total: 16-18 Credit Hours

Footnote

¹ CHEM 131L and CHEM 131L-132L may be substituted.

Electives

The well-prepared student is encouraged to take as many of the additional departmental offerings as possible as electives with attention being given to junior and/or senior research projects.

Three credits of undergraduate research (CHEM 390A, B /497A, B, C /499 ) may be used to satisfy chemistry elective requirements if the research project is completed with the same faculty mentor over multiple semesters.

Required Courses

All ACS Certified Programs require a minimum of 400 hours of laboratory and research. Students completing concentration III must complete the courses below in addition to core courses.

CHEM 336L. Applied Physical Chemistry Laboratory 2.00
CHEM 352. Instrumental Analysis 3.00
CHEM 352L. Instrumental Analysis Laboratory 2.00
CHEM 375. An Introduction to Materials Science 3.00
CHEM 432. Physical Chemistry II 3.00
CHEM 445. Polymer Chemistry 3.00 (with laboratory)
MATH 237. Calculus III 4.00
MATH 238. Linear Algebra with Differential Equations 4.00

Choose one of the following: 3-4 Credit Hours

CHEM 485. Science of the Small 4.00
ENGR 314. Materials and Mechanics 4.00
ENGR 498. Advanced Topics in Engineering 1.00-3.00 (when topic is appropriate)
GEOL 390. Laboratory Techniques in Geology (2, 2) 3.00

Total: 28-29 Credit Hours

Recommended Schedule for Majors

First Year

CHEM 131. General Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 132. General Chemistry II 3.00
CHEM 135L. Special General Chemistry Laboratory 1.00
CHEM 136L. Special General Chemistry Laboratory 2.00
or
CHEM 131L. General Chemistry Laboratory [C3T1G2] 1.00
CHEM 132L. General Chemistry Laboratory 1.00
MATH 235. Calculus I 4.00
MATH 236. Calculus II 4.00
BIO 140. Foundations of Biology I (3,3) 4.00
General Education courses or electives 10 Credit Hours

Total: 30-31 Credit Hours

Second Year

CHEM 241. Organic Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 242. Organic Chemistry II 3.00
CHEM 270. Inorganic Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 287L. Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory 2.00
CHEM 288L. Integrated Inorganic/Organic Laboratory 2.00
PHYS 240. University Physics I 3.00
PHYS 250. University Physics II 3.00
PHYS 140L. General Physics Laboratory 1.00
PHYS 150L. General Physics Laboratory 1.00
General Education courses or electives 9 Credit Hours

Total: 30 Credit Hours

Third Year

CHEM 331. Physical Chemistry I 3.00
CHEM 351. Analytical Chemistry 4.00
CHEM 352. Instrumental Analysis 3.00
CHEM 352L. Instrumental Analysis Laboratory 2.00
CHEM 361. Biochemistry I 3.00
CHEM 481. Literature and Seminar I 1.00
CHEM 482. Literature and Seminar II 1.00
Courses in the concentration, General Education or electives 13 Credit Hours

Total: 30 Credit Hours

Fourth Year

Courses in the concentration, General Education or electives 29 Credit Hours

Total: 29 Credit Hours

Credit by Examination

The chemistry and biochemistry department offers credit by examination for CHEM 131 and 132 . General Chemistry I-II. Students who want permission to take the examination must apply to the department head. Details regarding approval to take the examination and examination dates will be provided when the application is received.

Teaching Licensure

Students interested in becoming teachers must meet specific curriculum requirements in their major as part of the undergraduate academic degree. Chemistry majors must also complete a course in biology and a course in geology.

In addition to the general education and academic major requirements, chemistry majors desiring secondary teacher licensure must be admitted to teacher education, complete the pre-professional program in secondary education at the undergraduate level and the graduate level Master of Arts in Teaching degree.

It is critical that students seeking licensure consult regularly with both their education adviser and their major adviser to support their progression through the programs. For a full description of the program in secondary teaching, refer to the Department of Middle, Secondary and Mathematics Education , in addition to the College of Education /Professional Education Unit section of the catalog.