Chemistry
Chemistry | Overview | Sample Schedule
57 credits
Why chemistry?
The chemistry major serves those students who wish to build an educational background for a variety of interesting careers. A chemistry graduate is ready for immediate employment either as a chemical technician or as a chemist in government, industry, or academia. Chemistry offers excellent preparation for professional schools including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary science or for graduate work in chemistry. Careers can be found in any of the traditional areas of chemistry as well as in forensic science, materials science, environmental science, food chemistry, paper chemistry, water chemistry, agricultural chemistry, petroleum chemistry, geochemistry, polymer chemistry, paint and coatings chemistry, and scientific writing and/or art. An advanced degree can also lead to doing fundamental research in academia, industry or government or professional work in management, law, sales, marketing, consulting, and purchasing. A chemistry career is usually limited only by one’s own vision!
Career Options
Agricultural and Food Scientists; Chemists and Materials Scientists; Elementary, Middle, and High School Teachers; Environmental Scientist; Forensic Scientists; Materials Engineers; Occupational Health and Safety Specialists; Pharmacists; Scientific Writer and/or Artist
High School Preparation
Biology; Calculus; Chemistry; Computer science; Physics
Sample First Year Schedule |
| Fall Semester |
Course # | Title | Credits |
| C131/133 | General Chemistry I & Lab I | 4 |
| M151 | Calculus I | 4 |
| LCT140 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| E120 | English Composition | 3 |
| | Disciplinary Studies/ Oral Communication Requirement | 3 |
| | 17 total |
| Spring Semester |
Course # | Title | Credits |
| C142/144 | General Chemistry II & Lab II | 4 |
| M152 | Calculus II | 4 |
| | Disciplinary Studies/ Oral Communication Requirement | 3 |
| | Disciplinary Studies Course | 3 |
| | Disciplinary Studies Course | 3 |
| | | 17 total |
For more information contact: |
| Chemistry Chair |
Roger Kugel, Ph.D. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 700 Terrace Heights #14 Winona, MN 55987-1399 (800) 635-5987, Ext. 1556 rkugel@smumn.edu |
(From the 09-11 Catalog)
A. Chemistry Core
All of the following:
C131 General Chemistry I
C133 General Chemistry I Lab
C142 General Chemistry II
C144 General Chemistry II Lab
C321 Organic Chemistry I
C322 Organic Chemistry II
C323 Organic Chemistry I Lab
C331 Physical Chemistry I
C341 Analytical Chemistry I
C443 Chemistry Seminar
C445 Chemistry Research Planning
C446 Chemistry Research Experience
C447 Chemistry Research Thesis
M151 Calculus I
M152 Calculus II
P201 Introductory Physics I
P202 Introductory Physics I Lab
P211 Introductory Physics II
P212 Introductory Physics II Lab
B. All of the following:
C332 Physical Chemistry II
C451 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
C. Either two additional 400-level chemistry electives (see Course Catalog for options) or M251 Calculus and one additional 400-level chemistry elective (a total of 6-8 credits).
Click on courses below for descriptions
C131 General Chemistry I (3 credits)This course covers the fundamental principles upon which the study of chemistry is based. Stoichiometry, atomic structure, molecular structure, chemical bonding, behavior of gases, kinetic molecular theory, properties of solutions, chemical reactivity and thermochemistry are included. Three hours of lecture per week.
Offered fall semester.
Prerequisite: M115 or equivalent and concurrent with C133.
C133 General Chemistry I Laboratory (1 credit)This laboratory is an inquiry-based approach to understanding the process of doing chemistry. Each week, as a team member with a specific role working for a consulting company, the student receives a letter from a "chemical client" requesting the solution to a chemical problem. It is the responsibility of the team to design a solution, collect data, and report the results to the client in report form.
Offered fall semester.
Prerequisite: concurrent with C131.
C142 General Chemistry II (3 credits)This course includes the study of the chemistry of redox reactions, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium theory, electrochemistry, chemical dynamics, organic chemistry, phase behavior and solution chemistry. Three hours of lecture per week.
Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: C131/133 and concurrent with C144.
C144 General Chemistry II Laboratory (1 credit)This laboratory is an inquiry-based approach to understanding the process of doing chemistry. Each week, as a team member with a specific role working for a consulting company, the student receives a letter from a "chemical client" requesting the solution to a chemical problem. It is the responsibility of the team to design a solution, collect data, and report the results to the client in report form.
Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: concurrent with C142.
C321 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)Organized by chemical functional groups and reaction mechanisms, this course presents both classical and modern theories of organic chemistry while rigorously exploring chemical structure-reactivity relationships. The fundamentals of nomenclature, physical properties, chemical structure, stereochemistry, organic reactions, mechanisms, synthesis, purification, and compound characterization is emphasized. Biological, medical, and familiar real-world examples are discussed in the context of organic chemistry.
Prerequisites:
- C131 General Chemistry I
- C133 General Chemistry I Laboratory
- C142 General Chemistry II
- C144 General Chemistry II Laboratory
Offered fall semester.
Concurrent with C323.
C322 Organic Chemistry II (4 credits)A continuation of C321/323, this course builds upon the fundamental presented in C321/323. It is organized by functional groups and reaction mechanisms, while integrating this knowledge into chemical synthesis. Additional topics include aromaticity, NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, carbonyl chemistry, synthetic strategy, and advanced C-C bond forming reactions.
Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in C321 and C323.
C323 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1 credit)This laboratory complements the lecture segment of the course by demonstrating and utilizing the concepts learned in the classroom to acquire , isolate, and characterize desired organic reaction products. In this laboratory students become familiar with the equipment, glassware, techniques, and expertise required to implement the chemistry proposed on paper, to optimize it, and to communicate it to the chemical community. A practical context for the developed chemical intuition is provided.
Prerequisites:
- C131 General Chemistry I
- C133 General Chemistry I Laboratory
- C142 General Chemistry II
- C144 General Chemistry II Laboratory
C331 Physical Chemistry I (4 credits)This course involves chemical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, and their applications. The following thermodynamic topics are considered: properties of gases, kinetic molecular theory, the laws of thermodynamics, thermochemistry, and chemical equilibrium. The following kinetic topics are considered: chemical reaction rates, determination of rate laws, reaction mechanisms, and theories of reaction rates. Three lectures and three hours of lab per week are required.
Prerequisites:
- C142 General Chemistry II
- C144 General Chemistry II Laboratory
- P211 Introductory Physics II
- P212 Introductory Physics II Laboratory
- M152 Calculus II
C332 Physical Chemistry II (4 credits)This course involves an introduction to quantum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics. The following quantum topics are considered: quantum theory and applications to simple systems of particles, approximation methods for complex systems of particles and spectroscopic verification of quantum results. The following statistical mechanics topics are considered: the Boltzmann distribution, statistics of large populations, the partition function and thermodynamic functions from statistical mechanics results. Three lectures and three hours of lab per week are required.
Prerequisites:
- C142 General Chemistry II
- C144 General Chemistry II Laboratory
- P211 Introductory Physics II
- P212 Introductory Physics II Laboratory
- M152 Calculus II
C341 Analytical Chemistry I (4 credits)This course introduces the student to the theory, statistical treatment and laboratory practice of obtaining information about the composition of matter. Topics include: measurement uncertainty, aqueous solution equilibrium, gravimetry, titrimetry, chromatography and basic spectrophotometry. The laboratory projects involve analytical chemical problems whose solutions are researched and solved by student teams.
Prerequisites:
- C142 General Chemistry II
- C144 General Chemistry II Laboratory
- C322 Organic Chemistry II
C443 Chemistry Seminar (1 credits)Chemistry seminar provides chemistry majors experience with reading, discussing, and presenting articles from the current chemical literature. The seminar is a requirement for chemistry and biochemistry majors. It is intended to familiarize the students with the current chemical literature and with accepted writing styles in chemistry. It must be taken for credit during the student’s junior year and before C445-7 Chemistry Research courses, since participating in the seminar may spark research ideas. Chemistry majors are encouraged to sit in on this course every semester to contribute to the on-going chemistry conversation.
Offered fall semester.
Prerequisite: consent of department chair.
C445 Chemistry Research: Planning (1 credit)This is the initial course of the three required research courses for chemistry and biochemistry majors. A faculty research advisor is chosen after consultation with and/or presentations by the relevant faculty. After the necessary literature search, a research proposal concerning a current chemical problem is developed and is written, revised, submitted and defended.
Offered spring semester.
Prerequisite: C443; may be taken concurrently with consent of the chemistry department chair.
C446 Chemistry Research: Experience (1 credit)This is the second course of the three required research courses for chemistry and biochemistry majors. The independent laboratory and/or computational research proposed in C445 is performed under the direction and guidance of the faculty research advisor. Off-campus research experiences, such as a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), may serve to satisfy the course.
Prerequisites:
- C445 Chemistry Research: Planning
C447 Chemistry Research: Thesis (1 credit)This is the third course of the three required research courses for chemistry and biochemistry majors. The independent computational and/or laboratory work is completed, if necessary. The thesis is written, with time for a writing revision cycle. A formal presentation of the research results is given at an undergraduate research symposium or its equivalent.
Prerequisites:
- C446 Chemistry Research: Experience
C451 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (3 credits)The course investigates atomic structure, periodical properties, symmetry and group theory, molecular orbital theory, chemical bonding, coordination compounds, ligand field theory, reaction mechanisms, and special topics that may include materials chemistry with an emphasis on solid state structures and band theory, and bioinorganic chemistry focusing on the impact of metal ions in biological processes.
Prerequisites:
- C332 Physical Chemistry II
M151 Calculus I (4 credits)This course provides an introduction to the differential and integral calculus. Topics include: the concepts of function, limit, continuity, derivative, definite and indefinite integrals, and an introduction to transcendental functions.
Credit cannot be granted for this course and M308 or M309.
Prerequisites: M115 and M116, or departmental placement.
M152 Calculus II (4 credits)This course is a continuation of M151. Some of the topics of M151 are revisited at a higher mathematical level. Topics include: limits, differentiation, applications of the definite integral, inverse trigonometric functions, techniques of integration, improper integrals, indeterminate forms, numerical methods for integration and approximation, curves in the plane given parametrically, polar coordinates, and vectors in 2-space and 3-space.
Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in M151 or departmental placement.
M251 Calculus III (4 credits)This course continues the development of Calculus from M151 and M152. Topics include: sequences and series, conic sections, and differentiation and integration of functions of several variables.
Offered fall semester.
Prerequisite: minimum grade of C in M152.
P201 Introductory Physics I (3 credits)This course is the first half of a two-semester introductory, calculus-based, physics course for all students planning to enter one of the scientific professions. It covers the fundamental principles of mechanics, oscillations, and fluid mechanics.
Offered fall semester.
Prerequisites: M151 (may be concurrent) and concurrent with P202.
P211 Introductory Physics II (3 credits)This course is the second half of a two-semester introductory, calculus-based, physics course for all students planning to enter one of the scientific professions. It covers the fundamental principles of waves, physical and geometrical optics, and electricity and magnetism.
Prerequisites:
- P201 Introductory Physics I
- P202 Introductory Physics I Laboratory
Offered spring semester.
Must be concurrent with P212.